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ABOVE: A florist shop in Chalon-sur-Saône's
pedestrian zone.
Chalon-sur-Saône,
France
Continued
from: Viking River
Cruises Web links
Our southbound "French Vineyards & Vistas" itinerary began in
Chalon-sur-Saône, a town of about
70,000 inhabitants south of Dijon in Burgundy. (The Viking Burgundy's
itinerary alternates between downriver and upriver sailings, with the latter
departing from Avignon.)
The ship wasn't scheduled to sail
until the next day, so--after boarding and unpacking--we left the quayside and
headed for Chalon's pedestrian area, which was only a block or two away.
It was Saturday afternoon, and the
town center was packed with locals of all ages. Most were shopping, hanging out
in cafés, or buying waffles and pastries at outdoor stands. The florists and
garden shops were doing a healthy business (see photo above), and the weather
was mild enough for colorful outdoor displays of flowers and potted plants.
We spent some time in the
Cathédrale Saint-Vincent, where an impromptu organ concert was taking place.(The
Gothic cathedral was begun in the 13th Century and restored in the mid-19th Century
after being vandalized during the French Revolution.)
One of the more curious sights in
town was the Tour du Doyenné, a 15th Century tower formerly attached to the
cathedral that later was torn down and re-erected in Paris before being acquired
by Jay Gould, the American railroad magnate, and returned to Chalon-sur-Saône as
a gift to the city. (The tower now stands on a small island in the river.)
Chalon is historically important
for several reasons: It was the birthplace of photography in 1822 (Kodak still
has a plant in the city), and it has been an important inland port since the
Canal du Centre was built in the 1700s to connect the Saône River to the Loire.
The city has also been the site of 10 church councils, including one that was
called by Charlemagne in 813.
For more
information on Chalon-sur-Saône, see:
Cruise Photos: Chalon
europeforvisitors.com
These are from the 169 images in my Viking Burgundy
Photo Gallery.
Office du Tourisme -
Chalon-sur-Saône
This site is in French, but you can translate it at
Freetranslation.com.
Next page:
Beaune
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Durant
& Cheryl Imboden's