Tournus, France Cruises

Tournus, France Cruise Port

• One of the town's biggest draws is the Abbaye Saint-Philibert, featuring breathtaking architecture and a lovely bell tower. Along with the building itself, you'll see rare 12th-century mosaics which depict the signs of the zodiac. Wander among the crypt and nave to get the full impact of the church's beauty.
   
• Within a lush green setting about 8 miles east of Tournus is Château de Brancion, a former castle who ruins overlook the Grosne Valley and village of Brancion. Within the castle are rooms belonging to first lords of Brancion and a well-preserved watchtower that provides excellent views.
   
• To see a collection of items relating to the town's history, visit the Musée Greuze located in the former hospital called Hôtel-Dieu. Originally built in the 17th century, the museum is upstairs and features the works of Tournus native and painter Jean-Baptiste Greuze. The collection of bicycles is also quite charming, and you can even take a ride on some of them.
   
• If you're here at least in part for the wine, take a tour of wine country. Chardonnay, for example, is fewer than 10 miles away, and there are plenty of other adorable villages to check out along the way.