Cultural activities

1. CHATEAU DE VAULT DE LUGNY > AVALLON

At gate turn left, continue through Pontaubert.
At the bridge turn right into the “Vallée du Cousin”, follow directions to Avallon « Centre Ville ».

2. AVALLON > MONTRÉAL

At Avallon, first stop.
Then towards Saulieu. Just before the last traffic lights, turn left.
Head towards Sauvigny on the D957 to Montreal
Of interest:
Avallon : The old town, the Museum of avallonnais, the costume Museum, shops and brasseries.
Montréal : Small medieval village with a beautiful early Gothic church. Panoramic views

3. MONTRÉAL > NOYERS

Continue through Montreal. Take the 1st crossroad left onto the D11/D86 to Noyers
Of interest: Picturesque old Medieval village richly decorated with carved old timbering.
Art gallery & shops
One of the most beautiful village in France.
Good restaurant :
L’Isle sur Serein: Le Pot d’Etain (closed Sunday evening, Monday & Tuesday lunch)- Amazing wine list!

4. NOYERS > CHABLIS

In Noyers, take the D956/D91 direction Chablis.
Of interest: Restaurants, shops, wine bar, and vineyards-
Wine tasting at: Domaine Defaix , excellent producer with great wines including Grands crus
Chablisienne, cooperative
Good Restaurant:
“Au fil du Zinc” (closed on Tuesday & Wednesday),
“Les Clos” open every day

5. CHABLIS > AUXERRE

In Chablis take the D965 and N65 to Auxerre.
Of interest: St-Germain’s Abbey Church with Carolingian Crypts & St Etienne’s Church.
Shopping with pedestrian Zones, Clock Tower.
Good Restaurants:
“La Bourgogne” (closed Sunday & Monday)
“L’Asperule” (closed Monday & Tuesday )
“Le Jardin Gourmand” (closed Sunday & Monday)

6. AUXERRE > BAILLY

Take the N6 direction to Avallon then turn left to Bailly
Of interest: Amazing Cave with a panoramic view where you can drive with your car and have a sparkling wine tasting “Crémant de Bourgogne”.
Good restaurant by the river
“Les Tilleuls” in Vincellottes (closed Tuesday & Wednesday)

7. BAILLY > IRANCY

In Cravant take D38 for a very short time, following the direction of Irancy
Of interest: traditional Burgundian wine village of red and rosé wines
Painting workshop of the famous local painter Georges Hosotte

8. IRANCY > BAZARNES > MAILLY  LE CHÂTEAU > CLAMECY

Take the direction of Vincelles , then D100 direction Bazarnes, Mailly le Chateau,Clamecy
Of interest: A very nice road following the Nivernais Canal. Saussois Rock (famous for climbing)

9. CLAMECY > VEZELAY- UNESCO world heritage site

In Clamecy take the D951 direction Vezelay.
Of interest:
– Very picturesque old village and ramparts constitute one of the treasures of France
– Basilica St Madeleine : one of the most beautiful Roman Churches in France
– Maison du visiteur « a prelude to experiencing and understanding the Basilica »
Musée Zervos: an amazing Art Museum with very famous collection of Picasso,
– Antiques & art gallery
Good Bistros
Brasserie « Le Cheval Blanc » terrasse ( closed Wednesday & Thursday )
«La Terrasse» by the church – open every day
«La Fortune du Pot» traditional ( closed Monday & Tuesday )

10. VÉZELAY > VAULT DE LUGNY

Take the D957 towards Avallon and in Pontaubert, turn left direction Vault de Lugny

1. CHATEAU DE VAULT-DE-LUGNY > THAROISEAU

At the gate turn left, continue to Pontaubert. In Pontaubert turn right along the D957, direction Tharoiseau, approx 8km.
Of interest: Wine tasting at Domaine La Croix Montjoie

2. THAROISEAU > SAINT- PERE

At Tharoiseau continue straight on for approx. 2km into St. Père
Of interest:
– Picturesque village with Gothic church
– Roman Bath – “les fontaines salées”
– Craft organic Brewery with beer tasting

3. ST. PERE > VEZELAY- Classified World Heritage by UNESCO

At St. Père continue straight on for approx. 3km into Vézelay.
Of interest:
– Very picturesque old village
– Some antiques & art gallery
– Basilica St Madeleine , one of the most beautiful Roman church in France
– Moat promenade
– Musée Zervos ,an amazing Modern Art Museum, arstits collections : Picasso, Calder, Giacometti, Ernst…..

