Castles of the Saône

A former Burgundian stronghold located on the Franche-Comté side of the Saône River, Auxonne boasts a rare military heritage. A museum housed in the Château Louis XI is dedicated to Bonaparte, who trained there as an artillery officer,his room is still preserved. The arsenal built by Vauban now serves as a covered market. Moor your license-free boat and explore the town on foot to discover all its charm: ramparts, the Porte de Comté, the Royal Gate, and the 13th-century Church of Notre-Dame.

A Green Resort at the meeting point of six waterways. Enjoy fishing, swimming, or walking/biking along the “Voie Bleue.” Visit the peninsula village center, the 18th-century Saint-Maurice Church, and panoramic views from the Mont Ardoux Virgin statue.

Formerly the largest blast furnace in the Saône Valley, the Echalonges forge complex includes workers’ housing, a coal hall, the master’s residence, a canal system, and an old hand-powered wash house,still visible today.

A pleasant stop on the Petite Saône, Mantoche enchants visitors with its former merchants’ houses, its 18th-century church, and its château.