Mâcon is a small city in east-central France. It is the prefecture of the department of Saône-et-Loire, located in Burgundy. Mâcon is home to over 35,000 residents, who are referred to in French as Mâconnais. The area west and north of Mâcon produces well-known wines from the Chardonnay grape. The best known appellation of the Mâconnais is Pouilly-Fuissé. The city lies on the western bank of the Saône river, between Bresse in the east and the Beaujolais hills in the south. Mâcon is the southernmost city in the region of Burgundy. It is located 65 kilometres (40 miles) north of Lyon and 400 kilometres (249 miles) from Paris.
Mâcon’s town center of extends from Place Gardon, in the north, to the Roundabout of Europe in the south, from Place de la Barre, in the west, to the banks along the Saône in the east of the city. The center is the town’s shopping area. Most shops are located near the Town Hall (rue Carnot, rue Dufour, rue Sigorgne, rue Philibert-Laguiche, rue Dombert, rue Franche, the quay Lamartine, the esplanade Lamartine and rue de la Barre). It is also the historical center of the town. Most monuments are located in that area (Cathedral of Saint-Vincent, Church Saint Pierre…), as are the town’s two museums. The town centre consists of several districts which are all rather different from each other. With its Place aux Herbes, the Saint-Antoine district is the historic heart of Mâcon, despite its relative distance from the Town Hall. This district covers the northern part of the town centre; it is crossed by the rue de Strasbourg and consists of narrow lanes. There is the prefecture of Saône-et-Loire and the old Saint-Vincent Cathedral commonly called the Old Saint-Vincent. Further west lies the Square de la Paix, bordered by the Hôtel-Dieu, the Palais de Justice, Saint-Vincent Cathedral, plus the Vallon des Rigollettes and the Héritan district.
Saint-Clément Catholic Church in the district of Saint-Clément.
Church Saint-Pierre, Place Saint-Pierre, opposite the Town Hall.
The Municipal Olympic Pool of Mâcon.
The Maison des Vins or Maison Maconnaise des Vins, located on De-Lattre de Tassigny Avenue.
The Quai Lamartine (quay), the Vallon des Rigollettes, the Physical Activity Training Course (P.A.P.A) and the Marina: many places suitable for walking and relaxing.
The Theater of Mâcon (public theatre) is located not far from the Maison des vins on the Droits de l’Homme esplanade.
Château Saint-Jean, located in the old commune of Saint-Jean-le-Priche annexed to Mâcon in 1972.
Château des Perrières, on a hill overlooking the town.
