MUST VISIT

Surrounded by unspoilt countryside and fed by two rivers, the Lac des Settons is a hive of fun activity with sailing, kayaking, motor boating, swimming and much more to do. Walking the shores is a treat too, although it will take more than a day to circumnavigate the lake with all its inlets and tributary valleys.

Around the lake, there are several quiet campsites, and there is a water sports school and rental agency where kids and adults alike can get professional tuition for things like surfing, canoeing, and sailing. And for those with speed in mind, you can rent water skis or jet skis at ‘Gliss Land’ at Les Branlasses on the eastern shoreline.
Paddle-boarding is also popular… it is great exercise and a really good way to take your mind off things. The shoreline is accessible, so getting your boat or board in the water is relatively easy.
If this sounds a little too energetic then you can take a pleasure boat ride across the lake, savouring the view and taking a few memorable photos along the way.

Maybe you don’t want to spend all day on or in the water… well that’s not a problem either with hiking and cycling trails all around this beautiful reservoir. The tour around the lake is about 13 km long, and covers about 366 hectares, for those who need to know!

And after you have burnt-off all that energy, a good meal is in order (Editor: With a glass or two of Burgundy wines of course!) Well, we didn’t just pick this location out of the blue, it happens to be close to Saulieu, 10 miles from the home of Jurriaan and Elly, who are our featured couple in ‘Living the dream’ in this newsletter.
In the old centre of Saulieu, you will find many cafes and bars. A great example is the Café Parisien with its Jugendstil interior (Editor: I had no idea what Jugendstil meant until I looked it up. It is an artistic style that arose in Germany about the mid-1890s deriving its name from the Munich magazine ‘Die Jugend’ which featured Art Nouveau designs. And now you know!)
The café is now classed as a national heritage site and during the evening, there are often live music concerts. But if that is not your scene, then there are plenty more to choose from like the restaurant ‘La Cote d'Or’ a Michelin Two Star establishment located at 2 Rue d'Argentine in the centre of town or, just round the corner on rue Grillot, you will find ‘La Vieille Auberge’, serving French and European style cuisine.

These are just two of the many restaurants available in the town. Have a look at TripAdvisor for some further recommendations to suit your taste and waist.