Discover Saint-Péreuse

Saint-Péreuse lies on a ridge overlooking the Veynon Valley. The commune sits on the boundary between the Morvan’s granite soils and the clay-limestone foothills of the Bazois; the Saulières Forest is also within its territory. The landscape and architectural history can be explored together here: the ridge and geological boundary are complemented by a series of historic buildings dating from very different periods.

Landscape between the Morvan and Bazois

The view across the Veynon Valley is one of the village’s defining geographical features. At the same time, its location on the boundary between the Morvan and Bazois marks a transition from granite soils to clay-limestone foothills. The Saulières Forest extends the area of interest beyond the village centre, as it lies within the commune. These details help place Saint-Péreuse in a varied landscape without conflating the village, valley and forest.

Châteaux and historic buildings

Château de Saulières

Château de Saulières was built around 1786 in the neoclassical style of the late 18th century and embodies the spirit of Neopalladianism. It is partially protected as a Monument historique. The grounds are also distinctive: the estate is laid out in successive terraces, from the stables to the open-air theatre. The château includes a French garden, an orangery and a 19th-century chapel. The estate is privately owned.

The terraces, gardens and buildings give the château a character quite different from that of a single château building. Its construction around 1786 and neoclassical design place Saulières in the late 18th century; its partial protected status is a separate detail.

The church of Saint-Péreuse and Château de Besne

The church of Saint-Péreuse brings together different periods of construction. The choir and apse of the original 12th-century church have been preserved; in 1868, the church was partially rebuilt in granite and given a neo-Romanesque design. Older elements and a later phase of construction thus coexist within the same religious building.

Château de Besne offers a different historical perspective: it was built in the second half of the 15th century on the ruins of an older 13th-century building. Four round towers give it a medieval appearance. Saulières represents late-18th-century design, while Besne’s towers and earlier predecessor point to earlier periods of construction. Château de Besne remains in the ownership of the family who live there. If you would like information about visits, you can contact the owner and ask about the options before your arrival.

Local production and a circular hiking route

The Biscuiterie Grobost is another local feature. Frédéric Grobost took over the family business and settled in Saint-Péreuse in 1992. Some steps in making the biscuits that are essential to their flavour and texture are still done by hand. This offers a concrete insight into local production, alongside the historic buildings and landscape.

The “Boucle du Château de Saulières et de l'Étang de l'Île” is described as an easy, 8.02-kilometre hike with an average duration of 2 hours and 25 minutes. It passes the Toureau de Remondot, goes through the Saulières Forest and runs close to the Étang de l'Île. Towards the end, it follows a path around Château de Saulières and its chapel; both are privately owned. The starting point and parking area are on the D978, the road to Château-Chinon, by a rest area. As trail and access conditions may change, check the details before setting out.

Discover more destinations: La Collancelle, Beaumont-Sardolles, Lucenay-Lès-Aix, Saint-Hilaire-En-Morvan, Chevenon, Chitry-Les-Mines, Marigny-Sur-Yonne, Millay.

For the main travel overview: Nièvre.