Guest reviews
Cottages The Wine Press and The Little House, to discover South Burgundy
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Our two cottages are located in a quiet village in the heart of the vineyards, 12km from Chalon-sur-Saône and 30km from Beaune, on the wine route, the ‘Route des Vins’, between Mercurey and Givry.
Renovated in an old winery courtyard complex, they are furnished in a simple and homely style which makes for a comfortable, relaxing visit.
The village, Saint-Martin-sous-Montaigu, is in a very central location for discovering the cultural and heritage riches of South Burgundy. Your visit can take in sites from Beaune to Cluny (or further south to Solutré) or from Autun in the west to Chalon and Tournus to the east, passing by real jewels like the castles of Sercy and La Rochepot.
The surrounding hills, parts of which are classified by the EU as ‘Natura 2000’ sites, offer numerous possibilities for hiking starting from the front door of your cottage.
Our corner of Burgundy is full of well kept secrets and we will be more than happy to help you find them - panoramic views, bike paths, canals, lakes, hidden villages and local products.
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Visits and Activities
Places we recommend, historical highlights, activities for family ...
Tourism
Autun
Location: 45km West of the cottages.
Nearby: castle of Sully, Morvan landscapes, castle of Couches
Why we love this place:
It is a unique place which combines Roman and Gallic remains, walls from the early Middle Ages and Gothic monuments. There you wil find :
- a roman theater, set into a green hill, 148m in diameter measurement which could accommodate up to 20,000 people. It was more important than the theaters (now extinct) in Nimes and Arles. Partially restored, it is now the place for cultural and folkloric events,
- The Gallo-Roman temple of Janus, 27m in height: it combined the two local methods of construction, Roman construction in stone and the architecture of Gallic monuments and temples using wood.
Tourism
Beaune
Location: 35km north of the cottages.
Nearby: the castle of La Rochepot, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Nolay village, Citeaux abbey
Why we recommend Beaune:
- l'Hotel-Dieu (Hospices), now turned into a hospital museum to show the public the methods of care in the Middle Ages. It was founded in the fifteenth century by Nicolas Rollin to accommodate the poor and plague victims. It has become a symbol of Burgundy thanks to its beautiful courtyard and its glazed tiles originating from Central Europe.
Tourism
Buxy
Location: South of cottages towards Cluny, 20km south of Chalon
Nearby: the "Voie Verte" cycle track, the wine appellation Montagny, Bissy-sur-Fley village, Mont Avril views
Why we recommend this place:
- The relaxed atmosphere of this little town of 2,200 inhabitants and its sloping main street lined with plane trees which give it an almost Mediterranean atmosphere.
- Many old buildings : the Red Tower which is part of the remains of the old fortifications of the XIIth century, the restored homes of the XVth and XVIth centuries, ...
Tourism
Chalon-sur-Saône
Location: 12km East of the cottage
Nearby: the Côte Chalonnaise, Mercurey, Givry, the "Voie Verte" cycle track
What is worth the visit in Chalon :
- finding and visiting places not so easily found or well publicised, old bridges, chapels, facades and fortifications.The Espace Patrimoine of the City of Chalon has permanent and temporary exhibitions about local architecture and heritage spaces with information available in English.
See the brochure "Laissez-vous conter Chalon-sur-Saône". - the pedestrian centre with facades and old houses, the square of St Vincent in front of the Cathedral with the market on Sunday and Friday morning,
- the free museums
Tourism
Castle of Brancion
Location: 45km South of the cottages, 13km from Tournus
Nearby: Tournus, Saint Gengoux, Cormatin, Taizé, Cluny, Chapaize.
Why we love this place:
- it is real eagle's nest as the Chateau of Brancion overlooks the picturesque medieval village of the same name,
- St. Peter's Church, which is one of the most beautiful Romanesque churches of Burgundy , is situated at the end of the outcrop. From this vantage point you have a beautiful view across the Clunisois countryside,
Tourism
Castle of Cormatin
Location: 45km south of the cottages, 10km north of Cluny.
Nearby: Cluny, Tournus, Saint Gengoux, Taizé, Chapaize and numerous Romanesque chapels, the "Voie Verte".
