The gites are situated in an area of beauty and culture. The village of Champagny itself is very picturesque and is surrounded by woodland, vineyards and fields of cows. It is made up of clusters of stone houses and farms, a church, a Mairie and a fishing lake where you can fish for
CARP, pike and perch.
Surrounded by the famous Burgundy vineyards, medieval villages, chateaux and outstanding beauty spots, this area is renowed for it’s wine, gastronomy, architecture and landscape and is steeped in history, offering tourists a real taste of France.
Champagny sous Uxelles and the surrounding area has everything to offer to those in search of an authentic French experience whilst providing great activities ideal for families.
We have our very own woodturner in the village called Gilbert Buffard who runs wood turning courses and has a studio you can visit. He speaks English and his web site is www.aucoeurdelarbre.com
Surrounding area
3 kms (5 minute drive) from Chapaize with it’s beautiful romanesque church and village. Here you can visit the “Auclair” Wine Cellar to taste the local wine and eat at “Le St. Martin”, a cosmoplitan restaurant where you will find great food at a great price, a contemporary atmosphere and exhibitions of local artists’ work.
7 kms ( 10 minute drive) to St.Gengoux Le National – a beautiful medieval town/village with several good shops and restaurants and small streets to explore. You can also join “La Voie Verte” here - A trail created from the old railway line where you can hire bikes or roller blades and join the bike riders, roller bladers, horse riders and walkers enjoying the fresh air and outstanding views.
From St.Gengoux, travel through the vineyards as far as Buxy, a medieval town with it’s famous Cave Co-opérative (Wine producers co-operative) with a purpose built Visitor Centre where you can taste the wine they produce which has a very good reputation and is exported and sold in......Marks and Spencer.....one of their best clients.
7 kms from Brançion, (10 minute drive) an amazing enclosed medieval village and fortress. Look out from the keep and imagine the Dukes of Burgundy defending their lands... A great favourite with the kids especially since “Lord of the Rings”, as they climb into the turrets and imagine “Legolas” firing arrows onto the Orks below!
7 kms (7 minute drive) to Cormatin with it’s XVII Chateau and ornamental gardens. 10 kms (15 minute drive) from Tournus with it’s Abbey and old town. Here you will find good shops, two supermarkets and a lovely town with old streets to explore and a great French market on a Saturday morning. You can also stroll along the river or enjoy a drink on the riverside and watch the world go by.
10 kms( 10 minute drive) from Taizé a world famous ecunemical centre situated in a beautiful village which draws people from all faiths from all over the world. Young and old come together to live communally and participate in seminars and debates.
17 kms (20 minute drive) from Cluny, the jewel in the crown of this area. Site of the famous Cluny Abbey and ruins that date back to the 11th century.
Cluny is a medieval fortress town that leaves no-one indifferent to it’s charm and it’s beauty. A place where every street has a remnant of the abbey that was virtually dismantled after the French revolution. Visit the abbey or wander around admiring the the views that give you impression that you are on a film set. Enjoy a drink at the terrace of the Brasserie du Nord at the Place de l’Abbaye or a crepe at the Cloitre opposite the “Tour de Fromage” (Cheese Tower) that you can climb and admire a view of the town from.. There is a lovely walled park with a children’s play area and grassy banks for rolling down! You can also go on a guided tour of the “Haras National” in Cluny (National Stud Farm) and admire the stallions and shires that sire the thorough bred horses of the region. There is also a race track, where you can catch races 4/5 times a year.
Cluny has a great open air municipal swimming pool which has four pools including a diving pool and a toddler pool. There is a large lawned area around the pool where you can picnic, play on the see-saw or have a game of volley ball or table tennis. You can also join the Voie Verte (Cycle Trail) in Cluny and rent bikes or roller blades or take your skate board to the skate park. There are lovely shops in Cluny, don’t miss the chocolate fountain at the “Peché Mignon”, the chocolatier and Patisserie where no one can resist a little piece of heaven! Cluny has several good restaurants including the Hotel de Bourgogne which has a well deserved reputation in the area.
