Chalon sur Saône

Chalon sur Saône is the distribution centre for the wine of La Côte Chalonnaise. It is at the confluence of the rivers Saône and Doubs and heavy and light industries abound from iron and steel to glassware and photographic equipment.

The 6^th Century King Gustram chose Chalon-sur-Saône as the capital of Burgundy. Much later, in 1814 there was a gallant defence of the town which held out against the mighty Austrian army.

There are a number of old houses and a 15^th Century Episcopal palace plus a few remnants of the once formidable ramparts.

Each year, after the Chalonnaise wine harvest, the town is the centre of a fair preceded by a procession of the various wine bodies carrying a statue of St Vincent, the patron saint of wine.

For more tourist information and history, see Premier Pages (Wine Regions, Places of interest)