Bessey-En-Chaume: Hiking, Village History and Nature

Bessey-en-Chaume offers travelers several specific points of interest: the GR 7 passes through the village, the Église Saint-Philoté is in the center, and Bessey-en-Chaume is part of the Vallée du Rhoin et ravin d’Antheuil Natura 2000 site. Other highlights include the Lavoir de Trie, the history of Clavoillon and local traditions. If you are planning a trip, these different themes can help you decide what to focus on during your stay—whether you are more interested in a hiking stage, architectural history or the landscape.

Hiking the GR 7

The GR 7 passes through Bessey-en-Chaume; stage 12 runs from Clavoillon to Meloisey. If you enjoy hiking, this route offers a concrete starting point for planning your trip. The stage information links the route through the village to a named section and its two place names.

Village History and Buildings

The Lavoir de Trie was built near a spring in 1862. A lavoir is a washhouse, so the name refers to a building whose history is closely connected to water. According to local tradition, the lavoir is considered the village’s place of origin. A specific construction date and a local origin story therefore sit side by side: one is dated to 1862, while the other is part of village tradition. Gallo-Roman remains were discovered at the Fontaine de Trie, within the territory of Bessey-en-Chaume. These finds add an archaeological dimension to the village’s history.

The Église Saint-Philoté, a 19th-century parish church, stands in the center of Bessey-en-Chaume. Its square bell tower is attached on the north side and topped with a short spire. The church is open to visitors free of charge. A visit brings together its age, parish function and a distinctive architectural feature.

The Natura 2000 Site

The Vallée du Rhoin et ravin d’Antheuil Natura 2000 site covers 1,225 hectares and includes Antheuil, Bessey-en-Chaume, Bouilland and Savigny-lès-Beaune. Bessey-en-Chaume is therefore one of four municipalities within the site. Its habitats include calcareous grasslands formed from former pastureland, cool, damp ravine woodlands and hard-to-reach scree slopes. This range extends from grassland to damp wooded ravines and stony areas.

This area, shared by several municipalities, is home to five types of rare protected plants and 16 rare or threatened bird species, including the eagle owl and peregrine falcon. The biodiversity is therefore part of a larger natural area that Bessey-en-Chaume shares with three other municipalities. For travelers interested in nature, looking at the site as a whole offers a different perspective from visiting individual buildings in the village center.

Clavoillon and Historic Technology

Clavoillon, near Bessey-en-Chaume, is considered particularly worth visiting. Old stone houses nestle against the hillside, and large limestone rocks also shape the village’s appearance. Here, the hillside setting, houses and rocks take center stage, while the Église Saint-Philoté is a single building in the village center.

A high point near Bessey-en-Chaume was designated in the 18th and 19th centuries as the site for a square Chappe telegraph tower on the Paris–Lyon–Marseille line. The line was in use from 1799 to 1852.

Discover more destinations: Tillenay, Grésigny-Sainte-Reine, Ménétreux-Le-Pitois, Bressey-Sur-Tille, Bellenod-Sur-Seine, Meloisey, Cessey-sur-Tille, Rochefort-sur-Brévon.

For the broader travel overview: Cote-Dor.