Tournus: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

The Abbey of Saint-Philibert is a masterpiece of Romanesque art from the 11th and 12th centuries. Tournus developed on the right bank of the Saône, on a terrace protected from flooding.

Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment can include Tournus in their travel plans as a destination.

Culture and History

The Abbey of Saint-Philibert complex comprises the abbey church, cloister, chapter house, refectory and cellar.

The Church of Sainte-Madeleine was built in the 12th century in the centre of the former Roman castrum and retains a square Romanesque bell tower and a sculpted portal. The Church of La Madeleine can only be viewed from the outside.

The Hôtel-Dieu de Tournus comprises three hospital wards and a pharmacy. The historic hospital wards have been restored with their original furnishings. The Hôtel-Dieu de Tournus offers families discovery booklets with puzzles and games.

The Chapel of Saint-Laurent is a pre-Romanesque building dating from around the year 1000; remnants of paintings have been preserved in its nave. The former Roman castrum is the oldest part of Tournus and has retained its characteristic layout. The Church of Saint-Valérien is considered an abbey chapel dedicated to the original patron saint of Tournus; only its nave remains.

Nature and Trails

The Voie Bleue from Tournus runs along the Saône on a former towpath and is a safe route reserved for pedestrians and cyclists. The Voie Bleue leads from Tournus to Chalon-sur-Saône or Mâcon; returning by train is possible.

The “In the Footsteps of Gerlannus” circular walking route takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes and passes through Tournus’s old town.

Cycling and Museum

The Musée du Vélo displays a bicycle collection unique in France across more than 600 m². At the Musée du Vélo, visitors can try riding a penny-farthing, a Kangaroo bike or another unusual bicycle.

Wine and Tasting

The “Dégustation – Formule découverte” activity includes a guided visit to the educational area and a commented tasting of six wines with charcuterie and cheese. Les Vignerons de Mancey offers a museum tour covering Burgundy, vines and wine, a 110 m² sales and tasting area, and themed tasting workshops.

Other places: Chissey-En-Morvan, Saint-Gengoux-De-Scissé, Chauffailles, Curgy, Épertully, Hurigny, Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux and Crêches-Sur-Saône.

To the higher-level travel overview: Saône-Et-Loire.