The most beautiful natural sites to discover Bourgogne

These landscapes inspired her to write Claudine à L'Ecole:

"I have lived in these woods for ten years of wandering, conquest and discovery; the day I have to leave them I will be deeply saddened"

In the heart of the Puisaye, a region often described as a natural setting, lies the Boutissaint Nature Park.
400 hectares of forest, offering a wide variety of forest species with century-old oaks, such as the Saint Louis oak, which has a circumference of more than four metres, Douglas, spruce, beech, cherry, chestnut, chestnut... Finally, near the wash house, the Bald cypress, a rustic tree with light, deciduous foliage. Its leaves, arranged in spirals around the twig, turn brick-red to brown in late autumn, offering a grandiose and long-lasting spectacle. Its unusual feature among conifers is that it loses its leaves in winter, hence its name "bald". Hinds, large deer, fallow deer, wild boar and other inhabitants of these places evolve in complete freedom in this preserved environment and revel in the abundant food that has fallen from the trees...

ON

FOOT OR BY BIKE

A true living museum of the forest, the Parc Naturel de Boutissaint offers the discovery of the fauna, which once inhabited our regions, in its natural element. The Park has preserved the wild character of the forests of Puisaye. It covers an area of 400 hectares where nearly 500 animals live in the wild or in enclosures for some of them: - in the wild: deer, hinds, fawns, fallow deer and doe, roe deer. - in enclosures: wild boar, deer, hinds, mouflons and bison.walkers who do not have the patience or time to lurk to observe the animals living in the wild, will be able to see them moving around in their enclosures, as well as in a vast open meadow near the Château's pond, where some animals gather, thus offering themselves to the public's view, while remaining at a respectable distance.

Paths, alleys and layons criss-cross the woods and allow you to go deep into the forest, to discover the fountains and ponds of the Park or to listen to the roar of the deer in September and October.

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).

An educational island of greenery created by the Maison de l'Environnement association between Loire and Allier, the Arche de la Biodiversité is a landscaped and faunistic area whose aim is to preserve the local fauna and flora and to raise public awareness of the environment. 15 ha of meadows, hedged farmland, vegetable gardens, a protected orchard, and two ponds hosting an unsuspected wealth of fauna. Two themed trails allow a playful approach to the area.

Due to the construction of the Nivernais Canal in the eighteenth century, the vaults were pierced in the mountain of the Collancelle. Thus, three tunnels follow, successively 758 meters, 268 meters and 212 meters long. A book of art that melts completely in the lush vegetation, and provides the opportunity for a tour by electric boat, without permit, and very easy driving. It's a very pleasant moment that kids especially feel when it comes to maneuvering the boat. 

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.

The marina of Cercy-la-Tour is an essential stopover on the Nivernais canal between Decize and Auxerre, for both pleasure boating and cycling. Numerous services are provided for the reception of yachtsmen as well as cyclists (tourist point, services, shops). A beautiful flower-filled stopover in a pleasant green setting much appreciated by tourists. Don't miss the open-air swimming pool and its solarium just a stone's throw away.