La Boucle de Bourgogne du Sud connects riverbanks, vineyards and historic towns on a circuit between Chalon-sur-Saône and Mâcon. France Vélo Tourisme describes the journey in six sections, while regional tourism guides present it as a loop that can be ridden in full or explored in shorter portions.
Along the Saône: Chalon, Tournus and Mâcon
The river side of the loop uses sections of La Voie Bleue. From Chalon-sur-Saône, the route crosses towards Saint-Marcel and shares part of its course with La Voie Bressane near Ouroux-sur-Saône. It then returns towards the Saône and reaches Tournus along the river corridor.
Tournus is a place to pause for its historic centre and the Romanesque Saint-Philibert abbey. Continuing towards Mâcon, the route passes villages with Romanesque churches. Mâcon’s riverside and historic centre make another useful base for exploring the loop.
The vineyard side and Cluny
The western side offers a different setting. Between Chalon and the Cluny area, the Voie Verte follows a former railway through the Côte Chalonnaise. Givry, Buxy and Saint-Gengoux-le-National provide opportunities to leave the bike for a walk through wine country and historic streets.
Further south, Cormatin’s Renaissance château and gardens are a prominent stop. The route continues through the Grosne valley towards Cluny, where the abbey and medieval town reward a longer visit. Between Cluny and Mâcon, the landscape changes again around the Mâconnais vineyards and the Bois Clair tunnel.
Planning the loop
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Tourisme gives the circuit as 144 km and suggests that visitors can ride it in its entirety or choose part of it. France Vélo Tourisme divides its description into six sections, which is useful when choosing overnight stops or a shorter outing. Local tourism offices also suggest multi-day itineraries with time for visits.
The Bois Clair tunnel between Cluny and Mâcon has a seasonal closure to protect hibernating bats. Tournus Sud Bourgogne Tourisme describes a hillier signed diversion during the closure; check the current opening arrangements before setting out. The same office identifies the loop with the Vélo & Fromages label, making local cheese another theme for stops along the way.