Page 325 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

12 sponsored the dig. To the
GREAT VIEW south lies the pretty village
Flavigny-sur- Alise-Ste-Reine of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, and
Ozerain to the north is Château de
Famous for its aniseed ! E3–F3 ⌂ Côte d’Or n 1 Av Bussy-Rabutin, its highly
de la Gare, Venarey-Les
imperial sweets (and as Laumes 21150; www. individualistic decor created
the setting for the film by the spiteful 17th-century
Chocolat), this village’s alesia-tourisme.net soldier and wit Roger de
red roofs and church are Above this village, Mont Auxois Bussy-Rabutin while exiled
a striking sight against was the site of Caesar’s final from Louis XIV’s court. One
the lush countryside. victory over the heroic Gaulish room is dedicated to por traits
chieftain Vercingétorix in 52 BC of his many mis tresses, as
after a six-week siege. The well as some made-up ones.
stunning bronze vase, 164-cm- first excavations, under taken
(66-in-) high, and weigh ing in the mid-19th century, Alésia MuséoParc
208 kg (459 lb). Also of interest uncovered vestiges of a thriv- "\ ⌂ Rue de l’Hôpital
in the town is the Romanesque ing Gallo-Roman town, with a # Feb–Nov: 10am–5pm
Église St-Vorles, containing an theatre and forum. Within the daily (to 6pm Jul & Aug)
Entomb ment with a splendidly Alésia MuséoParc is a good ∑ alesia.com
sculpted depiction of Christ histor ical discovery centre with
and his mourners (1527). multimedia displays and recon- Château de Bussy-
Nearby are the sources of struct ions of siege engines. Rabutin
the River Seine, which rises Alise is dominated by Aimé "= ⌂ Bussy-le-Grand
between St-Seine-l’Abbaye Millet’s gigantic moustachioed # 9:15am–5pm daily
and Chanceau, and its tribu- statue of Vercingétorix, placed ¢ Public hols ∑ chateau-
tary, the River Douix. Each here in 1865 to com memorate bussy-rabutin.fr
of the sources is marked by the first exca vations. Cynics
a beautiful grotto. point out the uncanny resem-
blance to Napoleon III, who
Musée du Pays du
Châtillonnais
"' ⌂ Rue de la Libération A display showing
# Jul & Aug: 10am–5:30pm medieval battle lines in
daily; Sep–Jun: Wed–Mon the Alésia MuséoParc’s
¢ Public hols ∑ musee-vix.fr discovery centre (inset)

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