Discovering Paray-le-Monial, a major pilgrimage site in Burgundy

Known for its Basilica, a masterpiece of 12th-century Cluniac art, the City of the Sacred Heart is renowned the world over. In the 17th century, Christ appeared three times to a young nun from the Visitation monastery, Marguerite-Marie Alacoque, revealing his Heart to her. She was given the mission of spreading his message: " *Here is the Heart that so loved mankind". Since then, pilgrims have flocked here to rediscover the meaning of their lives in the Heart of Christ, and to have a powerful spiritual experience. The chapels of this major pilgrimage site house the relics of the saint and her spiritual director, Saint Claude La Colombière. The collections at the Musée du Hiéron retrace two millennia of Christian history.

Places to visit in Paray-le-Monial

The town centre

• its historic medieval centre with cobbled streets and half-timbered houses
• the Saint-Nicolas tower: a former 16th-17th century church now used as an exhibition space
• the town hall and its Italianate façade, a Renaissance masterpiece
• Musée Eucharistique du Hiéron: its collections retrace two millennia of Christian history.
• Musée Paul Charnoz: a museum dedicated to mosaics and ceramic tiles
• Maison de la Mosaïque Contemporaine: a place where mosaics are displayed, created, lived and shared. Organisation of international courses and exhibitions. City Centre

The sanctuary

• Basilique du Sacré-Coeur - mass on Saturday and Sunday.
• Chapelle de la Visitation - daily mass.
• Chapelle Saint-Jean - daily mass.
• Colombière Chapel. Basilica

Its parks and gardens

• In the town centre: Jardin de la Poste, Jardin des bords de Bourbince, Jardin du Cloître, Jardin de roses Saint-Hugues, Square du 19 mars 1962 and its mosaic.
• Nearby: the 15-hectare Moulin Liron landscaped park, Verneuil park with its plane trees dating back to 1769, orchard, Emile Debroise peony garden, etc. Cité jardin

Fill up on activities at Paray-le-Monial.

Burgundy-Franche-Comté offers a wide range of experiences that will thrill visitors.

One option is cycling, with its splendid undulating landscapes and a unique network of cycle routes and greenways in France. It's a great place to swap motorised vehicles for a good bike, whether conventional or electric. Some of the main cycling routes in the Charolais-Brionnais region include the Canal de Bourgogne, the Canal du Nivernais, the voie des vignes, and the V50.

Additionally, visitors have the option to explore the area's rich arts and crafts scene, which includes mosaics, ceramics, stained glass, woodturning, soap-making, and pottery. Local craftspeople welcome visitors to their workshops and offer courses and workshops for those interested. Calling all creative individuals!

Additionally, you can take a cruise on one of the region's three canals - the Canal du Centre, the Canal Latéral de la Loire, and the Canal de Roanne. It's a great way to relax as you cross the canal bridge and pass through at least one lock. Calling all adventurous sailors! Digoin cruise

Recommendations and advice Want to get back to basics? Then a visit to Paray-le-Monial is just what you need. Getting there couldn't be easier. To reduce your carbon footprint and preserve this magnificent environment, use public transport and soft mobility solutions, for which there are well-developed networks. From Paris, take the TGV to the Le Creusot-Montchanin stop and an SNCF shuttle (2h15). From Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon and Lyon, take the train or bus from Mâcon. By bike, the town is a stage on the Eurovélo 6. And for a truly eco-responsible holiday, make it a priority to book accommodation that is committed to the ecological transition, and don't hesitate to try seasonal produce from local producers. A wonderful immersion in Paray-le-Monial.

Find out more : Visit Paray-le-Monial, in Burgundy