The lakes of La Ferté and the Romanesque Circuit give Laives two distinct focal points: water activities at three separate lakes and a signposted route whose information panels explain the panorama across the Chalonnais, the Bresse and the Jura. There are also the Chapelle Lenoux and the Eglise Romane de Saint-Martin-de-Laives, with their artistic and architectural history. If you are looking for a hotel in Laives, considering your main interest can help you choose a focus for your stay.
Lakes and water activities
The lake area of La Ferté in Laives consists of three separate lakes. Swimming and fishing are permitted at one lake; the other two may be used for fishing only. Swimming is supervised from June to August, initially mainly on weekends and daily in July and August. If you are planning a day of swimming, check the supervision times in advance. Private tourism operators at the lake area offer pedal boats, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaks. The permitted activities therefore vary by lake: swimming is limited to the designated lake and the seasonal supervision period, while fishing is permitted at all three lakes.
The Romanesque Circuit: route and panorama
The Romanesque Circuit is 6.5 km long, signposted and rated easy, with an elevation gain of 80 m. It starts and ends at the village’s main car park, in front of the school and the former town hall. Two information panels explain the panorama across the Chalonnais, the Bresse and the Jura. Alongside the route details, they give the walk a specific connection to the landscape. Check the signs and trail conditions locally before setting out.
Churches, frescoes and architectural history
The Eglise Romane de Saint-Martin-de-Laives was built in the early 11th century by Benedictine monks from Saint-Pierre de Chalon-sur-Saône. It was originally entirely Romanesque; two Gothic chapels were added in the 15th and 16th centuries. Its architectural history thus shows the difference between an early Romanesque phase and later Gothic additions.
The Chapelle Lenoux brings religious art and portal sculpture together. Its polychrome frescoes depict the Mass of Saint Gregory and the donor. Above the original portal, Saint Fiacre has been preserved; the portal is adorned with Flamboyant Gothic sculptures. The chapel was built in 1484 by Jean Geliot, parish priest of Touches and a native of Laives. The Chapelle Lenoux dates from considerably later than the Eglise Romane de Saint-Martin-de-Laives, built in the early 11th century; the latter’s two Gothic chapels were added in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Water, a walk or culture?
For planning purposes, water activities and the circuit differ primarily in their time-related and route details: swimming supervision is seasonal, while the circuit is described by its length and elevation gain. If you are looking for a hotel in Laives, this comparison can help you decide what to focus on during your stay.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Rémy, Ciry-Le-Noble, Épinac, Cuisery, Dettey, Nochize, Bissy-Sous-Uxelles, Chevagny-Sur-Guye
Back to the regional travel overview: Saône-Et-Loire.
