This picturesque little town makes a great base for exploring the Morvan Regional Nature Park, a gorgeous, untamed expanse of granite massifs and lakes ideal for walking and water-sports, and a delight for lovers of wildlife (birdwatchers may spot everything from ospreys to ortolans). Saulieu itself has much to offer, from the Romanesque Basilique St-Andoche with its gargoyle-bedecked fountain to the Musée François Pompon, featuring local gastronomy and folklore as well as the works of the eponymous sculptor, whose striding ‘White Bear’ is one of the Musée d’Orsay’s most beloved exhibits.

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