Saint-Martin-D'auxy consists of several linear villages. The Jardin de Cassandra features many perennials, most of them rare; local history includes the fountains built around 1810 and the Café du Loup’s role in the Resistance during the Second World War.
Visit the Jardin de Cassandra
The collections at the Jardin de Cassandra include Christmas roses, daylilies, roses and rhododendrons, as well as many perennials, most of them rare. The garden is therefore not limited to roses: the other plant groups mentioned and the rare perennials also define its character. Self-guided and guided visits are available. Check the arrangements for your preferred type of visit before you go. A nursery attached to the garden offers plants from the garden throughout the season. This seasonal information applies to the nursery’s offerings; if this matters for your visit, check availability in advance.
Rural landscape and getting your bearings
Saint-Martin-D'auxy does not have a compact town centre, but consists of several linear villages. When exploring the area, use specific destinations as landmarks rather than looking for a single village centre. The landscape is predominantly rural, consisting mostly of meadows edged with hedgerows. Saint-Martin-D'auxy lies on the ridge above the Col des Baudots and overlooks the vineyards of Montagny to the west. Two aspects of the landscape stand out: the hedgerow-lined meadows and the western view of the vineyards. The Centre Europe Atlantic Route passes through the area, connecting Chalon with Montceau-les-Mines. The meadows and vineyards offer a sense of the landscape, while the route provides a regional link to Chalon and Montceau-les-Mines.
Local history across different periods
At La Forge, coal outcrops once raised hopes of industrial development in the area. The Café du Loup represents a different historical context: during the Second World War, from 1939 to 1945, it was an important Resistance location near the demarcation line. Two themes can therefore be distinguished in the area’s history: earlier hopes for industrial development and the Café du Loup’s role in the Resistance during the war. Formerly an inn, the café reopened in 2022. Its reopening came well after its role in the Resistance; before visiting, check whether the café is currently open and serving food and drink.
Four fountains built around 1810 revealed only a thin, unusable layer, 50 centimetres thick. The fountains predate the Resistance period of 1939 to 1945; the reopening in 2022 came later. These specific historical reference points thus span from the fountains of the early 19th century to the more recent history of the Café du Loup.
Discover more destinations: Mervans, Beaurepaire-En-Bresse, CrĂŞches-Sur-SaĂ´ne, Saint-Aubin-Sur-Loire, Mont-Saint-Vincent, Chalon-Sur-SaĂ´ne, Cronat, Morlet.
For the regional travel overview: SaĂ´ne-Et-Loire.
