Mâcon – Culture, Architecture and Wine

In Mâcon, the cultural offering ranges from parts of the former cathedral and 19th-century church architecture to collections and archaeological traces. It also includes a themed walking route, a wine tasting on the visitor tour at the Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, and a cycling connection that reaches Mâcon. When looking for a hotel, it can help to first decide what you want to focus on: culture, wine or cycling.

Architecture and Building History

At Vieux Saint-Vincent, the towers and entrance portico of the former cathedral of Mâcon have been preserved. The building also includes a Romanesque tympanum considered exceptional. The Église Saint-Pierre offers a different perspective on sacred architecture: it is Neo-Romanesque and was built between 1859 and 1865 to plans by architect André Berthier. The church houses a Neo-Gothic organ by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, dating from 1866; it is listed as a Monument historique.

The Maison de Bois was built between 1490 and 1510 and is thought to be the oldest house in Mâcon. Its entirely wooden façade features numerous statuettes of masked human and monkey figures, often with a bawdy, erotic character. The Site Archéologique de Saint-Clément displays the foundations of a burial church built in the 6th century, during the time of Mâcon’s first bishops. Several dozen sarcophagi were uncovered during the excavations.

Art, Collections and Archaeological Traces

The Musée des Ursulines preserves more than 25,000 works, offering a panorama of art history from antiquity to the 20th century. Which works are currently on display may change. In the heritage collections at the Médiathèque’s Espace Lamartine, original and illustrated editions, manuscripts, correspondence and iconographic documents relating to Alphonse de Lamartine are presented. The collections therefore have different focuses: the Musée des Ursulines spans many eras of art history, while the Espace Lamartine brings together materials relating to one person.

Walking Route, Wine and Cycle Route

The Tracé de la Plume provides a time frame of one to two hours for exploring the city. The route takes visitors through Mâcon’s architecture, literature, gastronomy and history; bronze feathers embedded in the ground mark the way. The Tracé includes 28 sights with information panels on site. The route thus combines a set duration with ground markers and explanations at the sights.

The Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne is located on the banks of the Saône, near the historic city centre. The Mâcon visitor tour includes a tasting of wine or grape juice. Before your trip, check the current access arrangements and whether the tasting is included in the current ticket. The Voie Verte is a cycle route from Chalon-sur-Saône via Cluny to Mâcon. The “Voie Bleue – Voie Verte” connection to the Voie Verte in the Mâconnais is accessible from the Esplanade Lamartine on the Saône quays. Before setting off, it is advisable to check the current signage and route conditions.

For planning purposes, the two route options differ in format and course: the Tracé de la Plume is a one- to two-hour themed walk through Mâcon; the Voie Verte is a cycle route from Chalon-sur-Saône via Cluny to Mâcon.

Discover more destinations: Cuiseaux, Ozolles, Laizy, Charolles, Gueugnon, Cheilly-Lès-Maranges, Flacey-en-Bresse, Azé

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