Discover Tournus: culture, wine and cycling routes

Tournus developed on the right bank of the Saône, on a terrace that offered protection from flooding. The town offers several highlights to help you choose your destination: Romanesque architecture, traces of the town’s history, walking and cycling routes, and wine experiences. The following stops provide practical pointers for planning your stay.

Romanesque architecture and local history

The Abbaye Saint-Philibert is a masterpiece of Romanesque art from the 11th and 12th centuries. Its complex includes not only the abbey church, but also the cloister, chapter house, refectory and cellar. These five components show the different areas of the site, which you can distinguish when exploring the abbey.

The former Roman castrum is the oldest part of Tournus, and its distinctive layout has been preserved. The Église Sainte-Madeleine was built in the 12th century at the centre of this former castrum. Its features include a square Romanesque bell tower and a sculpted portal. The Église de la Madeleine can only be viewed from the outside. Check the visiting conditions on site before your visit.

The Chapelle Saint-Laurent also points to an early building history: it is pre-Romanesque and dates from around the year 1000. Traces of paintings have survived in the nave. Only the nave remains of the Eglise Saint-Valérien, considered an abbey chapel dedicated to the original patron saint of Tournus. The architectural forms and surviving parts thus differ considerably: you can explore each building in its own historical context.

Explore the old town on foot or by bike

The “Sur les pas de Gerlannus” walking loop leads through Tournus’s old town and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. Allow roughly this amount of time for the complete loop. This differs from a single sightseeing stop: the route combines exploring the historic town with a clearly defined walking time.

From Tournus, the Voie Bleue follows the Saône along a former towpath. It is a safe route reserved for pedestrians and cyclists. From Tournus, it leads to Chalon-sur-Saône or Mâcon; it is possible to return by train. Check the route conditions and train connections before setting off. In contrast to the old-town loop, the Voie Bleue offers a riverside route with two different destinations, rather than an approximately 90-minute loop through Tournus.

Museums, cycling and wine

The Hôtel-Dieu de Tournus comprises three hospital wards and a pharmacy. The historic wards have been restored with their original furnishings. Families can use discovery booklets featuring riddles and games. This lets you explore the historic institution while also taking advantage of an activity specifically intended for families.

The Musée du Vélo displays a bicycle collection unique in France across more than 600 m². Visitors can try riding a penny-farthing, a Kangaroo bike or another unusual bicycle. As visitor activities may change, check before your visit whether this activity is currently available.

Les Vignerons de Mancey offers a museum-style tour about Burgundy, vines and wine, a 110 m² shop and tasting area, and themed tasting workshops. One specifically described activity is called “Dégustation – Formule découverte”: it includes an explanatory visit to the educational area and a guided tasting of six wines served with charcuterie and cheese. If you are planning a tasting, arrange dates and check availability in advance.

Discover more destinations: Virey-le-Grand, Blanzy, Cussy-En-Morvan, Mussy-Sous-Dun, Saint-Jean-De-Vaux, Moroges, Le Tartre, Saint-Vincent-En-Bresse.

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