La Tuilerie, 71460 Cormatin, South Burgundy (Saône-et-Loire 71), Tel: 00 33 385 50 19 55

This part of Burgundy is famous for its magnificent châteaux and Romanesque churches along with the numerous towns and villages of unrivalled beauty.

Cormatin itself has a very fine example of a château with extensive gardens you can wander around and imagine yourself as one of the Ducs de Bourgogne! On your journey from the motorway to La Tuilerie you will pass a number of other lovely châteaux, some open to the public. Around Cormatin there are many fine examples of Romanesque villages where you can stroll along the cobbled streets, take in the village life at a kerb side café, enjoy the bustle of market day and absorb the peace and tranquillity of the exquisite Romanesque churches.

Cluny, "the light of the world", where the largest church in Christendom was built is just 10 minutes away by car. A tour of this church is a must. Although there is virtually nothing left of the vast original abbey, the tour (from the tourist information office) takes you through where the church stood and allows you to experience the grandeur and awe of the original magnificent monument built to the glory of God. The "miniature" version is still standing in Paray-le-Monial and is well worth a visit.

Religion has seeped into the fabric of the region and the community of Taizé is just around the corner (3km walking or 5km by car). Taizé attracts young people from around the world and is famous for its "Taizé Songs" (a modern version of Gregorian chants). The church services at Taizé are also worth a visit just to absorb the atmosphere that this unique place exudes. A little further away is the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Europe, the Temple of the Thousand Buddhas (Kagyu Ling) at La Boulaye, well worth the experience. Kagyu Ling is in harmony with, but strangely in contrast to, the green rolling hills of the Burgundy landscape. Hundreds of Buddhists come to La Boulaye every year to take part in the many ceremonies and many other people come just to experience and take part in a Buddhist service.

The nearby town of Tournus is worth a visit with its abbey church and Beaune is also close by. Give yourself the time to wander around the streets of Beaune and visit the stunning Hôtel-Dieu (used as a hospital for the people until 1971), with its spectacular roofs, a complete surprise. Also within the hospital complex is the famous altar piece "The last judgement" by the Flemish artist Rogier van der Weyden, that attracts tourists from around the world. Also in Beaune are a number of small museums, most notably the wine museum telling you all about wine from grafting on to the vine to producing the finished article.

Dijon, the home of mustard, is well worth a full day trip. There is the Dukes' palace, the cathedral and you can't avoid sampling the fabulous restaurants. A day in Dijon would not be complete without buying yourself some pots of the real stuff, available in many flavours. The mustard with blackcurrant is quite something else!

Lyon is also an interesting day trip with its small hidden alleyways between and within the houses, when you find out how the system works, you will spend all morning going up and down these secret passages enjoying the surprise as to where you reappear on the other side.

Why not be a bit adventurous and visit the caves at Azé or Blanot and see the marvels of nature in the underground caverns.

Over and above all else, Burgundy is known for its food and wine. Good living has been made into an art form here. You can enjoy the wine tasting available in the local "caves" that you discover on your travels or you can follow the numerous "wine trails" (Côte Chalonaise and Mâconnais & Beaujolais) that take you past the best and most famous houses of the region.

France is famous for its cuisine, but even the French call Burgundy the gastronomic region. Lunch and dinner are essential parts of each day. They should be taken seriously and enjoyed to the full, whether you sit on the terrace of the local brasserie or you enjoy the full silver service of some of the best restaurants in France, each meal will be a treat you will savour. For that special dinner, you can choose from one of the many highly rated restaurants within reach of La Tuilerie.

But you don't have to go home kilos heavier; the great outdoors of Burgundy is ideal for pursuing a wide range of sporting and leisure activities and is also perfect for nature lovers. "La Voie Verte", translated as "the green trail", passes within metres of La Tuilerie and runs the length of South Burgundy. This path that used to be in part an old railway line and in part an old canal towpath, is now used by cyclists, skaters and walkers, and takes you easily from one delightful village to the next in perfect safety.

Fishing is a big pastime around here, bring your own rods and we can arrange licenses for you.

Or you could just walk around the local lanes or in the forest across the road breathing in the pure air and enjoying the wildlife along the way.

There are many local festivals going on all year round; we keep up to date with the latest events so we can tell you what's on and where. The real way to experience France is to do as the French do, visit these festivals, visit the markets and poke around in the local brocante. You can even try and find that essential souvenir to bring a little bit of Burgundy home with you.

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