Morvan is one of Our Featured Burgundy Day Trips

Burgundy is fast becoming one of the top destinations for a wide variety of different vacations. Here at Domaine de Cromey — our home in the heart of Burgundy which is available for you to hire out for house parties —we’ve spent a lifetime showing our guests why Burgundy day trips are the best way to satisfy all your senses: great food, superb wine, wonderful countryside, fun activities, interesting history, new friends waiting to be made….

More and more people are becoming familiar with the great towns and cities in Burgundy to visit – and we have articles on some of them, for example Macon and Autun to name but two. But there are other Burgundy day trips, away from the cities and the tourists, beyond the lush green hills that have stood for thousands of years overlooking these lands….

Some visitors to Burgundy, for example, don’t realise that to the west of the famous wine growing vineyards lies a natural park of outstanding beauty and significance – the Morvan Regional Nature Park (known in French as the Parc Naturel Régional du Morvan). This is a magical place to truly recharge your batteries and rest from the stresses and strains of everyday life. And it’s only a 45-minute drive from Domaine de Cromey...

Burgundy’s Forest of Dreams – Visiting the Morvan Natural Park

This incredible parkland is the natural heart of Burgundy, roughly halfway between Paris and Lyon, and also very close to Autun and Vezelay (with its famous basilica), two places you should be sure to visit while you’re in the area. Morvan’s granite peaks rise majestically to a height of 900 metres, providing outstanding views of the surrounding landscape. Covering more than 280,000 hectares, its land spans the four ‘departments’ of Burgundy, several of which will be familiar to Burgundy wine enthusiasts for their superb vineyards and terroir; Côte-d'Or, Saône-et-Loire, Yonne and Nièvre. You can find world-class wines from some of these areas on the wine shop at BurgundyWine.com, by Elden Selections.

This Regional Natural Park was one of the first in France to be created, officially designated as recently as 1970 to protect this valuable natural environment, as well as to boost economic and tourism development. Visitors are well-catered for and have an almost inexhaustible list of things to do and places to see. There are many picturesque small villages within the park, each with their own character and selection of attractions. At Saint-Brisson, one of the main communes in the park, there is an official visitor centre, alongside a museum and several bistros. The museum commemorates resistance fighters during WW2, and has been recently renovated and modernised. At the Maison du Parc, visitors can look round the arboretum, the herbarium (which was inspired by the medieval gardens of this region) and follow educational trails.

There’s also a more serious purpose behind the park – it’s used for projects which help to analyse the climatic changes happening now in the park, and to assess what changes might be coming down the line in the future. If you’re a regular reader of our Burgundywine.com blog, you may have read some of our climate-themed articles, which discuss the likely impact that our warming planet might have on grape growing (for example, our article on the Impact of El Nino on Burgundy wine). Local producers, restaurants and artisans are doing their bit to protect the ecosystem here, by signing up to the French national label which promotes only local and sustainable produce, known as the Valeurs Parc Naturel Régional. It’s a goal we share at Domaine de Cromey – we only grow organic veg and wine, and we try and follow biodynamic principles when we do it.

Visit the House of Wine and the Hobbit’s House…

The Morvan Park also offers an eco-museum made up of themed houses, such as the House of People and Landscape, and House of Livestock Farming and the Charolais, in Moulins-Engilbert. Wine lovers might be particularly interested to see the House of Wine and Barrel-making in Ouroux-en-Morvan. The Park also offers its own natural products which can be enjoyed along with local wines, such as the honey and berries, as well as a hotpot they are fond of in the area.

Nature lovers will find something to satisfy their wanderlust here, whether it's on one of the sparkling park lakes such as Chaumecon or Panneciere Lake; ascending the superb vantage points of haut-Folin and Mont Beuvray; discovering the Gouloux waterfall; one of the mountain biking trails, or even a horse-riding expedition. After all, there are more than 1,500km of walking trails, 2,500km or trails for mountain bikes, 1,500km of horse riding trails, and 6 lakes within the park, just waiting to be explored.

Did you know there’s even a Hobbit’s house? Fans of Tolkien’s magical world can now spend the night in Bilbo Baggin’s house, which has been faithfully recreated at the Domaine de la Pierre Ronde Campsite. Another reason to make this magical place one of your Burgundy day trips.

Cycling on Burgundy Day Trips from Domaine de Cromey

Cycling is one of the best ways to explore Burgundy. Why not take a leisurely cycle ride, at your own pace and entirely emission-free, while getting fit in the process? With over 2,900 kilometers of cycle paths to explore in Burgundy, including the routes through the Morvan Mountains, along the Nivernais Canal, and Canal de Bourgogne, there's a route suitable for all abilities. At Domaine de Cromey, we work with experienced bike hire companies to provide the best bikes for you and you party (even some electric ones), so there’s no hassle in getting things sorted for your Burgundy day trips when you’re with us.

Stay With Us Amongst the Vines at Domaine de Cromey

Choose from two vacation options at Domaine de Cromey in Burgundy. The first option is to host a Burgundy House Party for up to 12 guests (extendable to 14). You'll have exclusive access to the estate, including the gardens, pool area, salon, tasting room, dining room, and luxurious accommodation. A private chef and concierge service will be at your disposal to make your trip unforgettable.

The second option is to join one of our Mix and Meet weeks, where you can experience the same offerings as the Burgundy House Party. This option is perfect for couples and smaller groups who wish to mingle with like-minded people. These weeks often turn into lively gatherings, as guests bond over their shared love for food and wine.

For more information on Burgundy day trips at Domaine de Cromey, visit our website using the following link or take a look at our sample itinerary to get a taste of what to expect. All stays are a week long, running from Sunday to Saturday.

Why not get the wheels in motion for the cycling trip of a lifetime, if you’re a fan of two-wheeled trips? Read our guide to cycling from Domaine de Cromey right here. Plus explore everything you need to know about visiting the town of Beaune, the capital of the Burgundy wine region many more ideas for your Burgundy day trips. Don’t forget you can also join burgundywine.com's Burgundy Wine Club by following this link.