Voie Verte de la Cluny Forest & Grosne Valley
The Voie Verte greenway that threads south from Cluny along the Grosne river valley is one of Burgundy's most rewarding easy cycles: flat, car-free and lined with Charolais cattle, Romanesque village churches and the kind of dappled light that makes you stop every five minutes to take photographs.
The Route
The main Voie Verte (V50) runs on a converted railway track from Cluny south through Cormatin, Sennecey-le-Grand and eventually to Chalon-sur-Saône — a full 55 km of smooth tarmac with virtually no gradient. Most visitors cycle the first 12 km to Cormatin and back, a leisurely half-day that passes through the villages of Saint-Gengoux-le-National and Laives.
The detour to Cormatin is justified by the Château de Cormatin, a moated 17th-century château whose gilded Louis XIII interiors are among the most lavish in Burgundy and whose formal gardens are free to wander.
Wildlife and Scenery
The Grosne valley is a designated natural corridor and the greenway passes through wet meadows that in May and June are thick with marsh orchids, yellow flag iris and the occasional flash of a kingfisher over the river. White Charolais cattle graze on both sides of the path for most of the route.
The Forêt de Cluny to the north-east of town is a separate pleasure: a mixed oak and hornbeam forest criss-crossed with signed walking trails. The 7 km Sentier des Moines loop is the most rewarding, passing a medieval fish pond and a chapel ruin.
Practicalities
Bikes can be hired in Cluny from Vélo Passion Cluny near the abbey car park; e-bikes are available for those who want to extend the route south without effort. Helmets are included in the rental price.
The Voie Verte is accessible year-round but the Grosne valley is at its most beautiful in late April–May (wildflowers) and October (autumn colour). Avoid August weekends when the path gets busy with families.
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