Circuit parcs et jardins de Paray-le-Monial

Departure from the Tourist Office (1). Go to the right of the basilica and enter the cloister garden (2). This garden intends to suggest the allure, the charms and the mysteries of medieval gardens. Take Avenue Jean Paul II and enter the Saint-Hugues garden (behind the Tourist Office) (3). It hosts more than 500 fragrant roses. Single flowered roses, double flowered roses, climbers, shrubs, tea hybrids, English, old or contemporary. At the exit of the park, go behind the basilica (at the level of the chevet) and enter the park of the Chapelains (4). In 1890, two avenues of plane trees were planted to form a cross and create a veritable cathedral of greenery. Then turn right on rue de la Visitation. At the crossroads, turn right on rue de la Paix and then on avenue de Charolles. On the left, a metallic gate allows you to enter the park of Verneuil (5). It is lined with plane trees planted in 1769 by order of the 62nd and last abbot of Cluny, Cardinal de la Rochefoucauld. This ensemble forms a majestic vault, often compared to a plant cathedral. Go back to the city center, rue de la Paix, and continue straight ahead. On the left is the Square du 19 mars 1962 (6). It is decorated with a mosaic commissioned in 1997 by the city to members of the association Paul Charnoz. This mural decoration is composed of 165 141 ceramic tiles, presents the architectural, industrial and economic heritage of Paray-le-Monial. Go back down the street and at the crossroads, turn right on rue du 8 mai until you reach the bridge. On the left, discover the garden of the post office (7). The amazing sage plants, renowned for their healing properties, offer a huge choice of shapes, colors, heights and scents. The delicate viburnums provide the permanent decoration and enchant with their perfume. In the center, a mosaic representing a peacock is enthroned. When leaving the garden of the post office, turn right on rue des 2 ponts, cross the Bourbince river and turn right again to go along the garden of the Bourbince river (8). This garden, planted with various white flowering shrubs, offers a new view of the basilica. Each summer, the different varieties of plants used for the city's flowering are presented there. Walk along this garden and turn left on rue du 8 mai to the Canal du Centre (9). This 112 km long canal links the Loire to the Saône. Used in the past to transport goods by barge, it is now mainly used by pleasure boaters. The greenway that runs alongside it offers a pleasant walk or bike ride. After crossing the bridge, continue straight ahead on avenue de la Gare, pass the footbridge and then take rue de Bellevue to the school. At the intersection, turn left on rue du 22 août to the gardens of Bellevue and PLM (10). Located in the heart of this 1930's architecture, this "garden of gardens" is inspired by the railroad gardens of the past or the nearby allotments. The gardens are associated with a color that gives them their identity. Cross Rue Pierre Semard, go straight ahead and turn right on Rue Pierre Cambon. At the end of the street, turn left on rue du Colombier. After the bend, turn left on rue Denis Papin. Cross the canal and turn right on quai du Bassin. Follow the canal along the greenway and enter the Moulin Liron park (11). It takes its name from an old mill known since the 15th century. It became a famous "hostellerie" in the 18th century, destroyed during the construction of the Canal du Centre. The park of 15 ha. was created for the arrival of Pope John Paul II in 1986. Today nearly 850 trees line the walk. Leave the park by the opposite entrance and take the footbridge. Turn left and you will arrive at the Tourist Office (12).