PARC DE LA COLOMBIÈRE

Parc de la Colombière is one of Dijon's favorite parks. A green lung in the heart of the city, it's the ideal place for a family stroll, a jog, a picnic or simply a breath of fresh air. This 33-hectare French garden has even been awarded the Ecojardin label for its ecological management and respect for biodiversity, and has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1925. Getting there couldn't be easier. Just follow the park's avenues, nicknamed the "Champs-Élysées of Dijon", and you'll come face to face with the 6,000 trees that adorn the estate and the sixteen symmetrical avenues that give it a timeless ambience.

A little history: built in the ^17th century by Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé and Governor of Burgundy, its configuration evolved over time. It was the son of the Grand Condé who undertook its development at the same time as he had the Castel de Colombière built: a hunting lodge on the other bank of the Ouche. As you enter, the imposing ^17th-century gate opens onto a wooded area. Around a hundred conifers, vast lawns, spruces, hornbeams, yews, lime trees and oaks are now the playground of squirrels, which children enjoy spying on, while taking a ride on the rosalie or a donkey.

Antoine de Maerle, a pupil of Le Nôtre and creator of the gardens of Versailles, was responsible for the strict geometry that allows the 16 alleys to radiate out from the heart of the park. An octagonal alley links these same alleys, circling the wood. Two mails (large tree-lined paths with benches) are located on either side of the park, allowing pedestrians to stroll around a wide lawn. The remains of Agrippa's Roman road (linking Langres to Chalon-sur-Saône) and a ^17th-century Temple of Love from the Château de Bierre-lès-Semur are housed in the undergrowth.

Playgrounds, a nearby equestrian center and peacocks, turkeys and other animals make this park a complete and ideal place for a nature and discovery weekend that will delight parents and children alike.

Finally, you'll also find the ecodrome. A wide range of nature-related activities are on offer, as well as thrill-seeking activities for toddlers aged 3 and over, open to all ages. Discover seven acrobatic high ropes courses, each equipped with a 100% safety lifeline, or the adrenaline rush of a 12-meter high jump!