Bessey-Lès-Cîteaux: Holiday Apartments and Houses

Bessey-lès-Cîteaux is part of the Natura 2000 site “Forêts de Cîteaux et environs” and its bird protection area; the designations are SIC FR2601013 and ZPS FR2612007.

Nature and Landscape

The protected area “Forêts de Cîteaux et environs”, associated with Bessey-lès-Cîteaux, encompasses extensive deciduous forest areas, numerous ponds and agricultural landscapes of the Saône Plain. The Plaine de Cîteaux is characterised by oak forests, straight roads, farmed clearings or meadows, and damp depressions.

Bessey-lès-Cîteaux lies between the Vouge and the forests of Cîteaux and Izeure, in the Plaine de Cîteaux landscape unit.

Planning a trip to Bessey-lès-Cîteaux may include searching for a holiday apartment to rent.

Culture and History

Notre-Dame de Lée is associated with a local pilgrimage tradition. The Church of Saint Vincent dates from the 19th century and replaced an earlier chapel in 1840. Its two bells date from 1492 and 1509.

The Church of Saint Vincent houses the original statue of the Madonna associated with the Notre-Dame de Lée chapel. The Notre-Dame de Lée chapel contains a copy of the Madonna found at this site; the original is kept in the church. The chapel dates from 1565 and was built at the request of Louis de BAISSEY.

The retable is a carved polyptych with seven panels depicting the Passion of Christ. Since 1840, the retable has been set into the wall behind the altar inside the church. The retable, dating from 1430, is attributed to Claus SLUTER; his nephew Claus WERVE completed it.

Several frescoes from the Second World War period are still visible at the Château de BAISSEY. Construction of the Château de BAISSEY began in 1671; Captain LAVAL completed it at the beginning of the 18th century with a ceremonial staircase, slate roof and park.

The Maison forte de Bessey-lès-Cîteaux is considered a modern château. The Motte Montjardin in Bessey-lès-Cîteaux is considered to be the remains of a motte-and-bailey earthwork.

Routes

The local road network includes the RD116c between Aubigny and Aiserey. Coming from Aiserey, Bessey-lès-Cîteaux is reached via a three-arched bridge over the Vouge.

The Notre-Dame de Lée circular hiking trail is listed as 8.4 km long, with 110 metres of elevation gain and a duration of two hours. The hiking trail continues for approximately 1 km to a car park near the Notre-Dame de Lée chapel.

The active association Les Amis de Notre Dame de Lée manages and maintains the Notre-Dame de Lée chapel together with the parish and the municipality.

Other places: Terrefondrée, Échevronne, Plombières-lès-Dijon, Saussey, Ménessaire, Boncourt-le-Bois, Longvic, Flavigny-Sur-Ozerain

To the higher-level travel overview: Cote-Dor.