📍 France

SAÔNE VALLEY: MEDIEVAL ABBEYS, WINE AND COMTOIS HERITAGE LEGACY

Abbeys punctuate the stone landscape. Vineyard slopes glow golden in terraces. Medieval gates, bells, valleys. Burgundian heritage unfolds here, fully customizable.

≈ 21
Days
961
Km
19
Stops
📖 11 min read 🔄 Last updated: 2026-01-17

Visit Cluny abbey, Tournus Romanesque church, Chalon-sur-Saône and Louhans markets. Saône-et-Loire, heart of Romanesque Burgundy.

Your day-by-day itinerary

1
Day

Vesoul

plateau gate medieval sentinel

Vesoul - Photo 1Vesoul - Photo 2Vesoul - Photo 3
3 photos
Day 1
🔍

Discover

1
Motte Hill.
2
Georges Garret Museum.
3
Rural heritage.
🎯

Activities

→
Vesoul-Vaivre Lake.
→
Saône Valley.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 36 km
Travel time: 43min
2
Day

Jussey

village calm agricultural heritage

Jussey - Photo 1Jussey - Photo 2Jussey - Photo 3Jussey - Photo 4Jussey - Photo 5Jussey - Photo 6
6 photos
Day 2
🔍

Discover

1
Castle (Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions).
2
Castle (Baron Martin museum).
3
Notre-Dame Basilica.
🎯

Activities

→
Bocage hikes.
→
Burgundian heritage.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 66 km
Travel time: 1h19
3
Day

Champlitte

manor house stone history

Champlitte - Photo 1Champlitte - Photo 2Champlitte - Photo 3Champlitte - Photo 4Champlitte - Photo 5
5 photos
Day 3
🔍

Discover

1
Saint-Pierre Abbey.
2
François I House.
🎯

Activities

→
Saône quays.
→
Italian-style theater.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 48 km
Travel time: 57min
4
Day

Gray

confluence river gray stone

Gray - Photo 1Gray - Photo 2Gray - Photo 3Gray - Photo 4Gray - Photo 5
5 photos
Day 4
🔍

Discover

1
Ecomuseum of Cherry Country.
2
Kirsch distilleries.
3
Chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Haut (Le Corbusier).
🎯

Activities

→
Museum of the Échevins Tower.
→
Orchards.
→
Brandy tasting.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 25 km
Travel time: 29min
5
Day

Luxeuil Les Bains

spa basilica thermal tradition

Luxeuil Les Bains - Photo 1Luxeuil Les Bains - Photo 2Luxeuil Les Bains - Photo 3Luxeuil Les Bains - Photo 4
4 photos
Day 5
🔍

Discover

1
19th century heritage.
2
Temple.
3
Saint-Christophe Church.
🎯

Activities

→
Bourlémont Hill.
→
Haute-Saône Plain.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 10 km
Travel time: 13min
6
Day

Fougerolles

cherry distillery mountain craft

Fougerolles - Photo 1Fougerolles - Photo 2Fougerolles - Photo 3
3 photos
Day 6
🔍

Discover

1
Nicéphore Niépce Museum (photography).
2
Saint-Vincent Cathedral.
🎯

Activities

→
Comtois heritage.
→
Battle Museum (1871).
→
Ognon.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 34 km
Travel time: 41min
7
Day

Ronchamp

chapel modernist mountain crown

Ronchamp - Photo 1Ronchamp - Photo 2
2 photos
Day 7
🔍

Discover

1
Round Hall.
2
Saint-Lazare Cathedral.
🎯

Activities

→
Malsaucy Pond.
→
Saint-Laurent Island.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 13 km
Travel time: 16min
8
Day

Lure

plateau summit regional heart

Lure - Photo 1Lure - Photo 2Lure - Photo 3Lure - Photo 4Lure - Photo 5Lure - Photo 6
6 photos
Day 8
🔍

Discover

1
Temple of Janus.
2
Château de la Verrerie.
3
Museum of Man and Industry.
🎯

Activities

→
Burgundy Wine Route.
→
Rolin Museum.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 95 km
Travel time: 1h54
9
Day

Villersexel

mill valley pastoral calm

Villersexel - Photo 1Villersexel - Photo 2Villersexel - Photo 3Villersexel - Photo 4
4 photos
Day 9
🔍

Discover

1
Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Romanesque).
2
Chapel of the Visitation.
3
Tower of Charles the Bold.
🎯

Activities

→
Roman gates.
→
Bonaparte High School.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 32 km
Travel time: 39min
10
Day

Hericourt

industrial heritage forge memory

Hericourt - Photo 1Hericourt - Photo 2Hericourt - Photo 3Hericourt - Photo 4
4 photos
Day 10
🔍

Discover

1
Convent of the Visitation.
2
Cluny Abbey (largest medieval church).
3
Ursulines Museum.
🎯

Activities

→
Schneider industrial heritage.
→
Pilgrimage.
🚗
Next stop
⏱️ Long drive (5h+)
Distance: 265 km
Travel time: 5h18
11
Day

Chalon Sur Saone

river wine burgundy soul

Chalon Sur Saone - Photo 1Chalon Sur Saone - Photo 2Chalon Sur Saone - Photo 3Chalon Sur Saone - Photo 4Chalon Sur Saone - Photo 5Chalon Sur Saone - Photo 6Chalon Sur Saone - Photo 7
7 photos
Day 11
🔍

