Page 144 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

142 BACK ROADS FRANCE

4 Roche de Solutré
Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne; 71960
Surging up from the slopes of vines above the village of Solutré-
Pouilly, the Roche de Solutré is a striking limestone escarpment
which has a profile likened to the Sphinx.

A 45-minute walking tour the path to the left is shorter but also
The main car park is just off the D54 at much steeper; the main trail is gently
the foothills of the Roche de Solutré. sloped. The 3-km (2-mile) return walk
From here a path leads to Crot-du- is graded easy, and it takes about 20
Charnier, a prehistoric mass grave. minutes to reach the top. The trail
Near it is the subterranean Musée leads through cliffs and vine yards to
Départemental de la Préhistoire de an enclosed pad dock. The path forks
Solutré 1 (closed Dec), showcasing the again here from where the summit
site’s his tory and the archaeologi cal trail is clearly marked.
excavations that have been carried The trail has a few viewpoints, and
out here since the 1860s. The escarp- 360-degree views are on offer at the
ment, aside from being a geo logical summit: the Saône Valley can be seen
phenome non, also holds great archae- to the east, and on a clear day the
ological interest as the site of a pre- Jura mountains and the Mont Blanc
historic hunting ground. Excavations chain; to the north is Vergisson
Above Limestone escarpment of Roche have found animal bones, stone tools village with its own distinctive ochre-
de Solutré and other flint artifacts showing hued Roche de Vergisson; to the
evidence of occupation 15,000 or south is the village of Solutré-Pouilly.
VISITING ROCHE DE SOLUTRÉ more years ago. The hunt ing site is Visitors can extend their walk to
preserved in the Parc Archéologique Solutré-Pouilly by taking the path
Tourist Information et Botanique 2 run by the museum. from the base of the rock or retrace
The Tourist Information office is at the From here, the Sentier Pedestre trail their steps to the car park.
Maison Du Grand Site, near the Musée.
Rue Fernand Bucchianeri, Solutré-Pouilly, – marked with yellow signs – leads to ª Head back to the D54, then the
71960; 03 85 35 82 81; www.solutre.com the 493-m (1,617-ft) summit 3. After D31 and then turn left at La Grange du
about 100 m (328 ft) the trail forks; Bois onto the D627 to reach the Col.
Parking
There are parking zones alongside
the D54.

WHERE TO STAY
0 metres 100
SAINTAMOURBELLEVUE
Auberge du Paradis moderate 0 yards 100
This old stone hotel has been rendered
fresh and fashionable while retaining
some retro artifacts. It has eight rooms
with creative names such as Gingembre,
Muscade and Cumin. They are painted Sentier Pedestre
in warm tones and come with luxury
fittings. Delicious home-made produce
is used for break fast, this is served in
the pretty courtyard. Summit
Avenue Plâtre Durand, 71570; 03 85 37
10 26; www.aubergeduparadis.fr; Sentier Pedestre
closed Jan
Parc Archéologique
Musée Départmental et Botanique
ROMANÈCHETHORINS de la Préhistoire de Solutré
Les Maritonnes Hôtel-Restaurant
moderate
This is a family-run Beaujolais country SOL UTRÉ-
house with 25 rooms, period furniture, POUILLY
bar, pool and park. The restaurant
serves regional cuisine and French D54
favourites and the menu is moderately D54
to expensively priced.
Route de Fleurie, 71570; 03 85 35 51 70;
www.lespritblanc.com
Where to Stay: inexpensive, under €70; moderate, €70–€150; expensive, over €150