Charolles: come and visit the 'Little Venice of Burgundy'

The Little Venice of the Charolais

Visit Charolles and prepare to be amazed!

Charolles is where the Arconce and Semence rivers of southern Burgundy meet, which is why it quite naturally became known as the 'Little Venice'. It's true that the houses right on the banks of the rivers, the many bridges and footbridges all add to the charm of this little town, which also has its fair share of cultural activities on offer.

On the programme for your visit:

The Church of Sacré Coeur, a Neo-Romanesque monument with a remarkable organ that was designed for the European music of the 17th century.
Clarisses convent inside a bourgeois medieval house
The Musée du Prieuré-Jean Laronze with a fascinating collection of Charolles faïence displayed alongside paintings and sculptures by artists from the Charolais
The Maison du Charolais devoted to the iconic white cows that are reputed for the quality of their meat
The Diamant and Téméraire towers, vestiges of the feudal castle
The Château
The Faïencerie de Charolles (pottery factory)
All sorts of restaurants
and plenty of excursions and great discoveries to be made from Charolles!

The famous white cow of the Charolais

The town of Charolles gave its name to the Charolais region, as well as the iconic breed of white cattle, which has its own PDO (Protected Designation of Origin). This breed produces top-quality meat that is renowned across the globe for being tasty and tender.

Explore

The Maison du Charolais

Visit the Maison du Charolais to find out everything you could possibly know about this beautiful animal thanks to an educational exhibition. It's always a hit with children!

The exhibition covers everything, from the birth of the calf to the beef on your plate. The tour will end with a tasting of the meat.

Visit the Maison du Charolais

Experience

The cattle market

Close to Charolles, the picturesque cattle market in Saint-Christophe-en-Brionnais, the biggest auction market in France, is a must-see while you're in Burgundy.

Every Wednesday, the village springs to life at dawn. It is a curious sight. Throughout the day, the live auctions take place. If you'd like to know more, go on a guided tour organised by the tourist office.

Added bonus: Any time of day, you can come and take a seat and treat yourselves to a nice big rib steak with a glass of Viré-Clessé in a fantastic, welcoming atmosphere.

The cattle market

Application for recognition from

UNESCO

In the Charolais, the local people have shaped a landscape that is particularly suitable for raising cattle: rolling hills, covered in wooded meadows in all the possible shades of green.

The practices and know-how passed on through the centuries make this a dynamic landscape that evolves with the times. This landscape is so exceptional that it has applied to be added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

Where to eat and where to sleep in Charolles?

Bed & breakfasts, hotels, small, intimate restaurant or a fine-dining experience? You're guaranteed to find what you're looking for thanks to our selection.

Hotels - restaurant

Maison Doucet CHAROLLES

Restaurant

Restaurant La Table CHAROLLES

Hotel

Hôtel du Lion d'Or CHAROLLES

Hotel

Hôtel Le Téméraire CHAROLLES

Bed and breakfast

La Berjotine CHAROLLES

Bed and breakfast

Chambres d'Hôtes "Clos de l'Argolay" CHAROLLES

Bed and breakfast

Maison des Pères CHAROLLES

Appartments and Gîtes

l’Arconce CHAROLLES

Restaurant

Le Bistrot du Quai CHAROLLES

Restaurant

Restaurant Le Charolles CHAROLLES

Ready for a bit of shopping?

Arty & On-trend

At the Faïencerie de Charolles

While you're staying in Charolles, make sure you stop by the Faïencerie shop. The FdC (short for Faïencerie de Charolles) is a historic establishment that was created in 1844 and keeps alive this artisanal tradition that is firmly rooted in Burgundy.

Who will be able to resist the idea of treating yourself to a 'glouglou' pitcher, an elegant chandelier or a little piece of furniture? We certainly won't, because we LOVE their products!

Visit the Faïencerie de Charolles shop

Gourmet shopping

The Bonne Maison delicatessen

You are guaranteed to be blown away by the local and original products in this delicatessen!

A favourite of ours is the Brionnais pastis liqueur.

ALCOHOL ABUSE IS DANGEROUS FOR YOUR HEALTH. DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

Find out more about the Bonne Maison shop

Mouthwatering

Dufoux Chocolates

Pretty much an institution as it has been here in Burgundy for over half a century now, and also has shops in La Clayette, Dijon, and Lyon.

The Maison Dufoux creates delicious products while keeping expert know-how alive & innovating to keep up with the times.

Added bonus: it is open to visitors and organises chocolate workshops!

Find out more about the Maison Dufoux

Explore further afield...

A little land dotted with pretty Romanesque churches

Just like a trail of breadcrumbs, Christianity spread across Europe in the Middle Ages. Burgundy is where 2 significant monastic movements originated during this period, and still today, the region boasts the marks of this time, and they are quite spectacular. From north to south, there's a whole host of Romanesque churches and chapels dotted across the land. And in the Charolais-Brionnais in particular, you'll find them everywhere.

Enjoy a moving cultural, bucolic experience in the footsteps of the Romans in the Charolais

Find out more about the 'Chemins du Roman' (Roman Trails)

The Charolais

Charolles is the perfect departure point because there are plenty of cultural excursions nearby, for a complete change of scenery. There are so many experiences on offer in the Charolais.

A church here, a castle there, a natural spot or a remarkable viewpoint... By car, by bike along the EuroVelo6® or by boat on the Canal du Centre, try something new, you won't be disappointed!