An ancient medieval city, Arnay-le-Duc is a real treasure. With a rich and varied architectural heritage, a natural environment and a welcoming atmosphere, this charming town is the ideal place to put down your bags for a vacation with a difference.
In the Côte-d'Or department, in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region, Arnay-le-Duc is located between the Auxois and the Morvan. A rural commune with a very ancient history, it was already occupied in Roman times, as it was located on the Roman road linking Langres to Autun. Important crossroads, impacted during the wars of religion, the village is known to have been one of the places of passage of the famous giraffe offered to Charles X by Méhémet Ali in his journey towards Paris, which was in 1827 the very first living giraffe to tread the hexagonal ground. A village of less than 1400 souls, Arnay-le-Duc has a varied and very marked heritage that you will have the pleasure to discover during your stay. On the list of the must-see sites of your visit, the Saint-Laurent church occupies a place of choice: built in the 13th century, this imposing church of Gothic appearance contains a neat interior of neo-classic style. With its 10 chapels and its numerous listed works of art (statues, monuments, polychrome wooden sculpture of Saint-Michel, wall paintings...), it is without doubt one of the monuments not to be missed during your visit to Arnay-le-Duc. But the list of religious monuments of the village does not stop there, far from it! You can also discover the Capuchin Convent of Arnay-le-Duc, the Ursuline Convent, the Priory of the Order of Saint-Benoît on the side of the faubourg Saint-Jacques, as well as the hospices of Saint-Pierre from the 17th century, which nowadays house the Maison régionale des Arts de la Table. In addition to this religious heritage, there is a renowned built heritage, emblematic of the city, which you should discover, such as the hospital, the "Maison Bourgogne", a magnificent medieval residence which houses the Tourist Office, as well as the Motte Forte Tower, the last vestige of an ancient feudal castle from the 12th century. The other star of the village is the Château d'Arnay-le-Duc: formerly called the "Château des Princes de Condé" or the "Manoir de Juilly", it was built in the 16th century and is easily identifiable thanks to its polygonal tower called "Tour Marguerite de Bourgogne", covered with an imperial roof which gives a very particular cachet to the structure. If you can't visit it, no doubt you will be able to take the time to admire its architecture from the street!
Not far from the village, the leisure center of the Fouché pond is an obligatory stop for a refreshing break with family or friends. The place lends itself perfectly to idleness, to walks in the green, to swimming under the sun or to the practice of nautical activities such as pedal boats or tobogganing. Perfect to relax, and make your cultural vacations a relaxing break in the heart of nature. Finally, our advice: for those who love hiking, the volcano of Aprées located just north of the village is a must, to discover the incredible beauty of the region!