www.macon-tourism.com/fr. A town with a distinctly southern feel, Mâcon’s Old Town on the west bank of the Saône is busy and attractive with pastel-painted buildings, small squares, the usual shady plane trees and two museums.

The Musée Lamartine, is devoted to 19thC poet-politician Alphonse Lamartine. The more general-interest Musée des Ursulines, covers local history and culture. On the corner of place aux Herbes and rue Dombey, one of the most interesting buildings in town is the Maison du Bois, decorated with dozens of carved figures, foliage, twisted, fluted and scaly pillars.

Along the quayside, the Maison Mâconnaise des Vins offers a full range of Mâconnais reds and whites, Beaujolais and even Côte de Beaune wines, plus an informal wine bar-restaurant, www.maison-des-vins.com.