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Chalon sur Saone, France

Self Catering Chalon sur Saone Holiday Cottages and Gites to rent 

Chalon-sur-Saône is located in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France. Chalon-sur-Saône lies in the south of the Burgundy wine region - right in the heart of the 'route de vin' from Beaune to Cluny. When you rent a holiday gite in Chalon-sur-Saône you’re entering a town rich in wine heritage! It is located on what was once a busy port, acting as a distribution point for local wines which were sent up and down the Saône river and the Canal du Centre.

When you stay in a Chalon-sur-Saône holiday cottage be sure to visit the museum which celebrates the fact that it is the birthplace of photography and the man who invented it: Nicéphore Niépce. Nicéphore Niépce also has a lycée (secondary school) named after him. The museum which contains some early photography relics, and is located on the Quai des Messageries in the town, containing more than two million photographs and many old artefacts such as cameras and other equipment for old and modern photography.

If you rent a holiday home in Chalon-sur-Saône in the summer – then be sure to check out in July the international street artists festival, called Chalon dans la Rue ("Chalon in the street"). Over four days, artists from across Europe come to Chalon to perform, mostly for free, in music, theatre, acrobatics, comedy.

Of course when you stay in self catering holiday accommodation in Chalon-sur-Saône there is plenty to do throughout the year. You can visit some of the most outstanding wine-making villages of the Cote de Beaune such as Santenay, Remigny and Puligny-Montrachet. Chalon's port and riverside quarter is also pleasant and well worth a visit.

Historical sights also include: St. Vincent's Cathedral on the Place Saint-Vincent, which has some elements dating from the eighth century and a neoclassical nineteenth century façade. The city square also has a number of cafés and a busy market on Fridays and Sundays.

The Gare de Chalon-sur-Saône railway station offers connections with Paris, Dijon, Lyon and several regional destinations. There is a regular TGV service from Paris to Dijon too.

Geneva is the nearest airport (in Switzerland). Flights arrive into the airport with CityJet, Bmi baby, British Airways, easyjet, Flybe, Jet2, Swiss Air Int. Lyon is another option welcoming scheduled flights and the low cost airline easyJet.

The town is easily located on the A6 route which connects Paris / Lyon / Marseille and the A40 from Switzerland.

The weather here is seasonal, with long dry sunny spells and occasional rain. Spring comes early and usually in May spring slides into summer. High Summer gives temperatures of up to 35C, with long sunny days and warm evenings. Usually there is an Indian summer lasting late into the year.