Burgundy France

Varzy

Burgundy Cottage

Burgundy

In early times Burgundy was the main trade route through from northern to southern Europe. The Gauls had well-established commerce in towns which encouraged the Roman invasion of this wealthy area. Caesar defeated the Gallic chief Vercingetorix in the battle of Alesia in 52BC and Autun, 'the city of Augustus', became the most important Roman town. There are many picturesque provincial towns with narrow cobbled streets, a Romanesque church, encircling ramparts and some Gallic or Roman ruins.

Burgundy is known for its richly cultivated valleys, its Charolais cattle, the wild forested lands and lakes of the Morvan, its canals and waterways, Romanesque churches and the stunning cathedrals and abbeys of the Benedictine and Cistercian monks.

The great abbey at Cluny was, in its time, the most important church in the Roman world, and the abbey at Fontenay is a truly remarkable example of religious architecture, not to mention Vézelay and Dijon.

The Cistercians followed the Roman tradition of viticulture and it is thanks to them and to the famous terroir that we can now enjoy the wines of Beaune, the Côte d'Or, Chablis, The Côte de Nuits and Beaujolais.

The Morvan forest lies in the heart of the département of the Nièvre and was the centre of the French resistance during WW2 for whom there is a dedicated museum at St Brisson. There are well-marked trails for walking riding, cycling and lakes for canoeing in this large and beautiful forest. The extensive canal system is heavily utilised these days by barges and boats that wend their way among the villages and their châteaux, manor houses, mill houses, cathedrals and parish churches. The Nivernais canal runs through Clamecy only 16km from Varzy.