Arleuf offers several rewarding themes for a trip: a Gallo-Roman theatre, traces of the former Tacot railway, nature at Étang de Préperny and a 70-kilometre gravel route. This lets you choose different focuses when planning your visit—from local history to an extended bike ride.
A Gallo-Roman theatre in Arleuf
The Gallo-Roman rural theatre of Les Bardiaux is located in Arleuf, near Champ de Bois and Les Bardiaux. It shows that Arleuf was already inhabited in Gallo-Roman times. The documented construction phases of the theatre date to the second and fourth centuries. It has been classified as a historic monument since 8 December 1975. The dates offer different points of reference: the centuries refer to the construction phases, while 1975 marks the date of its classification.
The Tacot railway and local history
The former Tacot railway line runs through Arleuf and is lined with small stations and abandoned structures. It offers another way to explore the history of the area. Another trace of history can be found at the Blandins quarry: German prisoners of war were put to work there during the First World War.
Fountain and washhouse
The Fontaine St Pierre is a masonry fountain with two basins, one of which is set up as a washhouse. It can be reached and visited by car via a municipal road. The ruins are at risk. Those interested in the architectural details will find not just a fountain here, but also a basin that served as a washhouse.
Nature at Étang de Préperny
The small Étang de Préperny is considered a natural area in the forests of the mountainous Haut Morvan because of its exceptional biodiversity. A purpose-built path runs alongside the peat bog and over the dam around the pond. Information panels along the route share insights into the area’s natural heritage and invite visitors to observe and explore. The Étang therefore offers a different way to get to know Arleuf than through its architectural and settlement history: here, the focus is on natural heritage and the information provided along the trail.
Concerts and Jambon du Morvan
Le Cornemuse is a bar-restaurant that sells tobacco and hosts concert evenings. Tickets for evening events are available there and at the tourist offices in Château-Chinon and Autun; check availability before travelling. Jambon du Morvan days open to everyone were also held in Arleuf on 11 September 2022 and 8 September 2024. If you would like to plan a future stay around a concert evening or one of these days, check the specific dates in advance.
Cycling routes with different focuses
A 70-kilometre gravel loop starts in Arleuf and leads to Haut-Folin, Burgundy’s highest point, as well as Mont Beuvray, home to the archaeological site of Bibracte, the former Gallic capital. The loop connects two very different destinations: a prominent landmark and a site of Gallic history. There are also three mountain-bike descents from the summit of Haut-Folin. You can therefore choose between a longer loop with several destinations and a focus on downhill rides.
For planning your trip, the local sites and cycling routes offer different scales: the theatre, fountain and pond are specific attractions in the area, while the 70-kilometre gravel loop offers a more extensive touring option. Which one shapes your stay depends on whether you want to focus primarily on archaeological history, nature at the Étang or cycling.
Discover more destinations: Bouhy, Saint-Hilaire-En-Morvan, Guipy, Alligny-En-Morvan, Saint-Hilaire-Fontaine, Montaron, Donzy, Entrains-Sur-Nohain
For the broader travel overview: Nièvre.
