A stroll through Châlon-sur-Saône

At the Châlon Sud shopping centre, accessible via Avenue de Verdun, park in the car park in front of the Intersport shop.

(S/E) Cross Avenue de Verdun at the pedestrian crossing and head opposite to take the footbridge over the branch of the Saône known as the Bras de la Genise. On the other side, turn left onto the pedestrian path with the river on your left. Pass the Tour du Doyenné, situated at the tip of the island, continue on, keeping the old hospital on your right, and you’ll reach the Pont Saint-Laurent, which spans the other branch of the Saône.

(1) Cross the bridge and, on the other side, turn left onto the Quai des Messageries promenade. Pass the Nicéphore Niépce Museum on your right, an information board about river floods on your left near a rest area, and you’ll come to a monumental war memorial on the right-hand side of the quay.

(2) Cross the quay – which becomes Quai Gambetta – and take the street to the left of the monument, Rue Caumartin. At the end of the street, turn right and continue straight on along Rue de Lyon at the next junction. Turn left into Passage Milon and you’ll arrive at Place de l’Hôtel de Ville.

(3) The Town Hall is on your right, Saint-Pierre Church on your left and the Denon Museum opposite the church. To the left of the Denon Museum, take Rue Denon. Note, on your left at No. 11, a beautiful carved horse’s head above the building’s doorway. Continue straight on until you reach Rue de la Banque on your left, then follow it until you find yourself facing Square Chabas. Turn right onto Boulevard de la République.

(4) Cross the boulevard and take a short detour to the left to the equestrian statue commemorating the 1870 war, then turn back to follow Boulevard de la République, lined with beautiful late 19th-century buildings, many with sculpted façades. Take particular note, on the right-hand side of the boulevard at the junction with Rue Denon, of the beautiful sculpture of two rams above a window. You’ll come to a large junction wherethe Obelisk of the Canal du Centre stands. Cross over to the opposite side of the square, where you’ll find the Théverin Fountain, and continue on to the Neptune Fountain in Place de Beaune.

(5) Then turn right to cross this square, continue straight ahead along a shopping street, then take the first street on the right in the direction signposted for the tourist office (Rue Saint-Georges), opposite Rue aux Fèvres, which is signposted on the left. You will arrive at Place Pontus de Thiard, with the beautiful Hôtel Lanton de Montcoy, built of stone and brick. Turn left onto Rue Saint-Antoine, cross the pedestrianised shopping street Grande Rue and continue straight ahead to reach Place du Théâtre. Turn right onto Rue aux Fèvres and you’ll arrive at Place Saint-Vincent, a very popular spot with tourists, flanked by beautiful medieval half-timbered houses and the forecourt of Saint-Vincent Cathedral, whose interior is light and colourful.

(6) As you leave the cathedral, turn right onto Rue de l’Évêché, which runs alongside the church. At the end, turn left onto Rue Edgar Quinet – with the former episcopal palace on your left – then turn right onto Rue de la Motte. Follow the bend to the left, then turn right at the large car park and head towards the park which is home to the Geo-Botanical Garden ( picnic tables and public toilets).

(7) After your visit, return to the park’s entrance on Rue Mathias, head left and then take Rue Rempart Sainte-Marie in the same direction. Before reaching the quay, turn right onto Rue des Halles. First turn right then left onto Rue Edgar Quinet and Rue du Cloître Saint-Vincent, passing the entrance to the cloister (beautiful façade, visiting hours displayed). At the end of the street, turn right to reach Place Saint-Vincent.

(6) Walk along the left-hand side of the square, then turn right onto Rue du Blé. At the end of the street, turn left, then take the first left onto Grande Rue. At the junction, continue straight ahead onto Rue du Pont. Cross the branch of the Saône.

(1) On the other side, head diagonally left along Rue de Strasbourg, which is lined with numerous restaurants. At the end of the street, do not cross the bridge leading to another island, but head right along Rue Rempart Saint-Laurent, with the Bras de la Genise on your left. Find the footbridge and cross the Genise to reach the shopping centre car park (S/E).

Very easy city walk; comfortable shoes recommended.

Photo gallery here