Cycling along the Loire, local everyday history and digital art offerings give Iguerande a range of distinctive features. The A4 loop starts in the town; museums and the Romanesque Church of Saint-Marcel add culture to the itinerary. When planning, it is worth distinguishing the 54-kilometre, moderately difficult loop from the much longer Voie Verte, and treating cultural and landscape destinations as separate highlights.

Museums: everyday history and digital art

The Musée Reflet Brionnais explores the everyday lives of the region’s ancestors from 1850 to 1950. Original displays cover bicycles, fishing on the Loire, music and living conditions, as well as winegrowing and its tools, a cellar room with a distillation apparatus, and a wine cellar. The exhibits also include Romanesque art, clothing from earlier times, markets, livestock farming and the grain store. The themes thus range from domestic life and local work to Romanesque art.

The museum is on the hill in the town centre, where the Romanesque Church of Saint-Marcel also stands. It covers 400 square metres and offers a guided tour with commentary.

The Micro-Folie d’Iguerande gives everyone access to art, culture and heritage. Its digital museum displays thousands of digitised works on a large screen and on individual tablets. The Micro-Folie is freely accessible; visits are also available as part of themed guided sessions. This offers different formats side by side: a themed museum visit and digital access to a wide selection of works.

As a public, municipal third place, La Fabrique du Nouveau Monde is open to everyone and is free of charge and freely accessible.

Cycling along the Loire: two different routes

The A4 loop starts in Iguerande, is 54 kilometres long and is rated moderately difficult. By contrast, the Voie Verte, au fil de la Loire follows the meandering Loire for 140 kilometres from Cronat to Iguerande. It runs mostly along greenways and on a section of EuroVelo 6, and is divided into 26 stages. The routes can therefore be distinguished by their different details: the A4’s starting point, length and difficulty level are specified, while the Voie Verte is described as a longer route with endpoints and stages.

The Voie-Verte-71 app can notify users when they are approaching a place of interest. As app features can change, check that this feature is available before your ride. You should also check route conditions and possible diversions before setting off.

Hiking, fishing and a visit to the church

The “Bocage and hills in Brionnais” hike leads to the green slopes on the edge of the Loire. Along the way, you can admire landscapes including valleys, forests and bocage hedgerows. The focus here is on the different landscape types, offering a different perspective on the area from the cycling routes described above.

The aménaged pond at Les Chambons, Iguerande, offers opportunities for fishing. Facilities include children’s play equipment, picnic tables, a fitness trail and sculptures. As facilities may change, check before your visit.

The Romanesque Church of Saint-Marcel is open year-round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except during religious services. Check in advance that your visit time falls within these hours.

Discover more destinations: Mâcon, Chasselas, Bourg-le-Comte, Saint-Firmin, Anost, Le Puley, Saint-Loup-Géanges, Chevagny-Sur-Guye.

For the overview of the wider area: Saône-Et-Loire.