Escapade Nature au cœur du Grand Site de France Solutré Pouilly Vergisson
Departing from Gare Mâcon Loché, this itinerary, in the heart of the Solutré Pouilly Vergisson Grand Site de France, starts out in the Mâconnais vineyards to reach the Bois de Fée. Here, you can enjoy the coolness under the pine trees, then admire the open landscape over the Arlois valley from the clearing before beginning the descent to the village of Leynes.
This pretty village, built of pink Burgundy stone, is well worth a visit and a break in the village square. It's a lively place on festival days, with an inn and a pétanque court lined with plane trees. Peaceful the rest of the year, when only the needles of the bell tower remind us of the passage of time. The narrow streets around the village are full of surprises, including the "Vieux Château", a former priory of the Tournus abbey, and the works of artist Ted Nomad.
A few vineyards away, the village of Chasselas reveals other treasures. Its 18th-century château surrounded by vineyards, beautiful traditional Mâcon-style houses, 12th- and 17th-century church and characteristic local heritage.
On to the Grange du Bois. Gradually, we leave the vineyards for the forest and pastures to reach the gîte, where the first stage of our journey comes to an end. Owned by Nathalie, this former café-restaurant dating from the 1860s is now a popular spot for hikers to eat or stay. Nearby, the Ferme des Bonshommes (Bonshommes farm) offers the chance to discover the region's typical goat cheeses, and a beekeeper sometimes opens his doors to visitors and tasters.
The second stage of the tour starts in the woods on the sentier des crêtes. A lovely shady section under Douglas fir, oak and birch trees... The trail opens out onto an open landscape, with a magnificent view of the Roche de Vergisson and its steep, 485 m-high summit. The route continues through the vineyards of the Pouilly-Fuissé terroir, descending to the picturesque village of Vergisson. The village is an ideal spot for lunch before heading off to Solutré-Pouilly.
Views of the Roche de Solutré vary depending on where you look. From every angle, it looks like a "petrified ship overhanging a sea of vines", as local poet Alphonse de Lamartine described it. Treading on its soil, which has been used by man for 57,000 years, we experience its mystical character, feeling transported to distant times, connected to our ancestors. It would be a pity not to take advantage of this escapade to make a stop at the Prehistory Museum, highlighting this incredible site, as well as at the Maison du Grand Site for a better understanding of all the riches of this Grand Site de France.
Then it's back on to the wine villages of Davayé and Fuissé, passing through the hamlet of Pouilly. Numerous wine cellars are open to the public. Here, wine lovers can discover all the richness and diversity of the Mâconnais terroirs.
The return journey to Mâcon Loché station follows the same route as the outward journey, passing through the Pouilly-Vinzelles and Pouilly-Loché appellations.
To find out more about this wonderful escapade, you can download "Carnet de Lola", the story of this timeless adventure.
