Rock of Solutré - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Touroparc Zoo, formerly known Touroparc, is a zoo and amusement park french located in Romaneche-Thorins in the department of Saône-et-Loire, in the Beaujolais. Founded in 1961 by René Livet, it covers an area of ​​12 hectares and is home to around 700 animals belonging to 140 species. It is a permanent member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums and participates in European programs for endangered species.

The Benedictine Abbey of Cluny was founded in the 10th century. Over the centuries, its vast Abbey church extended its influence over the whole of Europe. The abbey was constructed in the Romanesque architectural style, with three churches built in succession from the 4th to the early 12th centuries. The earliest basilica was the world's largest church until St. Peter's Basilica construction began in Rome.

Château de Cormatin is surrounded by moats filled with water and a magnificent 12-hectare park featuring flowerbeds, a traditional kitchen garden, a box tree maze, ornamental lakes, and 200-year-old lime trees. The castle was classified as a historical monument in 1862 and 1903 and various parts of the park were inscribed in 2019.

The castle of Brancion is located in the town of Martailly-lès-Brancion, Saone-et-Loire, 33 km south of Chalon-sur-Saone. this castle was built from the twelfth century on a hill overlooking a pass that borrows the road from Cluny and heading towards the course of the Saone. It was protected as historical monuments, the castle has recovered part of its fortifications, its imposing square dungeon high of three floors, and even its gardens.

This magnificent Romanesque church has an austere façade dating from the 10 and 11C, its warm colors, and mighty walls relieved by Lombard bands. Like many other churches in France, it was secularised as a Temple of Reason during the French Revolution. The church is set in a fortified enclosure, and defense was evidently a factor in the design of the building.

The largest and most popular of all the parks in Lyon is the Parc de la Tête d’Or which was Inaugurated in 1857this urban park inspired by English landscape gardens covers 105 hectares of land. Its 17-hectare lake was created from a branch of the Rhône. In the central part of the park, there is a small zoo, with giraffes, elephants, deer, reptiles, primates, and other animals. There are also sports facilities, such as a velodrome, boules court, mini-golf, horse riding, and a miniature train.