Bibracte - Mont Beuvray
Location: 70km West from the gites, after Autun.
Nearby: Morvan region, Autun, Uchon rocks
Why is it worth the visit :
- Bibracte is the site of a fortified city founded in the 2nd century BC by one of the tribes of Gaul, the Eduens. It consists of several neighborhoods spread over more than 200ha. Walking around Bibracte is a bit like going for a walk on several sites from different eras with, for each one, their own excavations and panels with detailed explanations.
- The guided tours are recommended (lively, varied and well documented).
- The walking paths on the site (classified Natura 2000), and in particular the walk from the museum to the top of Mont Beuvray (from 650m to 800m of altitude),are verypleasant. You pass through the forest of beeches and ancient tortuous oaks which are magnificent, displaying superb colours in autumn.
- There is an unobstructed view of the plain of the Morvan Natural Park,between Autun and Le Creusot, from the summit of Mont Beuvray.
- At the site there is a modern museum and scenography (with permanent and temporary exhibitions) and a shop and restaurant (Gaulois menu or picnic menus).
- There are many activities in summer and they include tree climbing, walks in the company of birds of prey and several programs for walks, combining fauna, flora and archeology.
- The Pass Archéo, available at the site, offers discounts on other Gallo-Roman sites in Burgundy : the Alesia Museum, the Vix treasury in Chatillon-sur-Seine and, at Autun, a reduction on guided tours, entry to the Rollin Museum and entry to the "son et lumière" at Augustodunum.
- There is a nice view back to the Autun hill from the road to St Leger-sous-Beuvray and Bibracte.
- Not far (25km to the South) are the granite rock outcrops of the "Les rochers du carnaval d'Uchon".
