Saône-et-Loire

Rent-in-France - Self catering French holiday rental cottages and gites, Saône-et-Loire

Search the Rent-in-France directory for self catering holiday homes to rent in Saône-et-Loire, France - Book direct with the owners. The Saône-et-Loire takes its name after the Saône and Loire rivers between which it lies. Formed during the French revolution in March 4 1790 the department combines parts of the provinces of southern Burgundy and Bresse, these two lands had no political or geographical unity nor any common history before they were brought together. The majority of the department history is found in Burgundy especially in the towns of Mâcon, Charolles, Chalon-sur-Saône, Autun and Louhans. The Saône-et-Loire neighbouring departments include Allier, Loire, Rhône, Nièvre, Côte-d'Or, Ain and Jura.

The Saône-et-Loire is the seventh largest department of France. Located in the region of Bourgogne some say this is the most densely populated department in the region. The hills of the Autunois, the region around Mâconnais and  Autun, of the Charollais are situated in the west of the department. Also the industrial heart of the department can be found in the west in Le Creusot and Montceau-les-Mines. The east occupies the northern areas of the plain of Bresse. The river Saône divides the centre and is a tributary of the river Rhône which joins it at Lyon and in turn is connected to the Mediterranean Sea. The Loire river flows in the opposite direction heading towards the Atlantic Ocean, but the two do link between Digoin and Chalon-sur- Saône at the Canal du centre, a centre opened back in 1792 which made it possible for boat traffic to pass from the north of france down to the south

The General Council put forward a proposal to rename the department “Bourgogne-du-Sud” but it was rejected back in 2003.

Places to visit in the Saône-et-Loire, France

Renting a self catering Saône-et-Loire holiday property, France will bring you to an area encircled by three mountain ranges, the Massif Central, the Jura and the Movan. The Saône-et-Loire is an upopulated area surrounded by a number of woodland and lakes particularly in the north of the department. The north was once used as stronghold during the war and has now become a national park that offers a fantastic range of activities for all ages. For any golfing fanatics that may stay in a Saône-et-Loire villa, there are six fantastic courses on offer, including Golf d’Autun, Golf Public de Chalon-sur-Saône, and Golf de Mâcon-la-Salle in La Salle.

Maçon: The capital of the department which is situated in the south. Next to the bordering region of  Rhône-Alpes, Macon is located within the Maçonnais, a fine quality wine producing area. A beautiful city where the streets are covered with wonderful colourful flowers. A visit to the Cathedral St-Vincent is a tourist hot spot and will offer you fantastic views if you can brave the climb to the top. On a clear day you can see as far as Mont Blanc!

Charollais: Located just north west of Maçon this peaceful little town is set within a gentle countryside, famous for its distinctive and highly sought after breed of white cattle.

Louhans: Rent French cottages in Saône-et-Loire and visit this pleasant agricultural town which is found in the east of the department. Eggs, poultry and butter are all locally produced and can be purchased at the local market. The town comes to life when the chicken market is taking place. Our visitors will find at other times the centre offers wonderful relaxing walks with numerous Arabic buildings on show.

Autun: Found in the north of the department, Autun is the perfect place to set up base whilst visiting the national park. The town centre is lined with a number of charming buildings that date back as far as the seventeenth century. It thrived in the Roman times when its ramparts, aquaducts, theatres, and amphitheatre were built but the town re-established itself during the Middle ages and is now once again a prosperous and important town on the map.

Taking a self catering holiday in Saône-et-Loire couldn’t be easier. Lyon is the nearest airport to the Saône-et-Loire. It is serviced by a number of premium and low budget airlines from the UK.  An alternative would be to fly to Paris and take the TGV high speed line to Dijon where you can get another train into the heart of the Saône-et-Loire. From the UK there is always the option of taking the Eurostar all the way from London to Dijon. Dieppe is the nearest port to travel to if you are travelling by ferry. The department itself has a fantastic train network which makes getting from place to place very easy, the terrain is great for driving too so renting a car during your holiday break in Saone-et-Loire could be one way to explore the department. The climate in the Saône-et-Loire is continental with its pleasant summers and calm dry winters. Never too hot or too cold!

Overall, holidaying in Saône-et-Loire, France will offer something for the whole family. These activities on offer can range from the number of watersports available in Autuns Plan d'eau du Vallon or the Port de Plaisance in Mâcon to the number of theme or leisure parks that include the Touroparc in Romanèche Thorins, home to a zoo and many other attractions. The Parc des Combes in Le Creusot includes karting opportunities and a rollercoaster.

The Saône-et-Loire is famous today for its traditional French values such as great wines and fantastic cuisine - these two major factors are what continues to draw visitors to this part of France