Forming part of Parc Naturel Regional du Morvan, Saulieu is a picturesque rural town in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of France. It has existed since at least Roman times when it was known as “Sidolocus”. Saulieu is renowned for its beautiful basilica that was originally founded as an abbey church in the 6th century.
Things to do in Saulieu
Art enthusiasts can visit Musee François Pompon, which celebrates the life and work of the locally-born sculptor. In addition to some of his most famous animal sculptures, the museum showcases ancient tombstones and Gallo-Roman steles reflecting the history of the region. Temporary exhibitions of paintings and drawings are regularly held at the museum.
Adjacent to the museum is the Basilique Saint-Andoche de Saulieu, a Romanesque church that took on its current form in the 11th century. Gaze up at its two towers, one of which is topped by a Baroque dome, and take note of the semi-circular portal. Inside the basilica is a magnificent organ and a reconstructed Merovingian sarcophagus crafted from Carrara marble.
Saulieu makes an excellent base for visiting the Musee de la Resistance en Morvan, which details the role of resistance fighters in the region during World War II. Vintage weapons, uniforms and archival documents are displayed throughout its three rooms, which are themed around “Occupation”, “Resistance” and “Liberation and Memory”. Projections illustrate the daily life of the Maquis as they fought against the Nazi occupation.
Getting around Saulieu
Saulieu is around an hour’s drive from Dijon and 2.5 hours from Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Regular buses connect to Saulieu and the town is small enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the region.