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 wonderful discoveries it has to offer. A superb bicycle-cheese route has recently been awarded the "Route vélo-fromages" label, with gourmet stops at cheese-making establishments in the département. Of course, the route has been around for a long time. The story began in Beaune-Santenay, with 23 km of local roads, then extended over 14 km from Santenay to Nolay. There, the route follows a former railroad line for 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 20 km section was completed from Beaune to Premeaux-Prissey in 2017. A second from Premeaux-Prissey to Chambolle-Musigny was completed two years later. The final section from Chambolle-Musigny to Chenôve was opened in spring 2020. On February 25, 2020, the voie des Vignes was awarded the national (and gourmet) "Vélo et fromage" label. To date, 9 cheese-making sites have been registered on the route.
Thrills guaranteed!
Whether you're a top-level sportsman, a fan of extreme sports or "just" looking for out-of-the-ordinary experiences, you'll find what you're looking for in Côte-d'Or! The Côte-d'Or is full of surprises. Did you know, for example, that you can go scuba diving? Not least thanks to the Dijon Plongée diving school. Water skiing, meanwhile, can be enjoyed near Nuits-Saint-Georges, at Prémeaux-Prissey, thanks to TNCO Téléski Nautique Côte-d'Or. Fancy a spot of caving? It's also possible thanks to the Ligue Spéléologique de Bourgogne, which offers training courses here and there. For example, at the Bel Affreux chasm in Antheuil. Hot-air balloon flights are also organized, notably over Dijon (from May to October), with ascents lasting around 1h30 (but allow 3 hours for attendance). Air Adventures offers escapades from Pouilly-en-Auxois. Air Escargot allows you to discover the vineyards, with flights of around 1h30 (but here too, 3 hours' availability is required). There's also Montgolfières Nuitonnes in Nuits-Saint-Georges. Still in the air, but this time in ULMs, the U aiLes aiMe aerial leisure center at Beaune-Challange aerodrome (Beaune) offers flights with rides over the Hautes-Côtes and wine-growing sites. There are also flights to Meilley-sur-Rouvres, Fleurey-sur-Ouche, Messigny-et-Vantoux, Saint-Seine-l'Abbaye, Semur-en-Auxois and Til-Châtel. Finally, the Aeroclub de la Côte-d'Or in Darois also offers introductory courses in microlight flying for those aged 15 and over. But what about parachute jumping? Several companies organize this kind of activity, but Bourgogne Franche-Comté Parachutisme (BFCP) is the only one to offer jumps at altitudes of 4,000 and 6,000 meters above the Dijon-Longvic air base. As for the cliffs of Brochon, Chambolle, Fixey, Fixin, Gevrey-Chambertin, Hauteroche, Montbard, Saffres and Vieux-Château, these are the ideal spots for mountaineering. Just as you can in the climbing gyms in Dijon: Cime Altitude 245 or Climb up, for example.
What if you went on a cruise?
The Saône, the Ouche, the Canal de Bourgogne... With its many waterways, the Côte-d'Or offers 1001 possibilities for cruises, from leisurely strolls along the water to long-distance stays. The Canal de Bourgogne, from its point of departure at Migennes (Yonne) to its arrival at Saint-Jean-de-Losne, will leave you with great memories. In addition to the magnificent scenery you'll discover between Montbard and the Dijon region, you'll be able to pass under the long tunnel that has encircled it since 1832 at Pouilly-en-Auxois. But did you know that Saint-Jean-de-Losne is also France's leading river port for pleasure craft? This village of 1,000 souls lies at the confluence of the Saône and Ouche rivers, the Canal de Bourgogne and the Canal Rhin-Rhône. Here, for example, you can enjoy a boat trip on the Vagabondo, which links Auxonne, Seurre and Dole (in Franche-Comté). Classic, cultural or gastronomic, we guarantee that your cruise will be well worth the detour!
Leisure activities for all tastes... and all ages!
In addition to the leisure parks and amusement parks dotted around the region, there are numerous open-air resorts to delight families, sports enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Lac Kir to the west of Dijon has been awarded the Pavillon Bleu 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 children's play areas. Etang de Fouché (near Arnay-le-Duc), Grosbois reservoir, Lac de Pont (near Semur-en-Auxois) and Lac de Panthier offer similar facilities. Lac de la Tille (around ten km from Dijon) and Lac d'Arc-sur-Tille have a leisure center offering water sports in season. In all, there are 12 lakes with supervised bathing facilities for summer visitors. Similarly, since May 2014, Beaune Côté Plage has become the hottest new swimming spot. The Communauté d'Agglomération Beaune Côte & Sud, in partnership with Suez, chose to set up this aquatic leisure park on the shores of Lake Montagny-lès-Beaune. Beaune Côté Plage boasts 3,000m2 of pools, complete with a 6 m-high climbing wall, a slide, a liana and several diving boards. The swimming area will be closed for the entire 2024 season, reopening in 2025 with a facelift. But apart from the water sports they offer, all these lakes (or at least some of them) and rivers will also delight anglers! Fancy a family activity? Don't miss the beautiful Parc de l'Auxois, set in 40 hectares of greenery. This wildlife park is home to over 500 animals of almost 100 species. You can even wander among lemurs, lorikeets (small parrots), wallabies and fallow deer. But the park is also a great place to relax, with rides, playgrounds and a miniature train. And don't forget the swimming pool with its waterslides! Finally, there's golf. Some fine 9- and 18-hole courses can be found in Chailly-sur-Armançon, Levernois, Mâlain, Norges-la-Ville, Quetigny, Salives, Venarey-les-Laumes and Vic-sous-Thil.
Garden Strolls
And don't hesitate to discover one of the many remarkable gardens in the Côte d'Or. Start with those at Fontenay Abbey, which have been completely redesigned by landscape architect Peter Holmes. The Jardin and Parc du Château de Barbirey-sur-Ouche are English-style landscape parks designed in the 19th century. Covering 8 hectares, they feature a large terraced kitchen garden and orchard. The Parc du Château d'Arcelot in Arceau, the Vergers Potagers du Château de Montigny-sur-Aube, the Jardin du moulin d'Athie and the Potager fleuri du Château de Lantilly are also worth a visit. And don't forget the Parc de Saint-Léger in Champeau-en-Morvan, or the Jardin des cinq roses in Talant. In Dijon, don't miss the 3-hectare Botanical Garden, the Zen-like Japanese Garden for meditation and relaxation, and the Parc de la Colombière. This French-style park, designed in the 17th century by a pupil of Le Nôtre, is criss-crossed by a vast avenue shaded by lime trees.
