Charolles, Saône-et-Loire Département, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

🇫🇷 Charolles is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France. Since 2004 is Charolles part of the Charolais-Brionnais Country.

Geography Charolles is located at the confluence of the Semence and the Arconce rivers, 60 km (37 mi) west-northwest of Mâcon.

History Charolles was the capital of Charolais, an old division of France, which from the early 14th century gave the title of count to its possessors. In 1327 the county passed by marriage to the house of Armagnac, and in 1390 it was sold to Philip of Burgundy. After the death of Charles the Bold, who in his youth had borne the title of count of Charolais, it was seized by Louis XI of France, but in 1493 it was ceded by Charles VIII to Maximilian of Austria, the representative of the Burgundian family. Ultimately passing to the Spanish kings, it became for a considerable period an object of dispute between France and Spain, until at length in 1684 it was assigned to the great Condé, a creditor of the king of Spain. It was united to the French crown in 1771.

Sights The ruins of the castle of the counts of Charolais occupy the summit of a hill in the immediate vicinity of the town.

Economy According to the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, in the early 20th century there were stone quarries in the vicinity; the town manufactured pottery, and was the centre for trade in the famous breed of Charolais cattle and in agricultural products.

Economy: Tourist Industry In the Southern Bourgogne-Franche-Comté area: • The Arboretum de Pézanin, one of the richest forest collection in France, near Charolles, • The Rock of Solutré, • The Cluny abbey and its medieval city, • Mâcon, Paray-le-Monial, La Clayette.