Football, King of Burgundy!
While rugby triumphs in Nièvre (USON Nevers Rugby plays in Pro D2), soccer is at the heart of Burgundy life! Admittedly, AJ Auxerre returned to Ligue 2 in 2023 (after a return to Ligue 1 the previous year), but let's not forget that in the 1980s-1990s in particular, the Auxerre club shone in the elite of European soccer. 4 French Cups, a league title, not to mention the UEFA Cup semi-finals they reached in 1993, and the Champions League quarter-finals in 1997. It's clear that the Auxerre club has left its mark on the history of French soccer. The Abbé Deschamps stadium has played host to a host of stars, including Basile Boli, Laurent Blanc, Bruno Martini, Djibril Cissé, Stéphane Guivarc'h and Eric Cantona, to name but a few! Not forgetting, of course, their legendary coach, Guy Roux. A major figure in the Yonne region, and far beyond! AJA has left such a lasting impression that it has just opened its own museum in the spring of 2024: "AJA Expérience" is now located at the heart of the Abbé Deschamps stadium. But let's not forget the others. Like Dijon, recently promoted to Ligue 1. Or Louhans-Cuisaux, who played in Ligue 2 for a long time before moving up to Nationale 3. As for FC Gueugnon, also in Nationale 3, in the past they played in the 1re Division, the Coupe de France and the Coupe de la Ligue, which they even won against PSG in 2000.
Paris 2024 will pass through here!
But soccer and rugby aren't the only sports practiced in the region, of course, and there are plenty of facilities for practicing the various existing disciplines, whatever your level. As proof of their achievements, 19 Burgundy venues have been designated as preparation centers for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Para-Olympic Games. Delegations from participating countries could therefore set up there (at their convenience) to train at their best. In Côte-d'Or, there were 7 centers: in Beaune (for triathlon), Semur-en-Auxois (for road cycling), Chenôve (for basketball and handball) and Dijon (soccer, gymnastics, weightlifting, judo, beach volleyball, swimming, tennis, archery...). The Yonne also had 7 (in Auxerre, Sens, Saint-Florentin and Brienon-sur-Armançon). Finally, while Nièvre strangely had no selected sites, Saône-et-Loire had 5, in Chalon, Le Creusot, Montceau-les-Mines, Autun and Mâcon.
On the ground, underground or in the air... thrills guaranteed!
Whether you're a top-level sportsman, a fan of extreme sports or "just" in the mood for an out-of-the-ordinary experience, you'll find what you're looking for in Burgundy! In fact, the region is full of surprises. Did you know, for example, that you can go scuba diving? Not least thanks to the Dijon Plongée diving school. And caving, too, thanks to the Ligue Spéléologique de Bourgogne, which offers training courses here and there. For example, at the Bel Affreux chasm in Antheuil (Côte-d'Or), the Narveau gorges in Lormes (Nièvre) or the Roche de Solutré (Saône-et-Loire). Even climbing is possible! In fact, some sites have long been very popular with climbing enthusiasts. Like the Saussois (nicknamed "the Parisians' cliff" because of its proximity to the capital). Located in the commune of Merry-sur-Yonne, it boasts superb routes accessible from the top of the plateau overlooking the Yonne. Feel like taking flight? How about a parachute jump? Several companies offer this kind of activity throughout the region. However, Bourgogne Franche Comté Parachutisme (BFCP) is the only one offering jumps at altitudes of 4,000 and 6,000 meters, above the 102 Dijon-Longvic air base. More tranquil, but still high above the ground, you can also opt for a hot-air balloon ride. A little over 30 years ago, France Montgolfière began its activities in Vézelay, where it has been possible to fly over the eternal hill and its sumptuous landscapes ever since. An unforgettable experience, to be enjoyed at least once in a lifetime! Or would you prefer to become a pilot? The Club de vol en planeur de Saint-Florentin-Chéu (Yonne) offers introductory flights and training courses.
On foot, on horseback or by bike, a paradise for hikers!
You are not daredevil enough to try this kind of adventures, and it is above all the beautiful hikes that you seek? The region offers countless possibilities. Here, some 6,000 km of paths are accessible to walkers, and nearly 3,000 km to bicycle and mountain bike enthusiasts (more than 2/3 of which are in the Morvan Park alone!). On foot, you will be spoiled for choice: in addition to the natural parks, forests, towpaths and countryside, you can go (for example) to discover Alesia and the wine route in the Côte-d'Or, Bibracte and Mount Beuvray in Saône-et-Loire, the Loire paths in Nièvre, or the hidden treasures of the Aillantais in Yonne. This territory, between Auxerrois, Jovinien and Puisaye, offers many walks (pedestrian, cyclist or equestrian) allowing to discover its rich landscapes, but also a magnificently preserved heritage. Among our favorite hikes, let's also mention the Sentier de la coquille in Agnay-le-Duc (Côte-d'Or): a classified site since 1932, in which the Conservatoire Naturel des sites de Bourgogne has traced a 14 km path. As for the Auxerre-Vézelay hike, 58 km long, it constitutes (every year in spring) one of the great appointments of hikers, from the most experienced to the most beginners, all seduced by the superb paths taken! By bike ? As mentioned above, the Morvan is a cyclist's paradise with about 140 circuits (from 4 to 50 km). But everywhere else the possibilities are numerous! Starting with the famous Véloroute: 800 km of greenways that will allow you to ride around Burgundy via towpaths, disused railroads, country roads or vineyard paths. Then there are the horseback rides. Here again, equestrian centers are waiting for you everywhere. In Saône-et-Loire, in particular. High place of the horse, the Haras de Cluny is one of the 23 representatives of the National Stud farms. It can be visited all year round, and about fifty equestrian events take place there every month.
