A destination for groups

Born on the Saône as a port for the Eduens in Gallic times, Chalon-sur-Saône enjoyed its heyday in the early and late Middle Ages as the capital of the Merovingian kingdom of Burgundy, and later as a venue for major international trade fairs. Chalon-sur-Saône also owes its fame to Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, born here in 1765. He invented photography in 1824, just a few kilometers from here. Now a Ville d’Art et d’Histoire, you’ll discover the old town with its timber-framed houses built between the 15th and 17th centuries, the Cathédrale Saint-Vincent and the classical residences of the 17th and 18th centuries. Special mention must be made of the completely renovated cloister.

Today, the cloister of the Cathédrale Saint-Vincent is the only surviving canons’ 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 arches 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.

The Cathédrale Saint-Vincent features a variety of architectural styles: the oldest parts date back to the 10th century, the nave is Gothic on a Romanesque base, and the choir, cloister and side chapels are entirely Gothic. The façade dates from the late 19th century. It was the first in France to be rebuilt in the neo-Gothic style. The interior features Romanesque capitals, a tapestry dating from 1510, 16th-century stained glass and a number of interesting statues. The choir, cloister and side chapels are entirely Gothic. The façade dates from the late 19th century. It was the first in France to be rebuilt in neo-Gothic style. The interior features Romanesque capitals, a tapestry dating from 1510, 16th-century stained glass and a number of interesting statues.

Chalon-sur-Saône’s first museum, founded in 1866, is as eclectic as its namesake, Dominique Vivant Denon. Numerous prehistoric and historical remains come directly from
the Saône, proving that man occupied the region hundreds of thousands of years ago. The Fine Arts collections focus on the French, Italian, Flemish and Dutch schools of the 17th and 18th centuries. Several rooms are also devoted to Denon and his contemporaries, including a number of local artists.

Chalon-sur-Saône, the birthplace of photography, is home to the 1st European Museum of the Image. Niépce’s photos, personal objects and cameras were collected as early as 1861. Since the Museum opened in 1974,
the collections have grown considerably, and today enable laymen and enlightened amateurs alike to explore the history of photography through cameras and images. Permanent and temporary exhibitions.