Mâcon is the capital of the department of Saône-et-Loire, in Burgundy-Franche-Comté region.
With about 34 000 inhabitants, 60 km south of Chalon-sur-Saône and 80 km north of Lyon, it is the most southern Burgundy city on the west bank of the Saône between Bresse And the Beaujolais to the south.
Its dwellings with colored facades and roofs covered with Romanesque tiles already announce the south. In fact, since the Roman period, Mâcon is a crossroads of roads (by road and river) and is then on the border between the kingdom of France and the Germanic empire until 1600. A position which Authorizes it to levy customs duties ensuring its development.
In addition to the vineyards and farmland surrounding it, the town's economic activity is based on its river port and logistics (road transport).
Mâcon which has preserved its rich historical architectural heritage is also now a privileged tourist stage, offering a varied cultural programming and a quality environment. A marina on the Saône and many gastronomic specialties often linked to its vineyard is to be highlighted.
A walk in the city center allows you to appreciate the historical heritage of Mâcon.
It includes, as far as religious buildings are concerned, the Old Saint-Vincent, namely the remains of the old Romanesque cathedral (towers and entrance porticoes remarkable). Inside, plans and models evoke the history of the classified site (free admission every day except Monday, information on +33 3 85 39 90 38).
Next to see the present Cathedral of Saint Vincent decided and financed by Napoleon (1808). Of classic style, one will notice its stained glass windows and its decoration realized at the end of XIXe.
More recently (1860), the church of Saint-Pierre is the work of a pupil of Viollet le Duc, Berthier. Its three-storeyed façade, its portals with elaborate tympanums, its two steeples with stone arrows, and several listed elements, including a bas-relief of a marble altar by Perrache (18th century).
The old Ursuline convent (17th century), which was later a prison, now houses a museum that evokes the history of the city (archaeological collections), allows to admire the works of local painters but also has a dedicated floor To Lamartine, the famous poet and politician born in Mâcon. Closed on Mondays. Free entry for children under 26 years old. Price: 2.50 euros. Information on +33 3 85 39 90 38.
The Hôtel-Dieu apothecary (18th century), with its ornaments and collections of pharmaceutical equipment, is still to be included in a visit to the city. Free admission.
Place aux Herbes, a detour is needed to admire the Wooden House (end of the 15th) and its wooden facade decorated with scenes sometimes grivoises.
The fortified bridge of Saint-Laurent (13th century, extended in the 16th century), the Mémorial citoyen, a memorial site dedicated to conflicts from 1870 to the present day, with historical evocations and exhibitions (price: 1 and 3 euros, information on +33 3 85 34 51 03) must also be included in a city tour.
For a guided tour or to follow the course with marking and interactive terminals arranged by the Tourist Office, please call +33 3 85 21 07 07.
A walk in the city can include a stage in one of the parks and gardens that make Mâcon a green city (6000 m² of wooded or flowered areas): Saint-Nicolas meadow, valley of the Rigolettes, square of the Peace...
For lovers of hiking or mountain biking, a rich range of routes at the start or crossing the city is available: some include the vineyard, others follow all or part of the dirt road (or haulage when following the Saône) Connecting Mâcon to Lyon (75 km). There is also the blue track (35 km to Tournus) or the greenway (120 km of road reserved for skaters, cyclists or even pedestrians using old railways).
All information on routes and degrees of difficulty, even the possibility of renting bicycles on +33 3 85 21 07 07.
On the river side, learning the pleasures and secrets of catfish fishing is an unusual activity. Please call +33 3 85 39 07 50.
Close to the marina (400 rings) which connects the Saône to the Mediterranean basin, you can also practice water skiing (from mid-June to mid-September). Contact the +33 6 80 75 19 35.
From 1 April to 31 October, why not discover Mâcon and its surroundings by renting a boat without a permit? For further information, please call +33 3 86 91 72 72.
Finally, you will not hesitate to frequent the community aquatic center (open pools accessible in summer, play areas or wellness). Information on +33 3 85 21 11 30.
From the end of June to the end of August, the Été Frappé festival offers concerts of all kinds (classical music, jazz, rock), free of charge, in various places of the city (esplanade Lamartine, Ursulines museum, etc.). Dance shows, theater and screenings of outdoor movies are also offered.
At the end of July, the Crescent Jazz Festival will host internationally renowned artists for a week.
At the beginning of October, the festival Effervescence is aimed at moviegoers on the theme of the 5 senses. Screenings of films and meetings with directors.
In November, on Mâcon and its surroundings, the Festival of the Harvest of Humor makes the show of the show distilling laughter and good humor.
In another register, the rich gourmet heritage of Mâcon and Burgundy can be discovered on the markets of the city: Wednesday morning Place des Commerces, Thursday morning Place Gardon, Saturday morning esplanade Lamartine (with regular entertainment according to Seasons).
Méditations Sonores
- From 4 march to 3 june 2024
- 29 rue Franche, Le Jardin
- Sound meditations with Jérôme Cannet, sound therapist and musician. - Thibetan bowls, drums & voice. - Complimentary herbal tea and nibbles.
