There should be no difficulty finding a place to stay . Across the Pont de St-Laurent is one of the nicest and cheapest hotels, HA?tel de Beaujolais , at 86 place RA©publique (tel 03.85.38.42.06, fax 03.85.38.78.02; 160-220F/a?¬24-34), which has very clean, simple rooms, while the HA?tel d'Europe et d'Angleterre , on the river at 92 quai Jean-JaurA?s (tel 03.85.38.27.94, fax 03.85.39.22.54; 160-300F/a?¬24-46), has an air of former times - Queen Victoria once stayed here - and the Interhotel de Bourgogne , on the north side of place de la Barre at 6 rue Victor-Hugo (tel 03.85.38.36.57, fax 03.85.38.65.92; 300-400F/a?¬46-61; restaurant from 80F/a?¬12.20), also has character and a lively atmosphere. Two other possibilities, close to the gare SNCF at the southern end of rue Victor-Hugo, are the very hospitable Terminus (tel 03.85.39.17.11, fax 03.85.38.02.75; 300-400F/a?¬46-61; restaurant from 90F/a?¬13.72) and the modern de GenA?ve , 1 rue Bigonnet (tel 03.85.38.18.10, fax 03.85.38.22.32; 300-400F/a?¬46-61; restaurant from 70F/a?¬10.67). There's a campsite 3km north out of town on the N6 (tel 03.86.38.16.22; closed Nov to mid-March).

MA?con has no shortage of good restaurants to choose from. For cheap eats, head for the river: the pleasant Lamartine , 266 quai Lamartine (closed Mon evening & Tues), is popular with diners at mealtimes and drinkers later on, while the St Laurent , on the other side of the river, has great views and plats from 80F/a?¬12.20. For local meat, the place to go is La Vigne et les Vins (Scoubidou) , 42 rue Joseph-Dufour (tel 03.85.38.65.92), which offers good prices and friendly service, while Chez Gilou , 19/21 rue Joseph-Dufour (tel 03.85.40.95.47; closed Sun lunch and Mon), does a nice summer paella. However, the best moderately priced option is Le Rocher de Cancale , 393 quai Jean-JaurA©s (tel 03.85.38.07.50; closed Sun evenings & Mon), a superb restaurant, serving wonderful fish (menus from 135F/a?¬20.58, plats from 65F/a?¬9.91). And if you're really pushing the boat out, the elegant Pierre , 7/9 rue Joseph-Dufour (tel 03.85.38.14.23; closed Sun evenings & Mon, last week in June & first two weeks in July) is well worth a splurge for a special occasion, not least for its Grand Marnier soufflA© (menus 100-315F/a?¬15.24-48.02).