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Ancient Rome, attracted by the area's
strategic location, quickly set up a base in the city that was
then known as Matisco. "Via Agrippa", the main route leading from
Rome's conquests in ancient Gaul to the North Sea, would pass
through as well. Following his victory at Alésia, Julius Caesar
assigned a detachment to Mâcon. The city grew throughout the Middle
Ages. In the 17th and 18th centuries, luxurious homes were built
by local nobility and wealthier residents, attesting to the level
of commercial activity which would continue to predominate. |
Mâcon et le pont St-Laurent |
The Saône lends a special charm to this city also
known as "the Provence of Burgundy"
due to its more Mediterranean feel. A wide array of events are
held on the river all year long: regatta, fishing contests, speedboat
races, etc.
The Mâconnais country is replete with landscapes and shades
of color. Between the Saône River Valley and Beaujolais wine country,
the visitor is treated to a ceaseless alternation of lush hillsides
and valleys, rugged relief and vineyard-covered slopes, and pastureland
along the Saône. |
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The Saint-Laurent Bridge, built in
the 11th century, used to serve as a border crossing between the
Kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Empire, hence its extensive
fortification.
The rue Carnot, part of the former
"Via Agrippa", is one of Mâcon's oldest streets. The sculpted
door on the building at no. 40 dates back to Renaissance times.
The architecture of the Hôtel Dieu
hospital features a voluminous domed roof of tremendous height.
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Mâcon et le pont St-Laurent
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We invite you to trace the footsteps
of Mâcon's famous poet by following the Route
Lamartine from one site to the next: his childhood home
in Milly-Lamartine, the Pierreclos Castle and his residence at
the Saint-Point Castle.
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Art lovers will surely be attracted to the Romanesque
church itinerary.
Also feel free to discover the nearby winegrowing
areas thanks to the series of 12 wine roads
designed to lead you from tasting cellars to prehistoric
and Romanesque sites and then onto country inns serving local
hearty fare located in picturesque villages. |
Not far from these enjoyable outings lies the
Bresse country and its handsome, well-preserved
architecture: houses here have been built in wood and typically
display solid oak frames. Their low and compact appearance blends
with the vertical and angled timbers. In order to construct the
walls and solidify the space between timbers, a simple cream-
or orange-colored cob or a fine brick filler producing a rose
shade will suffice. The roof is immense and overhangs the house
on all sides; ears of corn looking like golden nuggets hang from
the roof beams. |
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When touring the environs, be sure not to miss the following
visits :
The Hameau du Vin Dubœuf en Beaujolais
: Unique in all of France, the exhibit presents a truly cultural perspective
of the world of winegrowing and winemaking. Using sophisticated museum
displays, this center showcases the techniques and traditions of the
Beaujolais region.http://www.hameauenbeaujolais.com
Touroparc : An amusement park
combined with France's 2nd largest Zoological Park, featuring over 120
species of animals from across the world.
 The
Departmental Prehistory Museum : Situated at the base of the
imposing Solutré Rock, this exhibit presents collections stemming from
one of prehistorical Europe's richest sources of fossils.
The Azé Caves : A landmarked
site consisting of a cave called the Thousand Bear Cavern, an underground
river and an archaeological museum.
Below are some links to help you get acquainted with the
area :
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