Chalon sur Saone and the Côte Chalonnaise

Areas of interest in the Côte Chalonnaise include famous names such as Rully, Givry, Mercurey and Buxy. These are also charming villages, offering a very rural feel, yet within striking distance of Chalon sur Saône. Three small villages, Decizes, Sampigny and Cheilly, form a group producing the “Maranges” wine appellation. Another group of villages make up the Vallée des Vaux - all with their own special traditions and festivals, giving each its distinctive character.

Along the Saône River

The town of Chalon sur Saône combines typical Gallic charm with the practicalities of modern living. The historic town centre has narrow car-free streets opening onto a magnificent cathedral square, with interesting shops and pavement cafés. On Sunday mornings this area houses the vibrant weekly market. There are several excellent hypermarkets, DIY and furnishing stores, as well as more elegant boutiques.

Culture and activities
Chalon boasts an active arts centre and concert hall, great sports complexes, 18-hole golf course surrounded by a famous rose garden on the banks of the river, a pretty park with deer and other wildlife and a really great photographic museum. The annual Carnival is second in size only to the one in Nice, there is a yearly street festival which attracts visitors from all over Europe, a hot-air balloon festival and a speed-boat race on the Saône. You can enjoy typical Burgundy cuisine here, but Chalon also offers an unusually large range of restaurants serving food from other countries

Photography is forever related to the city of Chalon as its inventor, Nicéphore Niepce, lived here. Besides a museum, with its history of photography and interesting expositions, the industry of Images is planted here and has deeply influenced the region. The high technology pool of images and sound called Nicéphore City, has recently been created on several locations in Chalon and attracks international businesses and many NTIC students.

Couches and west of Chalon
offers great scope for house hunters. It incorporates among others, St Léger sur Dheune, St Maurice les Couches and of course Couches itself with its lovely castle. There are pretty villages high up on the hills overlooking the vineyards, others bordering the Canal du Centre, where the “Voie Verte”, the Green Path, a superb route for cyclist and walkers. The canal du centre, is used by many touring with charter boats, or if you want a little more luxury, on one of the many Hotel boats.

Chalon for you?
In the centre of Chalon, most residents live in apartments, as prices are dear. There are attractive houses to be found in the surrounding villages, the highest prices being in the villages closest to the town. Houses in the smaller villages at about 20 minutes command lower prices than those in the renowned wine towns such as Mercurey. The villages along the Canal du Centre offer good value, are often only 35 minutes by car from Beaune or Chalon.

Big farmhouses with large plots can be found east of Chalon sur Saone in the Bresse and waterfronted houses along the Saone river.