Parc Naturel Régional du Morvan
Most visitors to Burgundy never leave the wine road, which means the Morvan — a granite massif of ancient forests, glacial lakes and deep river valleys in the region's heart — remains gloriously uncrowded. This 300,000-hectare regional nature park is Burgundy's wild side: canoeing, cycling, waterfall-chasing and complete digital detox.
Lakes, Rivers and Trails
Lac des Settons, a 359-hectare reservoir fringed with pine and oak, is the Morvan's most popular lake for swimming, sailing and kayaking in summer. The water is clean, the beaches grassy and the surrounding forest trails connect to a network of over 3,000 km of marked hiking routes across the park.
The GR13 long-distance trail traverses the Morvan from north to south, passing through the towns of Vézelay and Château-Chinon. Day-walkers can pick up any section; the stretch between Montsauche-les-Settons and the Gorges de la Canche is particularly dramatic in autumn when the beeches turn copper and gold.
Vézelay: The Gateway Town
On the Morvan's northern edge, the hilltop village of Vézelay is crowned by the Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, a Romanesque masterpiece and medieval pilgrimage destination whose carved tympanum is considered among the greatest sculptures in France. The village itself — a single cobbled street of honey-stone houses — is one of the 'Most Beautiful Villages of France' and a perfect base for exploring the park.
The Morvan is also serious cycling territory: the Tour de France has climbed its roads, and the EuroVelo 6 long-distance cycle route passes through the park. Bike hire is available in Avallon, Saulieu and Château-Chinon.
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