On foot, on horseback or by bike..
Whether they are located in the Morvan regional nature park, in the various coombs, in the Auxois or in the Châtillonnais, there are some 155 marked paths in the Côte-d'Or covering no less than 3,200 km. For example, you can go on foot to discover Alesia or walk along the Sentier de la coquille in Agnay-le-Duc: a listed site since 1932, where the Conservatoire Naturel des Sites de Bourgogne has laid out a 14 km path. With its many forests, the Côte-d'Or department is also an ideal place for birdwatching. Outings to discover the fauna and flora are organised by the Office National des Forêts in Châtillon-sur-Seine, or in the national forest towards the Marots ponds. Not forgetting the vast Parc National de Forêts, the first French national park on the plains. Located on the Langres plateau - that is to say, straddling the Haute-Marne and Côte-d'Or, between Champagne and Burgundy - it covers an area of 143,233 hectares. By bike? The Morvan is a cyclist's paradise, with around 140 circuits (from 4 to 50 km), but there are plenty of possibilities everywhere else! Starting with the famous Véloroute which, from Dijon, will allow you to tour the whole of Burgundy on 800 km of greenways via towpaths, disused railway lines, country roads or vineyard paths. But you can aim for a less extensive route through the vineyards, along the Saône or along the Burgundy canal: 320 km of routes are reserved for bicycles and mountain bikes. There are also horseback rides. In the Châtillonnais region, away from the main roads, the Grand Chemin seduces riders with its diversity of landscapes between peaceful rivers and green forests. Various equestrian centres also dot the department, such as Baubigny, Binges, Brazey-en-Plaine, Izeure, Montbard, Sacquenay, Saulieu, or Plombières-lès-Dijon... Finally, a ride in a horse-drawn carriage is an original way to discover towns and villages (Beaune, Esbarres, Nuits-Saint-Georges...), and donkey rides are also possible in Chemin-d'Aisey, Montlay-en-Auxois, and Saulieu. Note that the mobile app (free) of Côte-d'Or Tourisme Bourgogne "Rando Vignes" will help you discover the climats of Burgundy on foot. As for the one entitled "Balades en Bourgogne", it will give you ideas whether you are on foot, by bike, by car or on the water. So, don't hesitate to take the Bear Walk in Saulieu or the Karrière Walk in Villars-Fontaine.
The vineyard path, or the discovery of the cheeses of the Côte-d'Or
But let's get back to cycling and the beautiful discoveries it can offer us. A superb bicycle-cheese route has recently been approved, with gourmet stops in cheese-making establishments in the department. Of course, the route has existed for a long time. The story began in Beaune and Santenay, with 23 km of local roads, then extended over 14 km from Santenay to Nolay. There, the route follows an old railway line over 9 km, 7 of which are in Saône-et-Loire. To extend the pleasure, the development of the voie des Vignes continued between Beaune and Dijon. A first section of 20 km was completed from Beaune to Premeaux-Prissey in 2017. A second from Premeaux-Prissey to Chambolle-Musigny two years later. Finally, the last section from Chambolle-Musigny to Chenôve was opened in spring 2020. On 25 February 2020, the "voie des Vignes" was awarded the national (and gourmet) label "Vélo et fromage". For the time being, 9 cheese-making sites are registered on this route.
Thrills guaranteed!
Whether you are a top sportsman, a fan of extreme sports or "simply" want to have an unusual experience, you will also find something to suit you in the Côte-d'Or! Because, in this respect, the department is full of surprises. Did you know, for example, that it is possible to go scuba diving? Notably thanks to the diving school Dijon Plongée. Water skiing can be practised near Nuits-Saint-Georges, at Prémeaux-Prissey, thanks to TNCO Téléski Nautique Côte-d'Or. Do you want to go caving? It is also possible thanks to the Burgundy Caving League which offers training courses here and there. For example at the Bel Affreux chasm, in Antheuil. Hot-air balloon flights are also organised, notably over Dijon (from May to October) with ascents of about 1h30 (but count on a 3-hour presence). Air Adventures proposes escapades from Pouilly-en-Auxois. Air Escargot allows you to discover the vineyards, with flights of about 1h30 (but here again 3 hours of availability are necessary). Let us also mention, in Nuits-Saint- Georges, the Montgolfières Nuitonnes. Still in the air, but in ULM this time, the aerial leisure centre U aiLes aiMe at the Beaune-Challange aerodome (Beaune) offers flights with rides over the Hautes-Côtes and the wine sites. You can also fly in Meilley-sur-Rouvres, Fleurey-sur-Ouche, Messigny-et-Vantoux, Saint-Seine-l'Abbaye, Semur-en-Auxois and Til-Châtel. Finally, the aeroclub of the Côte-d'Or in Darois also provides introductory courses in microlight flying from 15 years. But what if you jumped in a parachute instead? Several companies organise this type of activity, but Bourgogne Franche Comté Parachutisme (BFCP) is the only one to offer jumps at 4,000 and 6,000 metres above the Dijon-Longvic air base. As for the cliffs of Brochon, Chambolle, Fixey, Fixin, Gevrey-Chambertin, Hauteroche, Montbard, Saffres and Vieux-Château, they will allow you to practice mountaineering. Just as you can do it in the climbing gyms present in Dijon: Cime Altitude 245 or Climb up, for example.
