Saulieu

Saulieu is a small town in the Côte-d'Or department of Burgundy, on the edge of the Morvan Regional Nature Park. Historically, it owed its reputation to its position on the old Paris-Lyon route, which made it a well-known gastronomic staging post, notably thanks to the Côte d'Or restaurant and later the establishment of chef Bernard Loiseau, who helped cement the town's culinary standing. Local heritage includes the Basilica of Saint-Andoche, a 12th-century Romanesque church, and the François-Pompon Museum, dedicated to the animal sculptor born in Saulieu, whose monumental work, the Bull, stands in the main square. The historic centre retains old houses and traces of its past as a coaching stop. The surrounding countryside offers a typical rural Morvan setting, ideal for walking, exploring nearby lakes and forests, and outdoor pursuits. Saulieu makes a practical base for exploring Burgundy, combining Romanesque heritage, regional gastronomy and unspoilt nature, all within a quiet setting well away from mass tourism.