Gateway to the Morvan Regional Natural Park, in the heart of Burgundy, Saulieu is the perfect place to put your suitcases if you like history, beautiful stones and local traditions. Between lakes and forests, cultural discoveries and outdoor activities, Saulieu will satisfy all your greedy and sporting desires.
Capital of the Christmas tree (just that!), labelled Ville Fleurie and Remarkable Site of Taste, Saulieu is nestled on one of the foothills of the Morvan massif. 75 kilometres west of Dijon and Beaune, Saulieu is the meeting place for epicureans in search of new discoveries. Gastronomy is king here, and there are many shops where you can push the door to discover the flavours of the region. The town has welcomed several chefs, starred chefs such as Bernard Loiseau, one of the three greatest chefs of the gastronomic restaurant "La Côte d'Or", and Patrick Bertron who still works in this restaurant today. On the plate, what we eat in Saulieu is "French-style" cuisine, rich, gourmet and full of flavour. Ham in saupiquet, gaudes, gougères, fricassees of frogs' legs, Burgundy snails accompanied by a glass of wine from the Hospices de Beaune or the Mâconnais vineyards, brioches with bacon, crayfish pies, stuffed with garlic butter and parsley, potted beans with andouille, Charolais meat with Dijon mustard or Chablisienne, but also Bresse poultry à la nivernaise, parsleyed ham, pôchouse (fish-based dish), cheeses such as époisses, soumaintrain, brillat-savarin and other desserts made with peaches, pears and spices will undoubtedly delight all taste buds.
After this gustatory discovery, it's time for the pleasure of the eyes. Splendid, tirelessly inviting to stroll, Saulieu has a large architectural heritage, which you can easily visit on foot. The Saint-Andoche basilica in Romanesque style is worth seeing: built at the end of the 11th century, it is famous for its superb façade, but also for its luxurious furniture, 28 of which are listed as Historic Monuments. Its chapel of the Virgin, its organ, its sarcophagus of Saint-Andoche, but also its relics and paintings are definitely worth a visit. You can also visit the Saint-Saturnin church, the Saint-Andoche fountain, the statues of the polar bears, the Boignard wash-house, while taking the time to visit the heart of the village to discover its beautiful old timber-framed houses. After visiting the François-Pompon Museum, head for the surroundings of the village. Situated in the middle of thick forests, magnificent vineyards and abundant nature, Saulieu is a privileged place for hiking and cycling. There are also a number of lakes in the area. In the commune, the étang du Milieu and the étang Jacquelin will allow you to go for short quiet walks in the coolness of the lake. Further on, we can only recommend you to discover the lake of Chamboux, the Bordot pond, the Fortier pond, those of Champeau and Morin, for excursions in the green to discover the fauna and flora of the Morvan!
Recognized as a gastronomic capital and labeled as a "Station Sport Loisirs Nature", Saulieu delights all generations with the diversity of activities...