ABSTRACT
Because of its situation between the Rhine River and the Mediterranean Sea, Chalon-sur-Saone was always one of the most active ports in France, especially for the wine trade. In the fifth century, the town was chosen to host the bishop’s seat. Soon, vines grew on the hills of the nearby villages and even in gardens within the city walls. Considered the gateway of viti- cultural Burgundy, it played a major part in medieval trade. According to an economic pattern common to many towns, Chalon was a big settlement which depended on its neighborhood for its subsistence. Its influence on the Cote Chalonnaise kept growing as Burgundy developed.
