Arcenant brings together a limestone cliff with a cave, a rich ecclesiastical history and walking destinations that take different amounts of time to explore. When planning your visit, it helps to distinguish the short access route to the Trou du Duc from a longer hike, and to consider the cultural sites as destinations in their own right. This way, you can decide whether landscape, architectural history or a hike will be the main focus of your stay.
Trou du Duc and hiking
The Trou du Duc is a classified site at the top of a limestone cliff. There is a small cave measuring 8 m Ă— 40 m, and the site also offers beautiful views over the valley. A short path leads to the site from the D25 departmental road. Access to the cave is subject to safety restrictions, so the short route to the site does not mean that entry to the cave is unrestricted.
A longer option is the Le Trou du Duc hiking route from Arcenant. It is 9.07 km long, takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes, has 329 m of elevation gain and is considered moderately difficult. It therefore takes considerably longer than the short path from the D25. Trail conditions and markings can change, so check the latest route information before setting out.
Church and Prieuré: different eras
The Eglise Saint-Martin features grotesque figures and the equestrian statue “la Charité de Saint Martin”; it is classified as a Cluniac site. The nave, dating from the mid-19th century, bears marks made by the compagnons, or craftsmen’s guilds. The sanctuary, from the late 19th century, is entirely decorated with unusually rare wall frescoes. The church thus brings together several distinct details of architectural and art history.
The Prieuré d'Arcenant was founded in 1188 by monks from Saint-Vivant Abbey, which was subordinate to Cluny Abbey. The buildings visible today date from 1724. Guided tours provide insight into the history of the Prieuré and its role in the region’s monastic and wine-growing organization. The church and the Prieuré thus represent different historical contexts: on the one hand, the features and furnishings of a church building; on the other, the founding history and regional role of a monastic institution.
A sanctuary nearby and two ways to reach it
The nearby Site gallo-romain de l'Écartelot offers another perspective on the area's history. The Gallo-Roman site includes a sanctuary. From Arcenant, a 3 km heritage trail leads there; from the parking area on the D18, a marked 400 m footpath leads to the site. These two distances differ both in their starting point and length, helping you identify the access route that suits you.
Local history and food and drink
In Arcenant’s municipal forest, a memorial plaque marks a former maquis camp dating from the Second World War. Another way to experience regional culture is “La Route du Cassis”: this culinary route has existed since 2025 and runs from Dijon via the Hautes-Côtes and Arcenant to Nuits-Saint-Georges. It offers opportunities to meet local producers.
Two liqueur makers in Arcenant process their own produce and harvests directly into liqueurs and preserves. Together with the former maquis camp and the area’s architectural and church histories, these offer several distinct reasons to choose Arcenant rather than reducing the town to a single attraction.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Seine-Sur-Vingeanne, Monthelie, Viserny, Charencey, Lusigny-sur-Ouche, Baubigny, Diancey, Pasques.
For the broader travel overview: Cote-Dor.