Discover

1
Saint-Laurent Bridge.
2
Saint-Philibert Abbey (Romanesque).
🎯

Activities

→
Hiéron Museum.
→
Charolais Country (livestock farming).
→
Arconce.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 11 km
Travel time: 13min
12
Day

Givry

wine village golden tradition

Givry - Photo 1Givry - Photo 2Givry - Photo 3Givry - Photo 4
4 photos
Day 12
🔍

Discover

1
Greuze Museum.
2
Hôtel-Dieu.
3
Grande-Rue with arcades (157).
4
Round Hall.
🎯

Activities

→
Villages of character.
→
Wooden House.
→
Solutré Rock.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 50 km
Travel time: 1h
13
Day

Autun

roman gate cathedral spire

Autun - Photo 1Autun - Photo 2Autun - Photo 3Autun - Photo 4Autun - Photo 5
5 photos
Day 13
🔍

Discover

1
Saint-Lazare Cathedral.
2
Roman theater.
3
Temple of Janus.
4
Ramparts.
+2 Places visited
🎯

Activities

→
Mâconnais Vineyards.
→
Bresse Ecomuseum.
→
Bresse poultry.
+2 Optional activities
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 74 km
Travel time: 1h29
14
Day

Paray Le Monial

basilica pilgrimage sacred heart

Paray Le Monial - Photo 1Paray Le Monial - Photo 2Paray Le Monial - Photo 3Paray Le Monial - Photo 4Paray Le Monial - Photo 5Paray Le Monial - Photo 6
6 photos
Day 14
🔍

Discover

1
Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Romanesque).
2
Chapel of the Visitation.
🎯

Activities

→
Pilgrimage.
→
Hiéron Museum.
→
Canals.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 16 km
Travel time: 19min
15
Day

Charolles

pottery clay craft heritage

Charolles - Photo 1Charolles - Photo 2Charolles - Photo 3Charolles - Photo 4
4 photos
Day 15
🔍

Discover

1
Tower of Charles the Bold.
2
Convent of the Visitation.
3
Priory.
🎯

Activities

→
Charolais Country (livestock farming).
→
Arconce.
→
Villages of character.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 98 km
Travel time: 1h58
16
Day

Cluny

abbey monastic spiritual majesty

Cluny - Photo 1Cluny - Photo 2Cluny - Photo 3Cluny - Photo 4Cluny - Photo 5Cluny - Photo 6Cluny - Photo 7Cluny - Photo 8
8 photos
Day 16
🔍

Discover

1
Cluny Abbey (largest medieval church).
2
Museum.
🎯

Activities

→
Medieval village.
→
National stud farm.
→
Romanesque church.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 31 km
Travel time: 37min
17
Day

Macon

river gateway wine beginning

Macon - Photo 1Macon - Photo 2Macon - Photo 3Macon - Photo 4Macon - Photo 5
5 photos
Day 17
🔍

Discover

1
Old town.
2
Ursulines Museum.
3
Saint-Laurent Bridge.
🎯

Activities

→
Wooden House.
→
Solutré Rock.
→
Mâconnais Vineyards.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 25 km
Travel time: 30min
18
Day

Tournus

romanesque sanctuary ancient stone

Tournus - Photo 1Tournus - Photo 2Tournus - Photo 3Tournus - Photo 4Tournus - Photo 5
5 photos
Day 18
🔍

Discover

1
Saint-Philibert Abbey (Romanesque).
2
Greuze Museum.
3
Hôtel-Dieu.
🎯

Activities

→
Saône quays.
→
Old town.
→
Markets.
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 32 km
Travel time: 38min
19
Day

Louhans

marketplace timber renaissance soul

Louhans - Photo 1Louhans - Photo 2Louhans - Photo 3Louhans - Photo 4Louhans - Photo 5
5 photos
Day 19
🔍

Discover

1
Grande-Rue with arcades (157).
2
Hôtel-Dieu.
3
Saint-Pierre Church.
🎯

Activities

→
Bresse Ecomuseum.
→
Bresse poultry.
→
Market (Monday).

🗺️ Itinerary map

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🛡️ Travel advice - France

Check official recommendations

UK Foreign Travel Advice →

❓ Frequently asked questions

What weather should you expect?

Spring (April-June): Perfect weather, blooming countryside, ideal for all regions, moderate crowds, excellent value, romantic atmosphere.

Summer (July-August): Warmest weather, peak tourist season, highest prices, crowded attractions, perfect for Mediterranean coast, festival season.

Fall (September-October): Harvest season, comfortable temperatures, fewer crowds, wine regions spectacular, excellent photography, good value.

Winter (November-March): Christmas markets, ski season Alps, fewer crowds, lowest prices, cozy indoor attractions, cultural experiences.

How many days should I plan?

We believe you will enjoy this itinerary best by dedicating between 17 and 25 days. The next step will allow you to adjust the duration of your stay.

What to discover in France?

Cultural capital with incredible cuisine, world-famous attractions, and diverse regions from Paris to Provence. Experience artistic heritage, wine culture, and sophisticated lifestyle. The country offers excellent infrastructure with cultural depth and culinary excellence. France provides complete cultural experiences with historical significance and modern sophistication in easily accessible destination.