 Noyers-sur-Serein – population 750 Montbard – population 5,500 Montbard is a small industrial town on the river Brenne and the Burgundy Canal. It provides the only local access to the TGV high speed rail between Paris and Dijon. The former Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay is immediately to the east of Montbard. Founded by St Bernard in 1118, this is now a UNESCO World Heritage listed site.  The former Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay Alise-Sainte-Reine - population 624 This is the site of the Siege of Alesia where Julius Caesar defeated the Gauls in 52 BC. Despite being outnumbered by four to one, the Romans fought both the besieged and the relief forces at the same time from within two concentric rings of defences 15 km and 21 km long. The on-site Interpretation Centre of the MuséoParc Alésia will immerse you completely in this history. It includes a full size, 100 metre reconstruction of the 4 metre high fortifications that were surrounded by two trenches, each 4 ½ metres wide and 4 ½ metres deep.  Flavigny-sur-Ozerain – population 320 The
2000 movie Chocolat by Lasse
Hallström was filmed in Flavigny. 
Semur-en-Auxois – population 4,240 A picturesque town located 43 km east of Avallon, 74 km (61 minutes) from Mailly-le-Chateau.    I can recommend Café Le Mont Drejet at 22 rue Buffon where I enjoyed a 3 course lunch for €12.50. Ladies should be prepared for a culture shock if they decide to visit the shared bathroom. I elected to wait for a cubicle rather than use the convenient urinal located near the hand basins. |