A word from the President

160 million years ago, under a tropical climate, a sea covered this area south of Burgundy . It deposited sediments, forming coral reefs which, fossilized and remarkably resilient, would later form the framework of the Roches de Solutré and Vergisson . These rocks rose and tilted along with the Monts du Mâconnais during the aftershock of the Alpine orogeny. The formation of faults juxtaposed diverse soils , which today influence viticulture . Later, glacial periods sculpted the landscape into its current form.

While vineyards appear dominant, six distinct landscape units contribute to the richness of the Grand Site: rocks , grasslands , vineyards , buildings , forest , and hedgerows , offering striking contrasts between the mineral and the vegetal, the mobile and the still. At the summit of the Roche de Solutré, François Mitterrand recalled the power of the spirit of the place: " From here, I can better perceive what comes and goes, and above all, what does not move. "

But the notoriety of the territory, amplified since the 1980s, has led to a rapid increase in the number of visitors to the site and its poorly controlled consequences: degradation of the natural environment.

While the Grand Site may initially appear to be an ideal tourist destination in Southern Burgundy, it actually derives much of its legitimacy from its environmental initiatives , broadly defined. For over twenty years, successful projects have yielded tangible results on the ground, and many local stakeholders are now taking a fresh look at the approach taken. These efforts must continue, guided by the Single Management Plan , developed in 2017 and the cornerstone of the protection system.

While everyone acknowledges the progress made, changes of varying natures and varying degrees of visibility are being observed in the region: a decline in the number of farmers, increased sensitivity among residents to environmental and health issues, rapid urbanization on the edge of the Grand Site, climate change and its impact on the vineyards, and the disappearance of local businesses. These are all problems to which local stakeholders will need to find solutions in the medium and long term.

Establishing a new, secure, and simplified governance structure , essential for the success of the project , was a primary prerequisite. This has been achieved since January 1, ²⁰¹⁹ , when the Saône-et-Loire Department assumed responsibility for the management of the Grand Site, in full agreement with the Mâcon metropolitan area. A charter , developed collaboratively and signed by all stakeholders in May 2023, has consolidated the new governance and clarified the role of each actor in the Grand Site's management: the municipalities, the metropolitan area, the State and its services, socio-professional organizations, and residents.

The action program for the period 2020-2026 was developed on the occasion of the renewal of the label obtained in October 2020. It aims to mobilize and unite all the driving forces of the territory in order to meet the many expectations of citizens and communities.

It has 4 main axes which clearly express the challenges to be met:

• ♦ Preserve the great landscape and its components
• ♦ Take care of the qualities ofhome, visit and discovery
• ♦ Rely on theits identity of the Grand Site, a lever for tourism development
• ♦ Be an actor in local development and bring the site to life

 

The Saône-et-Loire Department and its partners are committed to the long-term preservation and enhancement of the Solutré Pouilly Vergisson Grand Site of France. Nourished by a history spanning millennia, blending past with present and present with future, the Solutré Pouilly Vergisson Grand Site of France is resolutely focused on the future , confident in the fine values ​​it embodies every day.

André Accary, President of the Department of Saône-et-Loire