A twisted bell tower, an archaeological site and marked trails with viewpoints give Vitteaux a varied character. Recurring events add different reasons to visit. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between architectural and cultural history, nature and event dates.
History and buildings
Nine monuments in Vitteaux are listed in the register of Monuments historiques. Among the highlighted buildings are the Halles, which were classified as a Monument historique by decree on 28 February 1964. The Église Saint-Germain also combines several historical and artistic features. Its foundation dates back to the 11th century, and it was rebuilt in 1180. Its twisted bell tower is striking; inside, there is also an altarpiece painted by Nicolas de Hoey in 1592.
Another building is the Chapelle de la Trinité. It was built in 1592 on the banks of the Brenne, in ruelle Ferrand. Together, the church and chapel illustrate different aspects of architectural history: the foundation and rebuilding dates are recorded for Saint-Germain, while the year of construction and riverside location are known for the Trinité. Anyone interested in historic buildings will find more than just one place to visit.
Camp de Myard and trails through the landscape
Camp de Myard represents a much earlier period in the area's history. The site provides evidence of significant human settlement from the 4th to the 9th millennium BC. Visible remains include a fortification with five towers. The site has been classified as a Monument historique since 22 January 2004. The archaeological settlement and surviving structural remains offer two different ways to explore the site: a broad time span and a specific visible feature.
There are also different options for walks and hikes. Marked trails lead through the local nature and landscape, while viewpoints offer views over Vitteaux. The Circuit de Myard is an easy, eight-kilometre hiking trail that starts and ends in Vitteaux. This gives you a clearly identified route with a distance and difficulty level, while the other marked trails are characterised primarily by their landscapes and viewpoints.
Light art at dusk
The shadow-and-light work created by Christian Boltanski changes throughout the day: it disappears during the day and reappears at dusk. The installation extends along ruelle Ferrand, behind the tourist office, by the Brenne and in rue Portelle. This experience therefore offers a different sense of timing from the buildings and hiking trails: it is specifically associated with the evening.
Baking and horse racing
The annual FĂŞte de la brioche celebrates baking. More than 1,000 brioches are baked in a large oven in front of visitors. Horse racing takes centre stage at the Hippodrome de Vitteaux, where two major events are held every year. Each event features nine harness or flat races on a track approximately 1,200 metres long. The FĂŞte de la brioche and the race days offer different event highlights; if either is important to your trip, check the specific dates in advance.
If you are looking for a hotel in Vitteaux, you can plan your stay around these interests: architectural and cultural history, a hike, the evening light installation or an event date. You do not need to fit everything into a packed itinerary. Consider which of these experiences matters most to you and choose your travel dates accordingly.
Discover more destinations: Agencourt, Montagny-Lès-Beaune, Vandenesse-En-Auxois, Beurizot, Arnay-Le-Duc, Missery, Longecourt-lès-Culêtre, Corgengoux.
Go to the main travel overview: Cote-Dor.
