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| Burgundy South region information, France - BURGUNDY4U |
Real Estate Agent Burgundy 4U informs you about this Burgundian Region in Central Eastern France comprising the department Saône-et-Loire (71).
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What you find within the Southern Burgundy section
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Property prices in Southern Burgundy
The Southern Burgundy area, with its wide valleys, forests, vineyards and canals is attracting for many years already many "residence secundaires". Especially from those living in Lyon suburban area and in the wine area, makes that property prices are at a premium, versus the more rural areas inland from the A6 motorway.
Accessibility
The A6-E15 makes this region very accessible for north-south travel. The A40 goes eastwards to Geneva and Switzerland. Travel time by road from the Channel ports is 6hrs 30; from Paris, 3hrs 30 and from Amsterdam, 8hrs 30. Travelling by air, Lyon is the closest airport, less than an hour away. Other airports include Geneva, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Grenoble. The TGV service runs to Le Creusot and Mâcon which offers connections via Paris or Lille on Eurostar to the UK and Brussels, the latter also stopping at Charles de Gaulle airport. There are regional trains and TGV stops in Le Creusot and Mâcon.
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Majestic Beasts and Religious History
The vineyards of the Mâconnais and gently rolling countryside dotted with Charolais cattle, attractive houses with wooden balconies, tiny churches adorned with frescos, and a wealth of history to explore; these are the images of the Clunysois. Cluny and Tournus are the main towns in this area and then, scattered in profusion throughout the countryside there are pretty little villages clustering around a church. The important town of Mâcon, the famous wine area of Beaujolais and the prehistoric site of Solutré are within a stone’s throw.
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Tournus
The town of Tournus on the River Saône has a timeless quality. Cobbled streets, antique and craft shops surround the Abbey of St. Philibert, the centrepiece of the town. This is one of the finest Romanesque churches in France, with magnificent arches in peach and cream stone giving it a majesty all of its own. During renovations a couple of years ago, electricians discovered a mosaic floor dating back to the 12thC, representing the cycle of nature and the signs of the zodiac. What a find that turned out to be. This is not a stuffy old abbey, the windows have contemporary stained glass, the alter is modern and the whole place is light and uplifting, in perfect harmony with the sections dating back over 1,000 years.
From Tournus southwards, you enter the wine country of the Mâconnais. There is the village of Chardonnay itself which gave its name to the immortal grape variety. A very happy time can be had driving around the pretty villages with their geranium clad balconies. The architecture is noticeably different in this area of Burgundy indicating the climatic change due to the more southerly location: many houses have first floor south facing balconies provide drying areas for corn and peppers; even home produced cheese hang in little airing cages.
A visit to the medieval village of Brancion is like stepping into a film set. It stands high on the hill with its fortress, little market hall and church overlooking the stunning countryside . This is a photo opportunity not to be missed. Further along the D14 is one of Burgundy’s finest châteaux in the little village of Cormatin with its sumptuous interior, formal garden and potager. Mention needs to be made too of Taizé, an international religious community attracting thousands of young people every year from all around the world. |
.jpg "Haras de Cluny Burgundy France © www.haras-nationaux.fr")
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Cluny
You will find Burgundy’s religious roots here in this part of Burgundy. For it was here at Cluny that the monks of the 12thC amassed their power and glory. They chose this gentle, soft and mellow countryside to build not only the largest and richest abbey in Christendom at the time, but also developed a prosperous wine and agricultural region. Today, many of the fundamentals laid down in the past continue in wine, food, music and culture. Cluny is a very pleasant town attracting many tourists each year to see what remains of the abbey. The National Stud, the Haras de Cluny, which has been in existence for two hundred years, can be found on the edge of the town.
White Charolais grazing in the folding valleys are the hallmark of this area which has become popular with artists and craftsmen from potters and glass makers to jewellers. The pace of life is slow but nearby, when a bit of buzz is required, the town of Mâcon, with its more Mediterranean feel, is close at hand. This is the administrative capital of the Saône-et-Loire department and hub of the area for shopping, entertainment and restaurants.
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