The tourist office is on avenue Jean-Paul-II (July & Aug daily 9am–7pm, Sept–June Mon–Sat 9am–noon & 1.30–6.30pm; tel 03.85.81.10.92). You can rent bikes from Cycles Kaikinger, 24 rue de la République (tel 03.85.88.85.15).For accommodation, try the Hostellerie des Trois Pigeons, 2 rue Daugard, just beyond the Hôtel de Ville (tel 03.85.81.03.77, fax 03.85.81.58.59; €30–40; closed Dec–Feb; restaurant from €13), or Hôtel aux Vendanges de Bourgogne, 5 rue Denis-Papin (tel 03.85.81.13.43, fax 03.85.88.87.59; €30–40; closed Nov 25–Dec 15; good-value restaurant from €12), on the south side of the Canal du Centre. The most attractive option, however, must be the pleasantly old fashioned yet well-appointed Grand Hôtel de la Basilique, 18 rue de la Visitation (tel 03.85.81.11.13, www.hotelbasilique.com; €40–55; closed Nov to April; restaurant from €11.50). A few yards further up the road, Au Foyer de Sacré Coeur, 14 rue de la Visitation (tel 03.85.81.11.01, www.chez.com/fsc; €30–40) is bang opposite the chapel that stands on the spot where St Marguerite had her revelations, and consequently occupied almost solely by pilgrims, who don't seem to mind the institutional, albeit friendly, atmosphere. The Mambré campsite is on route du Gué-Léger (tel 03.85.88.89.20; mid-March to Oct). If you want to explore the little villages throughout the Mâconnais, there's no better base than the Merle family's organic farm at Vitry-en-Charollais (tel 03.85.81.30.62; €36 with breakfast for two, dinner has to be booked ahead), with delicious home-cooking, about 6km southwest of Paray.
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