A cruise in Burgundy..
The Saône, the Loire, the Yonne, the Seille, the Burgundy canal, the Nivernais canal, the Briare canal, the lateral canal to the Loire, the Burgundy-Champagne canal, the Roanne-Digoin canal, or the Centre canal... Rich in its numerous waterways, the region offers 1,001 possibilities of cruises, from a stroll along the water to a long stay. For example, you can discover the landscapes offered by the Nivernais canal, which starts from the Loire basin in Saint-Léger-des-Vignes (Nièvre) and ends up in the Yonne basin, in Auxerre. Or navigate on the Canal du Centre which joins the Saône and the Loire, from Chalon-sur-Saône to Digoin. Without forgetting of course the Canal de Bourgogne from its departure point in Migennes (Yonne) to its arrival in Saint-Jean-de-Losne (Côte-d'Or). In addition to the splendid landscapes which you will discover, you will be able to pass under the long tunnel which encircles it since 1832 in Pouilly-en-Auxois (Côte-d'Or). But did you know that Saint-Jean-de-Losne is also the first river port for pleasure boats in France? This village of 1,000 souls is located at the confluence of the Saône and Ouche rivers, the Burgundy Canal and the Rhine-Rhone Canal. Here, you can enjoy a boat trip on the Vagabondo which links Auxonne, Seurre and Dole (in Franche-Comté). Classic, cultural or gastronomic, the cruise will always be worth the detour, we guarantee it!
Leisure activities for all ages... and for all tastes!
In addition to the leisure and amusement parks that dot the region, there are many outdoor bases that will delight families as well as sportsmen and nature lovers. One of the most famous is undoubtedly the Eco-Base of the Settons Lake, in the Morvan region of the Nivernais. On the program: rowing, sailing, canoeing, paddle, water bike, mountain bike, fishing... Still in the Nièvre, the ponds of Vaux and Baye, neighbors of the Nivernais canal, offer similar activities, mainly dedicated to sailing, but also a bird sanctuary. The lake of Chaumeçon-Brassy was created in 1935 on the Chalaux (a tributary of the Cure). Large of 135 ha, it is the ideal place for white water sports, as well as for mountain biking, hiking, fishing. On the Puisaye side, between Saint-Fargeau and Moutiers, the Base Départementale de Plein Air Daniel Bailly (better known as the Lac du Bourdon) offers, in addition to accommodation, numerous sports activities. Cultural too, with workshops for children often dedicated to the Middle Ages due to its proximity to the superb site of Guédelon. In the Côte-d'Or, the famous Kir lake in Dijon (created by the Canon of the same name) is well known, but we can also mention the Grosbois reservoir, between Aubigny-lès-Sombernon and Grosbois-en-Montagne. As for Saône-et-Loire, let's talk about 2 places to see absolutely if you pass by Romanèche-Thorins. Let's forget the aquatic leisure centers and go to TouroParc Zoo. A park resolutely turned towards animal welfare and the preservation of endangered species. On its 12 ha, more than 700 animals of 140 species await you. With lots of animations for all generations. Above all, don't leave here without visiting the Hameau Dubœuf, founded in 1993 by Georges Dubœuf (a famous wine merchant, ambassador of Beaujolais on the international scene, who died in early 2020). There, it is a fun and family dive into the world of the vineyard that is offered to you, through 3 distinct poles: the Hamlet (with exhibitions and attractions to discover all the secrets of the vineyard), the Garden and the Winemaking Center (with small train, golf course, etc.), and the Wine Station where the old station of the village opens the doors of the railroads of the past.
How about a round of golf?
Finally, since we are talking about golf, let's not forget its enthusiasts. Burgundy offers many golf courses, and more than ten of them have an 18-hole course. Among our favorites are the Montceau-les-Mines golf course in Saône-et-Loire, and those of the Château de Misery, the Domaine de Roncemay and the Château de Tanlay in the Yonne. The golf courses of Chailly castle and Quétigny in the Côte-d'Or. Or the public golf course of Nivernais in Magny-Cours, in the Nièvre.
