Escapade Nature au cœur du Grand Site de France Solutré Pouilly Vergisson

Departing from Gare Mâcon Loché, this route, 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 surrounding streets are full of surprises, including the 'Vieux Château', the former priory of Tournus Abbey, and the works of artist Ted Nomad.
A few vineyards further on, the village of Chasselas reveals other treasures. Its eighteenth-century château surrounded by vines, beautiful traditional Mâconnaise-style houses, twelfth- and seventeenth-century church and characteristic local heritage.
On to the Grange du Bois. We gradually leave the vineyards for the forest and pastures to reach the gîte, where the first stage of our journey comes to an end. Run by Nathalie, this former café-restaurant dating back to the 1860s is now a favourite spot for hikers looking for a bite to eat or a place to stay. Nearby, the Bonshommes farm offers a chance to discover the small goat's cheeses typical of the region, and a beekeeper sometimes opens his doors for visits and tastings.
The second stage of the tour starts in the woods along the sentier des crêtes. This is a lovely shady section under the 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 summit culminating at 485 m. The route takes in the vineyards of the Pouilly-Fuissé terroir, and begins the descent to the picturesque village of Vergisson. The village is an ideal spot for lunch before heading off to Solutré-Pouilly.
The views of the Roche de Solutré vary depending on where you look. From every angle, it looks like a "petrified ship overlooking a sea of vines", as the local poet Alphonse de Lamartine described it. Treading on its soil, which has been used by humans for 57,000 years, you experience its mystical character, feeling transported back to distant times, connected to our ancestors. It would be a shame not to make the most of this escapade and stop off at the Prehistory Museum, which highlights this incredible site, as well as at the Maison du Grand Site, where you can learn more about all the riches of this Grand Site de France.
Then it's back on to the wine-making villages of Davayé and Fuissé, passing through the hamlet of Pouilly. Many of these cellars are open to the public. Here, wine lovers can discover all the richness and diversity of the terroirs of the Mâconnais.
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 "Lola's Notebook", which tells the story of this timeless adventure.