Hotels in Tournus

Tournus sits on the Saône between Chalon-sur-Saône and Mâcon, and its real draw is the Abbey of Saint-Philibert, one of the most complete Romanesque abbey churches surviving in France, with pale stone walls that most visitors don't expect from a town this size. It's also quietly become a food destination, with a handful of serious restaurants that punch well above what a population of six thousand would suggest, a legacy of chefs who settled here rather than in bigger Burgundy towns.

Be honest: beyond the abbey and the old town's narrow streets, there isn't much to fill more than a day, and evenings are sleepy once the restaurants close. It works best as a base for exploring the Mâconnais and southern Burgundy vineyards by car rather than as a standalone destination. Stay in the old town near the abbey, within walking distance of the best restaurants and the river, rather than out toward the motorway exits.