In the deeply incised Rhoin Valley, Bouilland offers two distinct outdoor activities: a circular hike and a climbing area on limestone cliffs.

Hiking around Bouilland

The Tour de la Vallée du Rhoin starts in Bouilland and is a three-hour circular route of moderate difficulty. Its 10.1 kilometres and 483 metres of elevation gain add specific details about the route and elevation profile to the estimated duration. For planning your day, you can take the duration, distance and ascent into account together. The circular route offers panoramic views around Bouilland. The GR 7 long-distance trail passes through the village from northeast to southwest.

You can optionally extend the circular route with a there-and-back walk to the Grand Châtelet de Bouilland and a viewpoint on the rocky spur. The Grand Châtelet is a prehistoric site; take care on the rocky spur. The route description also passes the car park for the medieval Sainte Marguerite Abbey, then continues to Bouilland along a GR trail. Access conditions may change seasonally; check local notices for temporary restrictions before setting out on your hike.

Climbing on the limestone cliffs

The FFME listing, last updated on 30 July 2010, describes limestone cliffs at the Bouilland climbing area that are 10 to 50 metres high, with a total of 4,000 metres of climbing routes. The same listing records closures of individual routes due to nesting eagle owls. Before climbing, check which seasonal closures are currently in effect. A steep paved road leads from the village to the plateau; the car park is 200 metres from the climbing area. Before climbing, also check the current condition of the car park and road.

Landscape, culture and accommodation

The Rhoin and its tributary, the Ruisseau de Clavoillon, flow through the valley from Bouilland to Savigny-les-Beaune. Peregrine falcons and eagle owls can be found around the limestone cliffs and rocky outcrops of the Rhoin Valley. A lavoir, or washhouse, was built in 1860. So during a stay, the landscape, nature and a range of historical points of interest are all worth exploring, alongside the trails. The historical examples also span different periods: the Grand Châtelet is prehistoric, Sainte Marguerite Abbey is medieval, and the lavoir was built in 1860. The examples mentioned thus range from prehistory to the 19th century.

The Auberge Saint-Martin in Bouilland is recommended for its homemade cuisine. Before travelling, check whether the restaurant will be open on your date and whether its offerings will be available.

When looking for a hotel in Bouilland, you can weigh up the focus of your stay: the hike has a clearly stated duration of three hours, while planning for climbing includes the steep approach and checking for seasonal closures.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Seine-Sur-Vingeanne, Corberon, Chazilly, Flagey-Échézeaux, Montigny-Sur-Aube, Lusigny-sur-Ouche, Prusly-Sur-Ource, Pouilly-En-Auxois.

For the regional travel overview: Cote-Dor.