4. VÉZELAY > PIERRE PERTHUIS

Return toward St Père take the D958 to Pierre Perthuis.
Of interest:
Very picturesque site at the edge of the Morvan country.
Upstream from the modern bridge the Cure is spanned by a 17th C humpback bridge.

5. PIERRE PERTHUIS > BAZOCHES

Follow the sign Bazoches on D958. Stop at the Chateau of Bazoches.
Of interest:
– This Medieval Château had been bought by the Marshal de VAUBAN with the reward granted to him by King Louis XIV.
Open every day from 9.30-12 & 14.15- 18

6. BAZOCHES > CHASTELLUX SUR CURE

At Bazoches, take the direction to Saint André en Morvan, then Chastelluxs/ Cure.
Stop at the Chateau de Chastellux
Of interest: – Castle belonging to the same family since more thousand years. Numerous members of this family marked the history of France, especially in the period of Jeanne of Arc when bourguignon fought the French people, and to that of the American independance with the marquess of Chastellux, great friend of general Washington and cousin of the Fayette
Open Wednesday to Sunday, Visits are at 11:15, 14.30 & 16:30 Visits made by the Comte de Chastellux himself

7. CHASTELLUX SUR CURE > AVALLON

Take the direction to Avallon the D 944
Then in the D427, direction Pontaubert. Your visit can continue by taking this small road called “Vallée du Cousin” where the livened up, widely shaded river, crawls nicely at the bottom of the steep valley of Avallon.

8. AVALLON > VAULT DE LUGNY

In Pontaubert take the first road after the church. The chateau will be on your right.

1. CHATEAU DE VAULT DE LUGNY › AVALLON

At the gate turn left, continue towards Pontaubert. After the bridge turn right Valley Cousin.
Take direction Avallon “Centre ville”

2. AVALLON › EPOISSES

In Avallon, take the N6 towards Saulieu. Turn left here on to the D954 & follow for approx 8km to Epoisses
Of Interest : Château with the 13th Century Church and 15th Century Dovecot Siècle
(Open in July & August except on Tuesday)

3. EPOISSES › SEMUR EN AUXOIS

Continue on the D954 for approx 12km to Semur en Auxois.
Of Interest:
– Very picturesque Medieval Village
– Eglise Notre-Dame church founded in the 11C, rebuilt in the 13C & 14C
– Promenade des Remparts
– Shops, Antic shops and brasseries

4. SEMUR EN AUXOIS › FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN › ALÉSIA

In Semur en Auxois take the D954 towards Alésia and take the small road for the Medieval village in Flavigny(location of the film “Chocolat” with Juliette Binoche). Then go to Alésia.
Of Interest :
– A Medieval Village & The Gallo Roman site of Alésia
– Alesia Museum
Suggestion Restaurant:
‘Auberge du Cheval Blanc’ at Alise St Reine (Close on Sunday night, Monday & Tuesday)

5. ALÉSIA › BUSSY RABUTIN

Follow the D954 towards Bussy le Grand
Of Interest : The beautiful Chateau.

6. BUSSY RABUTIN › ABBAYE DE FONTENAY- UNESCO World Heritage

Take the D954 towards Rue de Pissot the D19 to Etormay, follow Abbaye de Fontenay.
Of Interest : The Abbaye de Fontenay is nestling in a lonely but verdant valley, is a particularly good example of what a 12C Cistercian monastery was like, self sufficient within its boundaries.

7. ABBAYE DE FONTENAY › MONTBARD› LES FORGES DE BUFFON

Take the D905 towards Buffon to Rougemont.
Of Interest : – Grand forges, a masterpiece of industrial heritage of the 18C.
(Open every day except Tuesday 10-12/14:30-18 / Every day in July and August 10h-18h)

8. LES FORGES DE BUFFON › NOYERS

Follow the D956 to Noyers
Of Interest :
– Medieval village of Noyers, one of the most beautiful villages in France
Art galleries, creative artisans, truffle market in autumn.

9. NOYERS › AVALLON ›  VAULT DE LUGNY

Take the D86 towards L’Isle sur Serein, Sauvigny then Avallon
Return by the D957 Direction Vézelay up to Pontaubert, then the first right after the church.