Maison Verte

21360 La Bussière-sur-Ouche France

ACTIVITIES GOLF There is a golf course within easy reach : Golf la Chassagne at Malain

There are more golf courses further afield in Dijon, Beaune.

************** SAILING AND WINDSURFING There is Sailing and Windsurfing at two lakes.

Lac du Panthier is near Pouilly en Auxois, and is the smaller of the two

Les Settons is to the west, in the Morvan

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BALLOONING What better way to experience the peace and tranquillity of the Burgundy countryside than by drifting across the clear sky in a Balloon?

Burgundy is the birthplace of the famous Mongolfier brothers who revolutionised hot-air ballooning, and every year there is a massive Balloon Festival at Chalon sur Saône. There are a number of reputable companies who have been organising balloon trips in the area for many years, and the Housekeeper will be happy to help you arrange a trip.

************** BICYCLES The Maison Verte has a number of bicycles (adult and child sizes - not for little children - no stabilisers) The countryside around La Bussière provides a variety of cycle rides of different distances and difficulty. In particular the canal towpaths provide a safe and easy ride for children. The bicycles are checked at the beginning and end of each rental. Spare tubes and puncture repair kits are available. The bicycles MUST be left serviceable when you leave, or a deduction will be made from your security deposit for any remedial work. Cycling helmets are recommended, but not supplied. Please bring your own.

************** MOTOR RACING The Dijon-Prenois circuit is 25 km from La Bussière in the direction of Dijon. The French GP was held there in alternate years until 1984. The Swiss GP was held there in 1984. Various car and bike racing events are now held there, and there is a go-kart track.

BURGUNDY CANAL The Burgundy Canal joins the rivers Yonne and Soane and reaches its’ highest point at Pouilly en Auxois, and then passes through a long tunnel to emerge close to Vandenesse from where it descends (past Chateauneuf) to the Valley of the River Ouche.

The towpaths are very safe for cycling with children (no traffic), and are FLAT! (apart from the locks) The section up the valley from Pont d’Ouche is particularly beautiful. Trips on the canal are available from the Port at Pouilly. Please contact the Housekeeper for more detail.

************** SIGHTSEEING, VINEYARDS, RESTAURANTS Please take your time to look through the leaflets in the Sitting Room

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ROCK CLIMBING

In Burgundy, the limestone crags from Clamecy in the north west right down to Solutré in the south of the region offer thousands of routes, across all grades. The cliffs are known as the Falaises de Bourgogne and there are 19 major crags, which are all limestone, bar one, the Vieux Château Cliff which is granite. The three largest crags are Surgy near Clamecy, Saffres near Vitteaux and Hauteroche near Venarey-Les-Laumes, both west of Dijon. Some cliffs are protected as natural sites and here you should avoid the nesting season between February and the end of June when there are occasionally temporary prohibitions in force.

Main Crags in Burgundy Crag no Area No. of

Routes Max

Height Rock Type

1 Surgy 58 40m Limestone 2 Rochers du Parc 146 28m Limestone 3 Saussois 141 N/N Limestone 4 Vieux 44 40m Granite 5 Hauteroche 240+ 35m Limestone 6 Saffres 400+ 30m Limestone 7 Lantenay 51 25m Limestone 8 Geligny 33 25m Limestone 9 Fixon 202 35m Limestone 10 Brochon 28 35m Limestone

11 Chambolle-Musigny 61 25m Limestone

12 Bouilland 89 34m Limestone 13 Cormot 141 35m Limestone 14 Rome Chateau 39 15m Limestone 15 Remigny 27 22m Limestone 16 St.-Denis 16 13m Limestone

17 Culles-les-Roches 38 N/N Limestone

18 Vergisson 58 35m Limestone 19 Solutre 45 24m Limestone

WATERSPORTS The numerous lakes and rivers in the Morvan Forest, the natural park in the centre of Burgundy, provide the perfect location for watersports. The rivers such as the Chalaux and Cure are great for canoe-kayaking and white water rafting, while on the lakes, you can sail, canoe, or just potter around on a pedalo. The rivers Yonne, Cure and Cousin and their tributaries become turbulent watercourses during the winter. Dams and reservoirs have been built to regulate the flow of these rivers and harness the water for hydroelectricity (Chaumeçon and Crescent) and in some cases for drinking water (St-Agnan and Chamboux), creating the six large lakes. They are ideal sporting locations.

The Rivers of the Morvan

River Chalaux

Canoe-kayaking

The European Championship in canoe-kayaking were held on the River Chalaux in July 2005 – one of the best rivers in France for this sport. When the Barrage de Chaumeçon is opened, 5 cu.m/s of water pours out. AB Loisir, based at St-Père-sous-Vézelay organise white water rafting here (accompanied trips, minimum age 16). They can supply the dates of the dam barrier opening.

River Cure

For a more gentle approach, the whole family can go canoe-kayaking, down the Cure river a distance of 8km from Malassis to St-Père, or 18km from Malassis to Semizelles, accompanied or on your own, by arrangement with AB Loisirs at St-Père (special life jackets for children provided).

River Yonne

In summer, AB Loisirs open their base at Armes and offer canoe-kayaking along 8km from Villiers-sur-Yonne to Armes and 18km from Bréves to Armes. This beautiful valley meanders along unspoilt countryside.

The Lakes of the Morvan

The dams and reservoirs such as Pannecière-Chaumard, Lac des Settons, Cresent, Chaumeçon and St-Agnan provide scenic locations and a variety of watersports. Look out for the ‘base nautique’ signs. Sailing and canoe-kayaking are the most popular with windsurfing on the Lac des Settons.

Useful addresses

AUTUN Base Nautique du Moulin du Vallon 0033 (0)3 85 86 95 80 sailing, pedalo, canoe-kayaking

LORMES Etang du Goulot, 0033 (0)386 22 85 47 sailing

MONTSAUCHE-LES-SETTONS

Base Nautique Activital 0033 (0)386 84 51 98 all watersports

AVALLON Loisirs en Morvan 0033 (0)386 31 90 10

ST-PERE-SOUS-VEZELAY AB Loisirs 0033 (0)386 33 38 38 canoe-kayaking, white water rafting, plus other sports

LAC DES SETTONS & CHAUMEÇON

Bases Nautiques 0033 (0)386 84 51 98 Chaumeçon windsurfing and all watersports

ST-AGNAN Aquadis 0033 (0)386 37 95 83

LORMES Morvan Eaux Vives 0033 (0)386 22 86 76

DUN-LES-PLACES Okhéanos Loisirs, Bornoux, 0033 (0)386 84 60 61

MONTCHELNOT, BRASSY Tous Azimuts, 0033 (0)386 22 28 97

PLAINEFAS AN-rafting 0033 (0)386226528

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proprietor : Bruce Cadbury, 47 Lanark Road, London W9 1DE, UK

( +44 20 7266 2389 ! +44 79 6118 0348 " TranquilBurgundy@Gmail.com MV Activities.docx