2020-2026, act for the Grand Site

For the new labeling period 2020 – 2026, the Grand Site de France Solutré Pouilly Vergisson project is going back to basics. Attached to a territorial project oriented towards the landscape and the values ​​common to all the Major Sites, the action program responds to the following challenges:

  • preserve the great landscape and its components by integrating the ecological transition and future developments,
  • take care of the qualities of welcome, visit and discovery, in order to raise awareness among visitors, residents and users of the fragility of places,
  • use the identity of the Grand Site as a development lever, for smooth tourism development,
  • be an actor in local development and bring the site to life thanks to the support of residents and socio-economic actors for the project.

Deliberately focused on promoting and developing tourism at the site , the first certification period, between 2013 and 2018, contributed to improving visitor services . Offering and implementing a diverse range of activities , showcasing the region's assets and stakeholders, allowed for the optimization of key infrastructure.

Essential for better management of tourist flows and for enriching the "Grand Site" experience, this objective has now been achieved and is sustainable. For the second, and current, labeling period, from 2020 to 2026, the manager is placing the preservation of the site and supporting its development at the heart of its actions.

The action plan is therefore structured around four main axes actively serving the harmonious and sustainable development of the site.

Preserve the great landscape and its components 

The main component of this second labeling period , it relies primarily on the Single Management Document, developed in 2017, to address major safeguarding issues.

Within the framework of the Natura 2000 scheme , the continued recovery of calcareous grasslands and heathlands, and the maintenance of the quality of forest habitats are major objectives.

Regarding more ordinary nature, actions to preserve meadows, associated hedgerows and support structures for vineyards are being carried out.

Particular attention is being paid to the urban planning aspects of the villages and hamlets within the protected site, with the initiatives undertaken in the municipality of Chasselas (AVAP) intended to serve as an example. However, attention is also being focused on the eastern boundary of the Grand Site, in the immediate vicinity of the city of Mâcon and medium-sized towns such as Charnay-lès-Mâcon and Prissé , which are experiencing increasing urban development.

As the Territorial Coherence Scheme (SCOT) is being developed for the " South Burgundy " territory (Beaujolais, Clunisois, Mâconnais, Tournugeois), the Grand Site wishes to become a strong partner of the PETR South Burgundy which is leading the project, so that special care is taken to the extended perimeter of the Grand Site.

Take care of the qualities of welcome, visit and discovery

The manager of the Grand Site ensures that a quality of welcome is maintained for visitors, in accordance with the spirit of the place and the preservation of the landscape.

Topics such as hiking , tourist accommodation, soft mobility and services to the population are given priority.

A particular focus is on managing the flow of motorhomes and their reception within the perimeter of the Grand Site.

This mode of transport and holidaymaking, increasingly favored by holidaymakers, cannot be neglected in the heart of a protected site, at the risk of generating irreversible nuisances in the short or long term.

The approach to these themes is carried out in partnership with and alongside the relevant institutions , notably Mâconnais Beaujolais Agglomeration for hiking and travel, and the Bourgogne Franche Comté Region for tourist accommodation.

Use the identity of the Grand Site as a lever for tourism development

The aim here is to continue the work undertaken during the first six years of the labeling process , focusing on a range of high-quality activities , events, and entertainment . The program allows visitors to discover the Grand Site from all angles and relies on local contributors (guides, craftspeople, artists, etc.), alongside members of the team.

The two key facilities, Maison du Grand Site and Musée de préhistoire , are the essential anchor points of the programming, but this is intended to extend to each municipality within the perimeter of the Grand Site.

Thus enriched, the visit becomes an experience , raises awareness of the fragile balance between preservation and visitor numbers, encourages further exploration, and invites visitors to take the time to contemplate.

Be an actor in local development and bring the site to life

This new labeling period gives a prominent role to local stakeholders , whether professionals, residents, or associations. Already very active, for the most part, in promoting and protecting this heritage to which they are attached, the aim now is to pool everyone's investment to optimize its effectiveness.

The "Accroches" network, a group of partners of the Grand Site formed over the past few years, continues to welcome new members. Its mission is to promote , alongside the site manager, this exceptional territory, its values, its qualities, its products, and its expertise.

Work must also be undertaken to foster greater ownership of the Maison du Grand Site by the local population. The facility is intended to become a third place open to all initiatives.