The must-haves

In Chalon-sur-Saône, history can be seen around every corner…

To learn about history without knowing it, there’s nothing better than a fun tour. If you want to learn something new and get some fresh air, follow the “Chemin de l’Orbandale”, a walking tour of some 30 architectural and historical points of interest in the town center. Audioguides are available for hire from the Tourist Office, enabling you to enjoy the tour with commentary.

Architecturally, Chalon is a feast for the eyes! The city center is brimming with half-timbered houses, towers and turrets, 16th-century fortifications and bastions and, of course, the magnificent Saint-Vincent cathedral.

Saint-Vincent Cathedral

Religious building in Chalon-Sur-Saone

Saint-Vincent Cathedral, seat of the former diocese of Chalon-sur-Saône, comprises the former bishop’s palace, cathedral, cloister and canons’ houses. Built in Romanesque style from 1090 onwards, the cathedral today features a Gothic elevation and a “neo-Gothic” façade. Its simple plan features three naves, a chevet with no ambulatory, and side chapels. Come and discover its ensemble of Romanesque capitals, its 1510 Brussels tapestry and a 16th-century stained-glass window. A tactile model is available for the visually impaired.

©Chalon Sur Saone Orbandale Cathedral Church Heritage 2020 Rozenn Krebel 57|ROZENN KREBEL

Cloitre des Chanoines

Saint-Vincent Cathedral

Today, the cloister of Saint-Vincent Cathedral is the only preserved canonical cloister in Burgundy and Franche-Comté. Its perimeter walls have been dated to around the year 1000, making it even more exceptional. Three wings with three-lobed arched bays date from the 14th century and were rib-vaulted in the 15th century. The north wing is a contemporary reconstruction of a gallery that disappeared in the 19th century. In the spirit of existing medieval and 19th-century capitals, it is adorned with sculptures on capitals in Saint-Marc stone (Burgundy limestone) by sculptor Laetitia de Bazelaire, evoking animals, virtues and the 5 senses.

Accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Heritage Area

Chalon-Sur-Saone Interpretation Center

Come and discover Chalon-sur-Saône, Ville d’Art et d’Histoire, thanks to :
– the permanent exhibition at the Espace Patrimoine, a unique space that reveals the urban evolution of the city since the ancient Roman Cabilonnum ;
– temporary exhibitions focusing on a particular aspect of heritage or architecture;
– guide-lecturers who will take you on general or themed tours of places that are sometimes little-known or closed to the public.
In this thousand-faceted city, you’ll find every style and every era in harmony.

©Nicephore Niepce statue Chalon Sur Saone Jm 2

Nicéphore Niépce Museum

Museum in Chalon-Sur-Saone

Chalon-sur-Saône is the birthplace of Nicéphore Niépce (1765 – 1833), inventor of photography in 1816. Come and discover this unique collection on the origins of the photographic image. In keeping with Niépce’s legacy, the museum deals with the various fields of “photography”, and invites you to take part in a constantly renewed tour combining objects, original images and new technologies.
A regular feature: temporary exhibitions of old and contemporary photographs.

Denon Museum

Museum in Chalon-sur-Saône

The Musée Denon, named after the first director of today’s Musée du Louvre, a native of Chalon-sur-Saône, has been collecting evidence of local and European cultures from the outset. Its collection comprises over 25,000 archaeological objects, 11,000 sculptures, graphic works and ethnographic objects, spanning 100,000 years of history. It is the fruit of individual adventures, of the passion and generosity of men both illustrious and more modest. An expression of creativity, these works of art cannot be reduced to a single artistic movement or art form. Bearers of history, personal experience, feelings and knowledge, or simply linked to a specific use, these museum objects were created one day by a man for other men.