Volesvres: Castle History and EuroVelo 6

Volesvres brings together a range of travel interests: architectural and cultural history, as well as connections to waterways and routes. The Château de Cypierre and the Volesvres lock offer specific historical points of interest; the Bourbince, the Canal du Centre and EuroVelo 6 shape the local setting and routes. The church of Volesvres and green walking paths are also part of the picture. If you would like to combine cultural history with outdoor activity, you can explore the town through these different aspects.

The Château de Cypierre and its construction phases

The Château de Cypierre has construction phases dating from the 14th, 15th, 16th and 18th centuries. On 23 December 1985, it was partially protected as a historic monument. The partially protected ensemble includes the keep, the main 18th-century building, a 16th-century tower, a 19th-century wing, the east staircase, the east tower in the outbuildings and a 19th-century chapel. The construction phases and features make the château a multifaceted architectural subject: it cannot be reduced to a single era or one part of the building. At the same time, the protection is explicitly partial and applies to the named ensemble. For architecture enthusiasts, this brings together a broad history of construction and specific, identified parts of the château.

The Volesvres lock and church

The site of Lock 22 on the Loire-Ocean slope is also known as the Volesvres lock. Today, it comprises a Gauthey-type lock keeper’s house on the left bank, a control room in a building with a gabled roof based on the 1950s model, and an aqueduct. The house, control-room building and aqueduct are distinct features of this lock site. The Gauthey type refers to the lock keeper’s house; the 1950s date identifies the model for the gabled roof on the building housing the control room. These details clarify the different architectural features of the site without attributing them to a single building style or era. As technical heritage, the lock site offers a different focus from the château: here, the lock complex and its varied architectural forms take centre stage.

The church of Volesvres is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. This adds a religious connection and a named patron saint to the château’s architectural history and the technical aspects of the lock site. If you take different cultural themes into account when choosing a destination, Volesvres offers both architectural and religious points of interest.

Waterways, cycling and walks

The Bourbince and the Canal du Centre run through Volesvres. For cyclists, the route taken by EuroVelo 6 is a specific route connection: it follows a small municipal road to the RD 301, which leads to Volesvres. This section uses a combination of car-free paths and small roads shared with motor traffic. The cycling route therefore includes different types of road; it does not consist entirely of car-free paths. If you assess cycling routes by their layout, this combination is an important distinction.

Green walking paths offer another way to discover Volesvres. The Aire de pique-nique « Voie Verte » is located along the Voie Verte and offers a shady place to take a break. Cycling and walking thus provide different perspectives on the town: EuroVelo 6 highlights the combination of car-free paths and small roads shared with motor traffic, while the walking paths offer the opportunity to discover Volesvres on foot. This gives you several specific themes to choose from when planning a trip that combines cultural history and outdoor activity.

Discover more destinations: Ozenay, Varennes-sous-Dun, Mâcon, Saint-Jean-De-Vaux, Montceau-Les-Mines, Amanzé, Hurigny, Devrouze.

For the overview of the wider region: Saône-Et-Loire.