Cultural legacy

“Pays d'Art et d'Histoire" label

This label, issued by the French Ministry of Culture, is awarded to an area that, aware of its rich heritage, is committed to an active approach to knowledge, conservation, mediation and support for the quality of its architecture and living environment. The Pays de l'Auxois Morvan is therefore working with its partners to set up actions and tools to :

- raise residents' awareness of their surroundings and encourage quality tourism,
- introduce young people to architecture, heritage and urban planning,
- offer heritage interpretation tools.
For example, you can explore the Auxois Morvan on interpretive trails and circuits, following the "Célébrités de l'Auxois Morvan" (Auxois Morvan celebrities), following the Burgundy canal or discovering tales and legends with the "Soupes de la Sorcière" (recreational strolls). Village discovery booklets, "Laissez-vous conter", are available from your local tourist office to help you discover or rediscover the region's heritage treasures. If you'd like to follow and listen to the passionate discourses of guide-lecturers, an annual program of guided tours is offered on a different theme each year.

Auxois-Morvan, a living culture

Inhabited by the Mandubians in Antiquity and belonging to the Duchy of Burgundy in the medieval period, this area known as "Auxois" today also includes part of the Parc Naturel Régional du Morvan, and boasts a wealth of ancient buildings in its many villages. Its landscapes have been strongly marked by history (the battle of Vercingetorix, important monastic settlements and the development of notorious towns), by a dynamic agriculture today turned towards livestock farming and the development of communication routes (including the Burgundy canal), making the Auxois an important commercial crossroads, punctuated by fortresses and medieval villages.

The region's rich heritage is now promoted by the Pays d'Art et d'Histoire label, which enables us to develop a wide range of mediation and cultural activities for residents and visitors alike, focusing on local history, know-how and architecture, from the oldest to the most contemporary.

#EpiquesEpoques

History is written here, 2000 years of life have shaped the Côte-d'Or, with men and women who have participated in the creation of an extremely rich heritage. From Julius Caesar at Alesia, to the monks who pioneered the abbeys of Cîteaux and Fontenay, not forgetting the Dukes of Burgundy and other emblematic figures, they have all left their mark on the Côte-d'Or.

18 exceptional sites and monuments invite visitors to travel through time and space to discover the historic towns and cultural sites of Upper Burgundy that have left their mark on the region.On the banks of the Burgundy Canal, you'll find the medieval fortress of Châteauneuf, a village listed as one of France's Most Beautiful Villages, and the Renaissance château of Commarin, a stone palace set against a mirror of water.

Whether on foot, by bike or by car, travelling in Côte-d'Or has never been easier.

Auxois-Morvan celebrities

It's not just monuments that have marked the history of our territories. As far back as the Gallo-Roman era, men and women have been inscribing their names in time, bringing it to us.

Discover the Burgundy canal with the Pays d'Art et d'Histoire de l'Auxois-Morvan

Follow Léa, a young lock-keeper, as she shares her encounters with you on this 32-panel interpretation tour of the canal. On foot, by bike or by boat : the Burgundy canal awaits you !

“Laissez-vous conter”

As part of its efforts to make its heritage accessible and understandable to all, the Pays d'art et d'histoire de l'Auxois is publishing a collection of mediation booklets designed to raise awareness of the region's treasures.

A bit of river history

The Burgundy canal links the Yonne (at Migennes) to the Saône (at Saint-Jean-de-Losne), crossing the watershed between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. This 242 km-long canal features 189 locks, 4 canal bridges (including 1 at Pont d'Ouche) and a 3,333 m tunnel at its highest point in Pouilly-en-Auxois (altitude: 378 m), making it the highest canal in France.