Laurent Noël, "Preuves de vie"
- From 2 to 21 april 2024
- Galerie Mary-Ann, Quai Lamartine
- Proof of life - Mare fecit - A painter, engraver and author who lives and works between Anjou and the Atlantic coast, Laurent Noël has developed a series of pictorial, graphic and poetic works inspired by the sea and, more particularly, the deposits of seaweed. - Particularly the deposits of seaweed. - The works (paintings, drawings, large sketches, prints and artist's books) appear as resurgences of moving forms inscribed in our memories, and which each of us can relate to our own history. Laurent Noël uses constantly renewed means to reflect on natural cycles in relation to our humanity, ephemerality, absence, starting again, loss, memory and the fear of forgetting, but also the memory of places, beings and forms. He constantly explores the relationship between nature and the painter, erasure and the trace, the tireless recommencement and the time of painting. - Evening visit on Saturday 13/04/2024 at 8.30pm with the artist (free).
Vernissage Exposition
- From 5 april to 4 may 2024
- 12 Rue Lamartine, Lifestore Minuit Deux
- Minuit Deux is delighted to welcome the work of artist Yolene to the Lifestore and invites you to the preview. - Complimentary house cocktail. - Bao-péro by Foodary with homemade Baos in authentic South-East Asian flavours served with a fresh salad.
Chasse aux Œufs
- From 13 to 27 april 2024
- 1 Place Saint-Pierre, Office de Tourisme Mâcon Sud Bourgogne
- During the Easter holidays, come and find the exact number of Easter eggs hidden in the Tourist Office shop, with free access. The reward is guaranteed !
Vacances Scolaires
- From 15 to 26 april 2024
- 24 rue de l'Héritan, MJC Héritan
- The school holidays provide an opportunity to enrich and deepen the educational programmes and are often used as a pretext for local outings and various excursions. - Programme : - From 15 to 19 April : Chocolate factory country. - And from 22 to 26 April : Around the world !
Le Printemps Arrive
- From 17 to 20 april 2024
- 24 Rue Rambuteau, Kezaco Café-Théâtre
- The show is a veritable hymn to nature and discovery, enhanced by colourful staging and lively music. Children will be captivated by the many colourful characters and marvellous sets, and by the quality of our actors' direction and performance. - The Cicadelle's show "Le printemps arrive" is a real treat for the eyes and ears ! - We invite you to book now to attend this unforgettable show and give your children a moment of pure delight ! - Written and produced by : la Cicadelle and Scène & Vision - Stage direction, set design, actors : Compagnie la Petite Lune - Perrine Jacob
Détenus à Tout Prix
- From 18 to 28 april 2024
- 24 Rue Rambuteau, Kezaco Café-Théâtre
- Between lies, absurdities and ambiguous rumours, the explosive new comedy from the Bistanclac company invites you to escape for 1 hour 15 minutes in this funny and surprising closed-door show ! - Author : Thomas Giraud and Valérian Moutawe - Performers : Thomas Giraud, Valérian Moutawe - Director : Lucie Cottard, Mehdi Benyahia
Salon des Vins de Mâcon
- From 19 to 21 april 2024
- Avenue Pierre Bérégovoy, Parc des expositions
- For several years now, this fair has been a part of the local and even regional landscape and has become increasingly successful. - Mâcon, the capital of Southern Burgundy, is a city whose wine and gastronomic heritage is highly renowned. - This exhibition brings together more than 100 appellations representing the whole of France's wine-growing territory. - Spirits and alcohols will also be present at the show, and visitors will be able to taste cognac, pineau, armagnac, floc de Gascogne, rum and whisky. - The Comité des Salons et Concours de Mâcon, the organising association, wishes to offer visitors a diversity of appellations based above all on quality but also on a balanced representation of the French wine regions. - Wine lovers will thus be able to find, in the alleys, wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Provence, Languedoc Roussillon, the Loire Valley, Alsace, Franche-Comté, Savoie, the Rhone Valley, without forgetting the South-West and Champagne. - The wine fair is also about fifteen stands divided between gastronomy and products associated or derived from wine. - Gourmets will be able to taste oysters, pognes, ravioles, charcuteries, cheeses and many other products of the French soil allowing to make food and wine associations, but also to eat on the show between two tastings or wine discoveries. - Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. Drink in moderation.
Soirée Motown Dance Party ! Soul & Funk
- On 20 april 2024
- Le Crescent, Place Saint-Pierre
- The biggest independent label in the United States, an incredible hit machine and a melting pot of African-American talent, Motown has exerted an immense artistic influence on the world. - Founded 65 years ago in Detroit, Motown forged the sound of black American music, shaped rock and pop, and revealed Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. - For the fourth in our series of evenings dedicated to the legendary American label, our in-house specialist, drummer Daniel Jeand'heur, this time brings together a crack team with singer Mary Clop to perform a new repertoire drawn from compositions by Stevie Wonder, Brenda Holloway, Junior Walker, Diana Ross and many others… - Big sound and big fire for this Motown Dance Party that promises to turn the Crescent upside down ! - With : - Mary Clop - vocals, - Samuel André - trumpet, - Pierre Girard - tenor saxophone, - Manu Borghi - piano, keyboards, - Tom Schmidely - guitar, - Vincent Girard - bass, - Daniel Jeand'heur - drums. - Motown videos - Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours - Four Tops - Bernadette (1967) - https://youtu.be/GXQ3K-RGe60 - Four Tops - Standing In The Shadows Of Love (1967) - https://youtu.be/r80i5rqJoU8
Concours des Grands Vins de France
- On 20 april 2024
- Avenue Pierre Bérégovoy, Parc des expositions
- This competition, reserved for professionals, welcomes over 2,000 tasters over one morning to judge over 7,000 samples from all the French wine-growing regions.