| La Maison du Curé was built in 1823 and was, until recently, the house of the priests of Cormatin. It has been skillfully transformed into a cosy family cottage yet many of the original features have been retained.
La Maison du Curé is on a quiet corner not far from the centre of Cormatin and opposite the Chateau. By the side of the cottage stands the Calvaire, and you will find plenty of space for parking.
Upstairs the cottage has three bedrooms, all with washbasins. Sheets and towels are provided and there are plenty of spares in the linen cupboard. There is a bath with shower, and a separate WC. Another shower room and WC is just off the hall downstairs.
Also downstairs is a large sitting room with flat screen TV with satellite channels, and DVD player. The dining room seats six and leads into a modern fully equipped kitchen. Out through the back is the terrace and garden, all completely private and surrounded by a hedge. In the garage you can play table tennis and there are a couple of bikes.
La Maison du Curé is just off the main street of Cormatin and it is a short walk to the two boulangeries and the shops. There is a tabac, post office and grocer's as well as a craft centre housed in the old spinning mill by the river. Here you can buy local gourmet foods and the work of the many local artists and craftsmen.
There is a selection of good eating places to choose from in Cormatin. There is a wide range from the restaurant at the Hôtel Les Bles d'Or, several pavement cafes and bars and a homemade pizza place.
Cormatin is especially renowned for its Louis XIII château with its original decoration and fabulous gardens.
Many people find Cormatin an ideal base for visiting Taizé, the Christian centre, which is five minutes away by car. Young people attend from all over the world for teaching and prayer. The monks hold three Church services a day and all visitors are given a warm welcome.
10km to the south is the famous Abbey town of Cluny. In medieval times Cluny Abbey was described as the light of the world, and its building was the largest in Europe until the rebuilding of St Peter’s in Rome. Although the Abbey was largely destroyed after the Revolution it is still easy to see how impressive it was. There will be a series of events this year to mark its 1100 anniversary.
Due to the influence of Cluny on the area, most of the villages have beautiful Romanesque churches. The one at Brancion, near Tournus, is particularly interesting, and it affords a beautiful view over the Grosne Valley. There is also a 10th century military castle and medieval streets, closed to traffic.
Cormatin is central to the three large towns in South Burgundy which are Chalon, Mâcon and Tournus. All have intriguing medieval centres and awe inspiring Abbeys.
Although Cormatin is set amongst farmland it is central to the three wine growing areas of the region. To the south is the Beaujolais region, to the south east are the Maconnaise vineyards, and to the north you can follow the wine route past Beaune up to Dijon, visiting all the grand cru vineyards such as Clos-Vougeot, Pommard and Nuits-St-Georges.
If you are a cyclist this is the place to be. Cormatin is on the Voie Verte. This is a wonderful cycle track made using the old railway and canal tow paths. It runs the length of southern Burgundy and provides mostly easy cycling. There is also a network of signposted routes through the forests and vineyards, providing breath-taking views over the countryside.
For five weeks in the summer Cormatin plays host to a series of concerts and operas, held in the Chateau theatres. There is also a Guitar festival in August and many musical events are held in the Romanesque churches of the local villages.
Saône-et-Loire is famous for its lively markets. There is the Saturday market in Cluny which is regularly attended by the locals. The Sunday market at Chalon is well worth a visit too. Charolles and St Christopher-en-Brionnais hold cattle markets and you can admire the Charolais, the best beef cattle in France.
There are many museums to visit too. Cormatin has its Musée du Poilu which depicts life in the 1st World War trenches. Chalon was the birthplace of Necephore Niepce who was the inventor of photographer and his home is now a museum of photography.
Cormatin is a magnet for fans of Alphonse Lamartine, the French romantic poet and politician. He was born in Mâcon where there is a museum devoted to his work. Near Cormatin is the château at Milly-Lamartine where he spent his young life. You can follow the Lamartine trail from Cormatin, where he also spent time, to Milly, St Point and Monceau.
Burgundy is known as â le pays du bienâ vivreâ . It is the quintessential heart of French cooking. If you had to quickly think of French dishes you would probably say escargot, beouf bourgogne and coq au vin. All these are local dishes to this area and are often a dish of the day at local restaurants. Lunch is taken very seriously in Burgundy and life stops for everyone between half twelve and two. Watch where the workmen go and there you will find good cooking.
Burgundy is also know for fine drinking, and you can enjoy the wine tasting in the local wine cellars of the wine villages and follow the wine trails which take you past the most famous vineyards of the region. Cormatin has an outlet where you can taste before choosing from an impressive selection of local wines.
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English