The Église Saint-Martin de Grevilly and hiking trails with different geographical contexts offer concrete starting points for a trip combining culture and landscape. When planning, it is worth distinguishing the stage that passes through Grevilly from another route in the wider region.

Romanesque church and long history of settlement

At the heart of the area is the Église Saint-Martin de Grevilly, a Romanesque church dating from the first quarter of the 12th century. The listed site, “Église, cimetière avec ses plantations de sapins et mur de clôture” (church, cemetery with its fir tree plantings and enclosing wall), was protected on 24 March 1942. It stands near the summit of a hill in the Mâconnais range and offers views of the surrounding valleys and the village of Brancion.

Archaeological excavations at the site showed that it was already settled between the 5th and 8th centuries, during the Merovingian period. They also uncovered older elements that predate the present-day foundations. The finds and the construction date of the Romanesque church therefore point to different phases in the site's history: the Merovingian period relates to the site's earlier settlement, not to the dating of the church.

Some details of the church can also be described precisely. The apse has retained its stone-slab roofing, known as lauzes. Saint-Martin de Grevilly also houses a polychrome wooden statue of the crowned Virgin Mary. The Stations of the Cross lithographs were restored with financial support from the local association.

The Saint-Martin de Grevilly association regularly organizes exhibitions and concerts in the church to fund its restoration. If you would like to plan your visit around an event, check the dates before you travel.

Hiking in Grevilly and the wider region

The hiking stage from Tournus to Lugny passes through Grevilly and follows the GR 76B. The section near Grevilly takes you along wide panoramic trails and through vineyards, with views of medieval Brancion. The entire stage is of moderate difficulty, 20.1 kilometres long and takes about 5 hours and 30 minutes. These details refer to the route from Tournus to Lugny, not just the section near Grevilly. Check the latest route information and trail markings before setting out.

In the wider region around Grevilly, the marked route “Lugny, le Mâconnais Panoramique” runs through the area. It is of moderate difficulty and 16.1 kilometres long; the route takes you along scenic trails, past notable buildings and along vineyard paths. At 16.1 kilometres, it is shorter than the 20.1-kilometre stage from Tournus to Lugny. It also differs from the stage that passes through Grevilly in that it covers the wider region. Check current conditions before setting out on this hike too.

Getting to Grevilly

The most scenic way to reach Grevilly is via Ozenay and Chavy. The road then climbs for three kilometres along a winding stretch through a wooded area. If you choose this route for your journey, you can take the described climb into account when planning.

Grevilly therefore offers a range of options for planning a trip: the church, with its Romanesque construction date, archaeological finds and sacred details, and hikes that differ clearly in length and geographical context.

Discover more destinations: Mancey, La Vineuse, Anost, Chamilly, Saint-Vincent-En-Bresse, Montcenis, Lugny, Mussy-Sous-Dun.

View the regional travel overview: Saône-Et-Loire.