The most beautiful natural sites to discover Côte-D'Or

Do you dream of seeing a deer in the forest, chanterelles under a bed of leaves or climbing up to the treetops? Welcome to Châtillon Forest! This state forest extends integrally on a nearly 9,000 ha, and it is the largest wooded area in Côte d'Or. Part of this hardwood forest will become National Park, just like the one of Vanoise or Cevennes. These woods have a rich and diverse animal population and rare flowers, such as the Lady's slipper or Ligularia sibirica, highly appreciated for their beauty. Walkers have 21 marked circuits on the Châtillonnais, with very different landscapes from one circuit to the other: Cirque de la Coquille, caves, monuments, vineyards, castles, abbeys… Hunting with hounds is possible from September 15th to March 31st. You can attend it as a spectator. Information at the Val des Choues abbey (✆ 03 80 81 01 09).

Just a few kilometers from Beaune, the Golden Ponds are an area of relaxation and entertainment. Formed naturally in old quarries, these ponds have recently been designed to welcome the public. Thematic circuits invite you to walk through its 200 ha to discover the flora and fauna that colonize the various bodies of water. You will find observatories in particular to see the many birds and mammals that come to mind.

Maison de l'Eau, de la Pêche et de la Nature provides a better understanding of the environment of Val de Saône. With its four museum exhibition rooms, it allows visitors to discover local nature and fishing, thanks to modern equipment, audiovisual techniques, aquariums and various educational areas. The educational room has various documentary resources as well as observation and experimentation material available to the public. It is also a tourist information relay point. It is the starting point of the EcoPagayeur courses which allow to discover in an original way the fauna and flora: on board a canoe.

Lake Marcenay, owned by the Conservatory of Natural Spaces in Burgundy and the Federation of Côte d 'Or for fishing was emptied at the end of 2016 but recovered its water level and the fish were reintroduced in the spring of 2018. The Lake of Marcenay is a necessary passage for nature lovers! There is a concentration of endangered plants in the region. There is also the largest roseless on Côte d 'Or. In short, walking around Lake Marcenay is necessary!