Village médiéval de Vézelay, proche d'Avallon
A. Millot / PNR Morvan
Quartier historique d'Avallon
A. Millot / PNR Morvan
Panorama sur le Morvan à Avallon
A. Millot / PNR Morvan
Quartier historique d'Avallon
A. Millot / PNR Morvan

Avallon

A city perched on its granite platform

The old town is built on a granitic promontory that overlooks the Cousin Valley by about a hundred metres. To the north, the city has spread over the calcareous plateau. Probably from a Celtic settlement, Avallon benefited from its presence on the famous Via Agrippa in the Gallo-Roman era, and became a stopover town. Due to its natural location, the city had a strategic interest. However, it was not until the 9th century that the first ramparts were built. Along the Cousin, the suburbs recall the "hydraulic" industries (tanneries) that have now disappeared, which ensured the city's prosperity in the 19th century. The Cousin Valley and its remarkable natural heritage (white-legged crayfish, peregrine falcon, Grand Duke...) is nowadays the subject of many environmental concerns: natura 2000 sites, restoration of ecological continuity, educational facilities...

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Avallon / Quarré-les-Tombes

1 Avallon / Quarré-les-Tombes

52 km
5 h 30 min
Hard
The Grande Traversée du Massif Central (GTMC) mountain bike route begins at Avallon, at the northern end of the Parc du Morvan, in central Burgundy. Explore Avallon’s historic centre, then descend on your mountain bike, via steep terraced gardens, to follow the Cousin upstream, cycling along its wild, steep-sided valley. Continuing south through hedge-divided fields, you reach the Lac du Crescent, one of the six ‘great lakes’ of the Morvan Range. After the dam at L’Huis Raquin, enjoy a detour of under 5km (there and back) to admire the imposing Château de Chastellux, dating back to the 11th century. This stage offers a solid introduction to the granite range of the Morvan Hills!
Quarré-les-Tombes / Saulieu

2 Quarré-les-Tombes / Saulieu

46 km
4 h 45 min
Hard
Once you’ve taken a good look at the 112 stone sarcophagi scattered around Quarré-les-Tombes Church, the GTMC leads you along a section offering a string of spots with remarkable views. This stage provides the attractions of a hearty mountain-bike outing, plus the odd highlight along the way, such as the Forêt au Duc and the Benedictine Abbey of La Pierre qui Vire. The way is made all the prettier for being dotted with lakes of different sizes; in particular, you’ll cycle beside Saint-Agnan Lake, and the lakes by the Maison du Parc. The tracks through light woods offer very good sliding thrills… on a mountain bike!