Aluze sits on the heights of the Côte Chalonnaise, surrounded by vineyards and open countryside. Three crosses on the GR7 provide distinctive landmarks in the landscape; a local winery also offers tours and wine tastings. Hiking and wine are therefore two specific highlights of a stay. The Church of Saint-Martin and the history of Aubigny add further historical points of interest. When planning, check trail conditions and visit dates separately: for the GR7, check the current conditions on the section, and for wine visits, arrange your participation in advance.
Crosses, Church and Local History
The Croix du Pâquier stands near the GR7, at the crossroads of the roads to Charrecey and Dennevy, and marks Aluze’s western entrance. The Croix de Mission, dating from 1890, is on the church square along the GR7 and overlooks the valley from the elevated village. The Croix Chaumont, dating from 1810, is on the GR7 at a viewpoint; from there, you can look out over the Saône Valley towards Mercurey and Chalon. Their locations give the crosses different roles in the village landscape: entrance, church square and viewpoint. In this way, the crosses link the route with distinctive landmarks in Aluze.
The Church of Saint-Martin in Aluze was almost entirely rebuilt between 1855 and 1858 by Félix Narjoux, the architect for diocesan buildings. Together with the crosses dating from 1810 and 1890, it offers a perspective on several historic 19th-century structures. At Aubigny in Aluze, Cistercian monks established a grange for Maizières Abbey on a 200-hectare site. This adds a different kind of historic use to the story of the church and crosses: an agricultural outpost belonging to the abbey.
Aluze on the GR7
Stage 18 of the GR7 covers 20.8 kilometres from Santenay to Jambles; Aluze is roughly halfway along. The three crosses are at varying distances from the route: the Croix du Pâquier is near the GR7, while the Croix de Mission and the Croix Chaumont are on the route. Aluze can therefore be considered an intermediate point on this stage, rather than its starting point or destination. If you are planning to hike the GR7, take the full stage length into account and check current trail conditions before setting off.
Wine and Local Visits
Les Champs de l’Abbaye is a winery in Aluze with a tasting cellar for its wines. Since 1997, the winery has operated according to organic principles. Its offerings include cellar tours, vineyard tours and wine tastings, as well as wine-related activities and an introductory course. The activities have different focuses: tours take in the cellar and vineyards, while tastings and the introductory course focus on the wine itself. This connects wine as part of the landscape with practical ways to learn more about it. Arrange dates and participation before your visit.
Discover other destinations: Saint-Usuge, Champlecy, Épinac, Saint-Point, Sens-Sur-Seille, Sornay, Sancé, Saint-Martin-Du-Tartre
For the regional travel overview: Saône-Et-Loire.
