The Manoir and the
château beside it, are situated in the little village of the same name in the
Nièvre area of Burgundy, within sight of the vast Morvan mountain range 50 kms
away. This is a charming, typical Burgundian village, quiet and surrounded by
forest. The Manoir, built in 1908, has fine open views way across the
countryside towards the Morvans and has been completely restored with taste and
simplicity. Food is an important part of life in Burgundy and restaurants range
from simple to gastronomic. To truly experience this, Marc Meneau's Michelin two
star restaurant at St Père, in the shadow of Vézelay 44 kms from here, is
certainly worth at least one visit, as is Bernard Loiseau's three star
restaurant, the Côte d'Or, in Saulieu 45 kms away. The vineyards too, Chablis,
Sancerre and Pouilly or Tannay and Irancy are within an hour's drive and welcome
visits to taste. The nearest shops are 3 and 6 kms away and Corbighy (20 kms)
has a weekly market, more shops and a supermarket.
Accommodation
The Manoir has a large living room and a dining room, both with fireplaces. The
big kitchen has a beautiful stone fireplace and is very well equipped with a gas
range, dishwasher and washing machine. There is also a back kitchen with two
fridges and pantry shelves for provisions. There are three bedrooms are on the
first floor. The first bedroom is a twin with a small room leading from it,
suitable for a child. The other two are double bedrooms, one also has a small
second bedroom and a balcony. They share a bathroom with a bath/shower and a
separate WC. The second floor has a large bedroom with 4 single beds and a
bathroom with a bath/shower. An attic can be used to dry and air clothes. There
is a pleasant garden with a terrace and teak and wrought iron garden furniture.
Cooking Courses
We organise cooking courses given by professional, multi-lingual chefs, four
times a year for groups of between four to six people, in May, June and
September, or by request. For more information please enquire.
Activities
There are tennis courts and riding stable within ten minutes and many places to
walk and cycle. For those who like fishing, there are places just a short walk
from here or in lakes 15 kms away. You can also spend a day canoeing (20 kms) or
go rafting in the Morvans (40 kms).
Saint-Révérien (3 kms) is named after an early Christian disciple who was sent
by Pope St Felix 1st, 268-274, to teach the gospel to the Eduens, the Gallic
people who lived here then. The 13th century church of Saint-Révérien has a
remarkable domed roof, an example of the purest tradition of Romanesque
architecture; you can see similar ones at Autun and Charité-sur-Loire. Close to
here are the Gallo-Roman site of Compierre where there are remains of a
prosperous city from the 2nd and 3rd centuries.
Vézelay (45 kms), 'the eternal hill' crowned by the 12th century basilica of La
Madeleine and considered to be one of the treasures of France, was where St
Bernard began the Second Crusade in 1146. One of the most important centres of
pilgrimage in the Middle Ages, it was the start of one of the four traditional
routes towards St Jacques de Compostelle. Today it is still a magnet for
pilgrims and an elegant town with a profusion of antique shops, galleries,
esoteric bookshops and restaurants.
Nevers (55kms), lies on the banks of the upper Loire river dominated by the
cathedral with its two great towers, one Roman, the other Gothic, its different
architectural styles dating from 11th to the 16th centuries. There is also the
Ducal Palace with its beautiful Renaissance façade and the lovely church of St
Etienne in the old quarter. It has some excellent shops, particularly for
jewellery and chocolate and is worth visiting for its imaginative and colourful
chinaware. The Municipal Museum has some wonderful old examples. The
extraordinarily preserved remains of St Bernardette of Lourdes can be visited at
the Convent of St-Guildard.
Further downstream is Charité-sur-Loire, perhaps the most entrancing town on
this stretch of the river, quiet and undisturbed by the passage of time. The
vineyards of Pouilly-sur-Loire and Sancerre are further along from here.
Getting There
Auxerre and Dijon are the closest airports. Paris is 240km away.
Breakdown
Ground Floor: 1 living room (fireplace), 1 dining room, 1 kitchen (oven,
dish washer washing machine), 1 scullery.
1st Floor: 1 double bedroom (1 x 2), 1 single bedroom (1 x 1), 2 double bedrooms
(1 x 2 and 2 x 1), of which 1 bedroom with bathroom (bath, shower, sink,
toilet), 1 cot.
2nd Floor: 1 four persons bedroom (4 x 1), 1 bathroom (bath, shower, sink,
toilet).
Electric heating. Terrace and garden with garden furniture.
Click here to view a map of the area