Why we love this place :
- the visit is well documented, varied and accessible to all. Information cards are available in English.
- the 12ha park is beautiful with its ponds, a dovecote that dominates the famous labyrinth of boxwood, and a rustic garden, or "potager", adjoining the farm buildings,
Tourism
Castle of Germolles
Location: at 3 km from the gites
A proximité: Givry, Mercurey, Chalon, the "Voie Verte" cycle track.
Why we recommend this visit:
- the Chateau is very easy to find. From the Côte Chalonnaise roundabout on the D 978 follow the sign pointing to the "Unique palais princier des Ducs de Bourgogne", (Unique princely palace of the Dukes of Burgundy)
- the visits conducted by the owners themselves are exceptional, both for their historical quality and also for the passion the owners convey for the Chateau. They are constantly researching and looking for ways to make new parts of the castle and its dependencies (chapels, pantry etc.) accessible to visitors.
Tourism
Castle of la Rochepot
Location: 25km northwest of cottages, 15km southwest of Beaune.
Nearby: Beaune, Nolay, Cirque du bout du Monde, Meursault, Pommard, Santenay, Chassagne-Montrachet, Chagny.
Why we love this place:
- symbolizing Burgundy with its elegance and its glazed tiles, it combines perfectly with a visit to Beaune and the Hospices,
- this castle is a perfect example of Renaissance architecture as represented by a drawbridge, battlements, spiral staircases, curtain walls, octagonal turrets, mullioned windows, fireplaces etc ...
Tourism
Castle of Rully
Location: 6km from the cottages.
Nearby: the village of Rully, Mercurey, village of Fontaines (with its 'lavoirs'), the caves of Agneux
Why we love this place:
- this chateau, whose keep dates from the twelfth century, is easily accessible from the cottages, notably by a small road through the valley at the foot of the village of Aluze. This offers a breathtaking and timeless view of the chateau,
- the visit, led by the owners, which is rich in anecdotes about the chateau (unfortunately the castle is unoften opened),
- the pleasant walk around and through the village of Rully. There are signs to the walk near the Chateau and the walk provides superb views over the vineyards of the Côte Chalonnaise and the plain of the Saône.
Tourism
Castle of Sercy
Location: south of the cottages, 25km from Cluny.
Nearby: Saint Gengoux, Buxy, Cormatin, Taizé, Cluny, Chapaize church and The Voie Verte.
Why we love this place:
The view from the road provides an overview of the south wing and gives an idea of the different periods of construction (and reconstruction) of the chateau - one of the most original in Burgundy.
Its wooden palisade is exceptional : it is probably the only example from this period still intact in France. The palisades, designed for sending projectiles through the gaps, were replaced later by stone machicolations (similar to the Palais des Papes in Avignon.
Tourism
Castle of Sully
Location: 40km northwest from the cottages, 15km from Autun.
Nearby: Couches, Autun, Bibracte, the Morvan.
Why we like this place:
- a guided tour with variety and accessible to all,
- the many activities offered to children,
- the diversity of the visit: the different architectural styles of the castle, the park, the vegetable garden, the moats, the outbuildings, ....
Tourism
Couches
Location: et 18km west of the cottages on the road to Autun.
Nearby: the Mont Rome (panoramic views), the Canal du Centre
Why we like this place:
- the Chateau of Couches known as the "Chateau de Marguerite de Bourgogne" (Margaret of Burgundy) : during the evolution of the buildings the castle has undergone many transformations. Despite some destruction, it retains great architectural diversity: dungeon and underground galleries of the twelfth century, the tower of justice and chapel of the fifteenth century, the residence of the nineteenth century built in the "Troubadour" style...
- since it was acquired in 2009, the owners of the Chateau have made substantial efforts to develop and renovate the site. Based on the increasing diversity of places to discover, the quality of the visits is improving year by year. The final tour through the underground galleries appeals to both young and old,
Tourism
Paray-Le-Monial
Location:70 km southwest of cottages.
Nearby: Digoin et son pont canal, chateau de La Clayette, chapelles de Gourdon, Bois Sainte Marie et Montceaux-l'Etoile - on the way are located the coal mine museum (Torcy) and the impresive former tiles plant (Ciry-le-Noble), both worth visiting.
