Discover Saint-Bonnet-De-Cray

Saint-Bonnet-De-Cray can be explored through two very different highlights: the church with its Romanesque features and the 13-kilometer Les Hauts du Bézo circular route. One takes you into architectural and art history; the other combines designated activities with viewpoints and historic sites. This makes it easy to decide whether you would rather explore architecture or set aside time for a longer route when planning your trip.

Church: Romanesque layout and murals

The eastern end of the church in Saint-Bonnet-De-Cray is characteristic of late Romanesque architecture in the Brionnais. The transept and choir date from the mid-12th century; the nave was rebuilt in the 19th century. The building thus brings together different periods of construction, which can be identified in its individual parts.

The preserved Romanesque layout includes a transept, a choir bay flanked by aisles, and an apse. The aisles flank the choir bay, while the apse forms the eastern end of the choir. This clear layout complements the distinction in date between the older transept and choir and the later-rebuilt nave.

There are two large murals in the choir. One depicts Saint Bonnet; the other shows Saint Gilles protecting a hind pursued by hunters. Alongside its architecture, the church thus offers a specific subject for visitors to engage with culturally.

Two statuettes known as “Anges céroféraires” date from the 15th century and were restored in 2013. They were classified as historic objects on August 21, 1925. These dates are specific details about the statuettes and should not be confused with the church’s construction phases.

Town hall, dovecote, and route starting point

The town hall is located between a residential building and the square dovecote of the former rectory. The dovecote houses municipal, tourist, and cultural information. The town hall is also the starting point for the 13-kilometer Les Hauts du Bézo circular route. This makes it possible to combine local information with the start of the route without confusing the different functions of the town hall and the dovecote.

Les Hauts du Bézo: activities and historic sites

Les Hauts du Bézo is a designated route for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. The information thus identifies several ways to use the same route. Its length of 13 kilometers and its starting point at the town hall give the route a clear framework; the sites along the way complement the landscape with insights into the area’s history.

The circular route passes Clos de Saint-Bonnet. This enclosure is associated with a now-vanished 15th-century castle and former wine-growing. The route also passes Moulin du Virot, whose waterwheel is said to have been renovated. The two sites offer different points of interest: at Clos, the historical connections between the enclosure, castle, and wine-growing take center stage; at the mill, it is the waterwheel.

Views and landscape in the Brionnais

Along the route, there is a viewpoint at Prairie de Torry offering a 180-degree view of the Haut-Beaujolais, the wooded ridges of the Monts de Tarare, and, in the distance, the Monts de la Madeleine. The Monts de la Madeleine are also visible from the outer boundaries of Saint-Bonnet-De-Cray. These are two different perspectives: one from the viewpoint along the route, and the other from the outer boundaries of the commune. This distinguishes the panoramic stop from the broader description of the landscape.

Wine-growing is also part of the region’s history. In the heart of the Brionnais, a small vineyard recalls the former, now-vanished tradition of wine-growing. A wine-loving family is partially reviving the vineyard. This regional history complements the sites at Clos de Saint-Bonnet, which is also connected with former wine-growing, without conflating the two accounts into a single place or offering.

If you are choosing between culture and activity, there are two clearly defined highlights: the church’s architectural history and imagery, or the 13-kilometer route with its designated activities, panoramic views, and historic sites. The town hall is both a point of reference for municipal, tourist, and cultural information and the starting point for Les Hauts du Bézo.

Discover more destinations: Le Creusot, Sancé, La Chapelle-Sous-Uchon, Montbellet, Pruzilly, La Chapelle-Saint-Sauveur, Prizy, Mussy-Sous-Dun.

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