Nearby Attractions

Vineyards and wine tasting

For the wine connoisseur, or for those who simply enjoy drinking wine, the region of Burgundy is world renowned. Burgundy is the home of some of the best known wines in the world, such as Cote de Beaune, Pouilly Fuisse, Nuits St.Georges, Brouilly, Chardonnay, Beaujolais. For more information click here

You could spend weeks just travelling through the wine villages and towns. The whole area is dotted with vineyards and wine-tasting (degustation) cellars (caves). The following towns and districts are recommended:

Beaune - One to three hours drive (depending on stops) from La Guiche. You could go up there on the Autoroute [A6], visit Beaune and the region around Beane where the Cote de Beaune and Cote de Nuit are produced, then return through superb countryside, through Meursault, Rully, Mercurey, Givry, Buxy, St Gengoux-le-National and Joncy.

Chardonnay - Go through Cluny to Aze and on to Lugny and Chardonnay. About one hour from La Guiche with stops for wine tasting.

Maconnais - The rock of Solutre is in the heart of the Maconnais wine region. Travel towards Macon and head off into the hills behind Macon at Berze-la-Ville, proceed to La-Roche-Vineuse, Prisse, Vergisson, Solutre, Pouilly, Fuisse, Vincelles and down to Loche and Charnay.

Beaujolais -South of Macon you enter into the Beaujolais region. The hills behind Belleville and Villafranche are both beautiful and produce the delightful beaujolais wines, including Brouilly, Julienas, Fleurie and Chenas.

Walking

If you are a walker, there are numerous walks, or randonnees in the district, both through paths that are set aside for walking and for self planned walks.

To plan your own walk, consult the Serie Bleue maps, which give detailed tracks, roads, lakes and ancient monuments all around the area. These maps are available at newsagents and supermarkets. The Serie Bleue maps for La Guiche is number 2927 West (St-Bonnet-De-Joux). For the more adventurous, you could try walking from La Guiche through the Bois de la Guiche to Griveris and on to Marizy. There is a lovely restaurant at Marizy, where you could have lunch. Or you could walk to Etang (lake) Rousset. For more information click here.

Bike riding

The country is quite hilly and in general requires medium fitness and a good bike. However the old train line between Cluny and Buxy has been turned into a cycling and walking track and provides a flat route down the valley. It's identified as the 'Voie Vert'. It provides a 60 km. track which has only two major road crossings! Enquire at the tourist office in Cluny for bike hire and directions. For more information click here.

Swimming

As well as the nearby lake of Le Rousset, you might like to drive to the lake at St. Point which is a popular spot for boating swimming and picknicking (cost per car is about A$5). Most of the medium sized towns nearby have public swimming pools. Good public swimming pools are to be found at Cluny, La Clayette and Dompierre- les-Ormes. Macon has 5 pools in one large location by the Saone river. There is (after much controversy) an indoor pool in La Guiche which is due to open in 2007.

Golf

There are two courses just outside Macon and a further course just near the TGV station of Montchanin/le Creusot. Clubs and buggies are for hire with the cost being approx 60 euros. For more information click here and click here.

Canal trips

You can hire a canal boat at Digoin, about 3/4 of an hour drive away, and potter along the tranquil Canal du Centre. If you want to minimise the number of locks encountered, the trip south from Digoin to Roanne has less locks than the trip from Digoin to the north. For more information click here.

Interesting nearby towns

Cluny - Anyone visiting southern Burgundy should not miss a visit to Cluny, where the remains of the Abbey, once the largest in Christendom, are well worth exploring. Follow the the medieval main street up the hill. Climb the cheese tower. Visit the Napoleonic stables and the old walls of the town. See a model of the medieval town in the museum. Visit the market on Saturday morning.

Briancon - A medieval village with a feudal castle perched on the top of a spur. No cars allowed. Walk through the village and visit the castle.

St Gengoux-le-National - Tucked behind the main street is a whole medieval town. Visit the church and walk to the chateau at the bottom of the hill. Market day is Tuesday.

Charolles - A 20 minute car trip to Charolles is well worth a visit, especially on Wednesday morning (market day). Visit the Prieure, now a museum.

La Clayette - A little further away (about 40 minutes) is La Clayette, set beside a splendid lake with its imposing chateau. Don't forget to visit the famous chocolatiers in the main street.

Macon - Macon is a fairly large town, but has an interesting old part in the centre, by the river Saone. The market day is held on Saturday mornings. For supermarket shopping go south of the town. Here you will find a large shopping complex at Carrefour. Don't forget that Monday is a holiday in the region. Carrefour is one of the few large shops open each Monday.

Chateaux

Nearby Chateaux that are open to the public (these are all very different and worth a visit)

Cormatin
St. Point
Pierreclos
Berze-le-Chatel (irregularly)

Interesting sites

Aze: Noted for its prehistoric caves, which you can tour. Also during summer, the local Prieure garden is open and well worth a visit.
Solutre: A prehistoric site with a small museum cut into the side of the hill. Lovely view from the top and some interesting short walks through the vineyards of Pouilly Fuisse.
Suin: The highest point in the area from which on a clear day Mt Blanc can be seen