What if you went on a cruise?
The Saône, the Ouche, the Burgundy Canal... With its many rivers and streams, the Côte d'Or offers 1001 possibilities for cruises, from a stroll along the water to long-distance trips. The Burgundy Canal, from its departure point in Migennes (Yonne) to its arrival in Saint-Jean-de-Losne, will leave you with great memories. In addition to the magnificent landscapes that you will discover between Montbard and the Dijon area, you will be able to pass under the long tunnel that has encircled it since 1832 in Pouilly-en-Auxois. But did you know that Saint-Jean-de-Losne is also the leading river port for pleasure craft 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, for example, take a boat trip on the Vagabondo which links Auxonne, Seurre and also Dole (in Franche-Comté). Classic, cultural or gastronomic, the cruise will always be worth the detour, we guarantee it!
Leisure activities for all tastes... and all ages!
In addition to the leisure and amusement parks that dot the area, there are many outdoor centres that will delight families as well as sportsmen and nature lovers. The Kir Lake to the west of Dijon has been awarded the Blue Flag environmental label. On site, Dijon Plage offers a first aid post, a lifeguard in season, a beach with bar and restaurant, a beach volleyball court, water sports, and playgrounds for children. The Fouché pond (near Arnay-le-Duc), the Grosbois reservoir, the Pont lake (near Semur-en-Auxois) and the Panthier lake offer similar services. The Lac de la Tille (about 10 km from Dijon) and the Lac d'Arc-sur-Tille have a leisure centre which offers water sports in season. In all, there are 12 bodies of water with supervised swimming that have been developed to welcome summer visitors. Similarly, since May 2014, Beaune Côté Plage has become the new swimming area in vogue. It is on the banks of the lake of Montagny-lès-Beaune that the Beaune Côte & Sud Agglomeration Community has chosen to set up this aquatic leisure park in partnership with Suez. Beaune Côté Plage has 3,000m2 of pools with a 6 m high climbing wall, a slide, a liana and several diving boards. But apart from the water sports they offer, all these lakes (at least some of them) and rivers will also delight fishermen! Looking for a family activity? Don't miss the beautiful Parc de l'Auxois located in a 40-hectare green setting. A wildlife park where more than 500 animals of nearly 100 species frolic. You can even walk among lemurs, lorikeets (small parrots), wallabies, or deer. But the park is also a nice place to relax with rides, playgrounds and little train. Not forgetting the swimming pool and its waterslides! Finally, there are the golf courses. Some beautiful 9 or 18-hole courses are located in Chailly-sur-Armançon, Levernois, Mâlain, Norges-la-Ville, Quetigny, Salives, Venarey-les-Laumes and Vic-sous-Thil.
Garden Strolls
Don't hesitate to discover one of the many remarkable gardens of the Côte d'Or. Start with the gardens of the Fontenay Abbey, which have been entirely redesigned by the landscape architect Peter Holmes. The garden and park of the castle of Barbirey-sur-Ouche is an English-style landscape park designed in the 19th century. It extends over 8 hectares and has a large terraced vegetable garden and an orchard. The Park of the Château d'Arcelot in Arceau, the Vegetable Gardens of the Château de Montigny-sur-Aube, the Garden of the Moulin d'Athie, or the Flowered Vegetable Garden of the Château de Lantilly are also worth visiting. Not forgetting the Parc de Saint-Léger in Champeau-en-Morvan, or the Jardin des cinq roses in Talant. In Dijon, don't miss the Botanical Garden which covers 3 hectares, but also the very Zen Japanese Garden which encourages meditation and rest, as well as the Parc de la Colombière. A French-style park, designed in the 17th century by a pupil of Le Nôtre, and crossed by a vast avenue shaded by lime trees.
