Discover Chamoux

There are different ways to shape a stay in Chamoux, with a choice of prehistoric themes, games and woodland activities, or nature and landscape. Cardoland combines sculptures, a palaeontological museum and activities for children. Other options include activities at Ranch des Coyotes / Shooting Forest, woodland walks with a donkey and the ZNIEFF landscape. You can decide which of these aspects will define your stay based on your interests.

Cardoland and activities for children

Cardoland covers 10 hectares and features more than 90 sculptures of dinosaurs and prehistoric animals. It also includes a themed, reconstructed cave and a palaeontological museum. The prehistoric museum explains the development of life on Earth through documents, fossils and replicas. Cardoland thus brings together depictions of animals and an account of the development of life.

The museum can be visited independently; guided tours for groups are available by reservation. Workshops for children and activities such as excavation areas add to the museum themes.

Games and woodland walks

Ranch des Coyotes offers family-friendly games such as wheelbarrow races, catapult, pedal go-karting and trampolining. Shooting Forest has a laser game in a woodland setting. Fun Archery is played with safe arrows shot at opposing players; Gelly Ball uses gelled, biodegradable water beads. The activities therefore differ in both type of game and setting.

Les Anes d'Héléna offers woodland walks with a donkey. Donkeys can also be hired for an hour or a day.

Getting there and practical planning

You can reach Ranch des Coyotes / Shooting Forest in Chamoux via the RD 951, Rue Principale. Les Anes d'Héléna is at 28 Rue Principale, 89660 Chamoux. Check these directions before travelling. Activity availability may change; the Ranch games are also subject to seasonal availability. Check in advance the activities you plan to include in your stay.

Landscape and culture

According to the INPN document dated 7 January 2025, Chamoux is one of three municipalities in the Yonne department listed in the Type 1 ZNIEFF “Vallon et coteaux entre Chamoux et Chatel-Censoir”. The document states that the ZNIEFF encompasses a narrow valley with wet meadows, floodable woodland, ponds and some agricultural land, through which the Ruisseau de Chamoux flows. It also lists the monkey orchid (Orchis simia) as recorded in the ZNIEFF. The document describes this legally protected orchid as very rare in Burgundy.

Chamoux church is also one of the scenic highlights of the Communauté de communes Avallon-Vézelay-Morvan. It adds a distinct point of interest to the nature and museum themes.

Discover more destinations: Rogny-Les-Sept-Écluses, Poilly-sur-Tholon, Châtel-Censoir, Jussy, Brosses, Pontaubert, Aillant-Sur-Tholon, Paroy-Sur-Tholon

For the wider travel overview: Yonne.