Why we recommend Paray-le-Monial:
- the basilica of the Sacred Heart (la basilique du Sacré Coeur), certainly the most successful construction of the Cluniac Romanesque style of architecture,
- the annexes of the basilica - the cloister, the museum of earthenware, the chapels - and the walk along the river Bourbince,
- the facade and carved medallions of the Town Hall (the maison Jayet) dating from the sixteenth century,
Tourism
Saint Gengoux
Location: 35km south from the cottages, 20km from Cluny.
Nearby: Chapaize chapel, the village and castle of Cormatin, the Taizé community, the Blanot caves, the Voie Verte.
Why we love this place:
- for the many windows, doors, turrets, and corbelled staircases dotting the historic centre of Saint Gengoux. Here you have the enjoyment of visiting a little known place which is outside the well-worn tourist routes.
- the church built in 1120 by the Benedictines of Cluny and rebuilt in the sixteenth century. It is listed on the Federation of Cluniac Sites (note the footbridge between the bell tower and the traditional tour).
- the half-timbered fifteenth-century houses, typical of the Burgundian architecture of the time.
Tourism
Tournus
Location: 40km southeast from the cottages, 30km south of Chalon/Saone.
Nearby: Cuisery (Eden Centre and booksellers) Chapaize, Brancion, National Nature Reserve of Truchère
Why we recommend this place:
- the austere beauty of the abbey of Saint Philibert, at the pinnacle of Romanesque art, with exceptional light brought into the abbey by the double row of openings along the nave. It is the only monastery complex of the XII century still preserved in Europe,
- the annexes of the abbey: the cloister, the cellar, the chapter house, the refectory. At 33m in length the refectory once housed a tennis court, ‘un jeu de paume’, in the seventeenth century,
- the guided walk through the streets of the old town of Tournus, its artisans, its exhibition venues and the ‘almost Mediterranean’ atmosphere in the city. A self-guided tour, where you follow golden triangles on the ground, is available at the tourist office,
Tourism
Our "Valley des Vaux"
Location: 12km from Chalon, the valley where our cottages are located.
Nearby: Traditional villages, the Wine Route, chapels and many walks.
Why we love this place:
- the gentle hills of the valley of Vaux, representative of the Côte Chalonnaise, which mixes landscapes of vineyards, groves, meadows and forests (many walks and strolls from the gites),
- of course many winemakers to visit (Mercurey appellation) ...
- its accessibility and calm: our village of Saint Martin sous Montaigu is in the heart of the valley, near Chalon, Mercurey and Givry.
Tourism
Bibracte
Location: 70km west of the cottages, after Autun.
Nearby: the Morvan wild region, Autun, Uchon rocks.
Why we like this place:
- Bibracte is the site of a fortified city founded in the 2nd century BC by one of the tribes of Gaul, the Eduens. It consists of several neighborhoods spread over more than 200ha. Walking around Bibracte is a bit like going for a walk on several sites from different eras with, for each one, their own excavations and panels with detailed explanations.
- The walking paths on the site (classified Natura 2000), and in particular the walk from the museum to the top of Mont Beuvray (from 650m to 800m of altitude), are very pleasant. You pass through the forest of beeches and ancient tortuous oaks which are magnificent, displaying superb colours in autumn.
Our sustainable development approach
Beyond our hospitable welcome, we are committed to providing our guests with a healthy and natural environment when they stay at our gites.
Each year we add new ideas to enrich our "sustainable development" approach.
Some of our actions, like the use of laundry and cleaning products based on natural ingredients, may not be very visible but we are convinced that these actions contribute to the quality of your stay in our little corner of Burgundy.
An environment preserved
The chateau of Germolles is 3km away
The chateau of Germolles, the best preserved residence of the Dukes of Burgundy (late 14th century), was a palatial country residence of a "shepherdess princess".
The visits are enriched by the fascinating stories told by the owners who are passionate about their Chateau and its past history.
There are a number of public lectures throughout the year as well as workshops for children.
At only 3 km from the gîtes, you can ride there by bike.
