The gare SNCF (adjacent to the gare routière) lies on rue Bigonnet at the southern end of rue Victor-Hugo, but TGV trains leave from Mâcon-Loché station 6km out of town – you'll have to make the connection by taxi. The tourist office, 1 place St Pierre (March–May & Oct Mon–Sat 10am–12.30 & 1.30–6pm; June–Sept Mon–Sat 10am–7pm, Sun 3–6pm; Nov–Feb Mon–Sat 10am–12.30 & 2–6pm; tel 03.85.21.07.07, www.macon-en-ligne.net), has good maps and brochures covering the city and surrounding region.There should be no difficulty finding a place to stay. Across the Pont de St-Laurent is one of the nicest and cheapest hotels, Hôtel du Beaujolais, at 86 place République (tel 03.85.38.42.06, fax 03.85.38.78.02; 30–40), which has very clean, simple rooms, while the Hôtel d'Europe et d'Angleterre, on the river at 92 quai Jean-Jaurès (tel 03.85.38.27.94, fax 03.85.39.22.54, [email protected]; 40–70), has an air of former times – Queen Victoria once stayed here – and the Grand Hôtel de Bourgogne, on the north side of place de la Barre at 6 rue Victor-Hugo (tel 03.85.38.36.57, fax 03.85.38.65.92; 55–70; restaurant from 13), also has character and a lively atmosphere. A good inexpensive, central option is the Relais Fleuri, 26 rue des Minimes (tel 03.85.38.36.02; 30–40). There's a campsite 3km north out of town on the N6 (tel 03.85.38.16.22; closed Nov to mid-March). Mâcon has no shortage of good restaurants to choose from. For cheap eats, head for the river: the pleasant Lamartine, 266 quai Lamartine (closed Mon eve through to Wed lunch), is popular for both meals and drinks, while the St Laurent, on the other side of the river, has great views and menus from 16. Au Rocher de Cancale, 393 quai Jean-Jaurés (tel 03.85.38.07.50; closed Sun evenings & Mon) is a traditional restaurant serving excellent snails and Bresse chicken (menus 16–38), and if you're really pushing the boat out, the elegant Pierre, 7/9 rue Joseph Dufour (tel 03.85.38.14.23; closed Sun evenings & Mon, plus first three weeks in July) is well worth a splurge for a special occasion, not least for its soufflés (menus 20–59).
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