The tourist office is on boulevard de la République (July & Aug Mon–Sat 9am–12.30pm & 1.30–7.30pm, Sun 10.30am–12.30pm & 3–6pm; Sept–June Mon–Sat 9am–12.30pm & 1.30–6.30pm, Sun 10am–noon; tel 03.85.48.37.97, www.chalon-sur-saone.net), and gives out excellent Listings and a free town plan. The gare SNCF is just five minutes' walk away at the end of avenue Jean-Jaurès; the bus to Cluny (four daily) leaves from behind platform 1.The most attractive hotel in town is undoubtedly the St-Jean, right on the river bank at 24 quai Gambetta (tel 03.85.48.45.65, fax 03.85.93.62.69; €40–55). For something a little cheaper, there's Hôtel au Vendanges de Bourgogne, 21 rue du Général-Leclerc (tel 03.85.48.01.90; €30–40), with a crêperie downstairs, or the central, no-starred Hôtel Saint-Pierre, 10 place de l'Hôtel de Ville (tel 03.85.48.44.92; €30–40; closed Sun). Camping de la Butte (tel 03.85.48.26.86), 3km east of town in St-Marcel, is accessible on bus #5 during the summer; if you're walking, cross either Pont St-Laurent or Pont J.-Richard and head east. Rue de Strasbourg, across Pont St-Laurent on the so-called île aux restos, is lined with excellent places to eat. The more expensive French or Burgundian restaurants are at the north end, near the bridge: try the Île Bleue at no. 3 (tel 03.85.48.39.83), whose speciality is seafood (from €14), or Le Bistrot at no. 31 (tel 03.85.93.22.01; closed July & Aug; from €12). The vegetarian La Pierre Vive at no. 7 (closed evenings, July & Aug) does an inexpensive buffet at lunchtime, and further down the street, you can choose between Lebanese, Chinese-Vietnamese, Indian and North African food – not to mention local Saônois cuisine. A handful of late-night bars can be found just off rue de Strasbourg, including the Boogie Blues Bar in the cross-street, rue d'Uxelles. In the centre, the place for cafés is place St-Vincent, with its lovely half-timbered houses. For picnic supplies, there are food markets on rue aux Fèvres and place St-Vincent between 8am and noon on Friday and Sunday.
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