Discover Lournand

Lournand offers several distinct points of interest to help you plan your trip: rolling countryside, the Chemin des lavoirs and historic religious buildings. You can tailor your stay to whether you are mainly looking to enjoy an outdoor excursion or explore the history of the churches. Local points of interest range from the slopes’ former suitability for winegrowing to a route linking five washhouses.

Landscape and former land use

Lournand’s landscape is hilly, with slopes facing east. In the past, these slopes were suitable for winegrowing. Stone murgers still mark out plots and paths today, giving the landscape a distinctive structure. It is worth distinguishing between the time periods involved: the slopes’ suitability for winegrowing relates to past land use, while the stone boundaries continue to shape plots and paths today. Together, these features tell the story of a place whose character is shaped both by its terrain and by the way the land is divided.

The Chemin des lavoirs circular route

The Chemin des lavoirs starts and ends in Lournand. Part of the Balades vertes scheme, this easy circular route is seven kilometres long and has an elevation gain of 120 metres. These details give you concrete points of reference for assessing the route’s length and elevation change as you plan your trip. The route is designated for horse riding, hiking and mountain biking, so you can also take it into account when deciding how you prefer to get around. Balades vertes was created and is supported by the Département de Saône-et-Loire. The circular route therefore represents both a scheme backed by the département and a specific route that starts and ends in Lournand.

Washhouses and views

As its name suggests, the Chemin des lavoirs links five washhouses. Each of these small buildings dates from the early 19th century and comprises a washhouse, a well and livestock troughs. The recurring combination of these three features makes the washhouses a shared theme along the circular route: you will encounter not just one historic building, but five buildings with similar features. The route also offers views across the Clunisois and its shrub-covered hills. Its description thus encompasses both the historic buildings along the route and the landscape seen from it. If you are interested in washhouses, rural architectural history or hilly landscapes, these aspects offer different ways to experience the same tour.

Chapel and church-building history

The Chapelle Saint Laurent de Collonges lies on the GR 76, at the crossroads of the routes to Santiago de Compostela and the Way of Saint Francis of Assisi. It is a historic monument, and its origins probably date back to before the year 900. The chapel thus brings together a specific location on these routes and a long history whose dating is, however, tentative. When planning your trip, you can consider its connection to the routes mentioned separately from the question of its age: these are distinct aspects that help put the site in context for those interested in pilgrimage routes and architectural history.

The Église de l'Assomption, also known as the Église Sainte Marie, is mentioned as early as the 950s. Originally Romanesque, it was completely rebuilt in 1846, with the exception of the bell tower bay. The mention dating from the 950s, its Romanesque origins and the rebuilding belong to different periods in its history. The church is intended to retain its religious function and also serve as a venue for cultural events organized by the commune of Lournand. Both the building’s historical development and its intended use are therefore central to its story.

Discover more destinations: Mont-Saint-Vincent, Ozolles, Romenay, Bruailles, Ciry-Le-Noble, Frontenaud, Solutré-Pouilly, Morey.

For the broader travel overview: Saône-Et-Loire.