Whether you want to walk or cycle to the nearest place of interest or prefer to go off in the car for the day and explore, there are a wide range of things to see all around Oudan.

Close by:

Varzy

Only five minutes or less by car, Varzy is the nearest small town to the village. Named after the Var, the stream which runs through it, this settlement was another one of the properties of the Bishops of Auxerre and in the past was one of the main centres of Nivernais faience. As well as having one of the best examples of a 'lavoir' (washing place) in the Nievre, it also has some great architecture e.g. The Hotel Dieu, the Town Hall and a very fine listed staircase. St Peter's church is worth seeing for its Gothic Art and you can also go to see the Church of St Stephen and the Chateau.

The town offers all the immediate services required - 'Intermarche' - the small but adequate supermarket which is open every day; two boulangeries; a number of restaurants; a market held every Sunday during the summer months and on the third Thursday of the month during the rest of the year; a post office and a brocante for those you like to browse antiques and perhaps pick up a bargain.

Donzy

Well worth a visit, Donzy is a pretty old town whose narrow streets are lined with half timbered houses dating from the 15th and 16th Centuries. The old town is situated at the foot of the Chateau and has much to offer. If you like antique or 'junk shops', Donzy offers three or four, one of which is rather like visiting a museum with it's set up of rooms such as the nursery, kitchen, local shop and living area. One shop (see photo) is also a pottery.

While in the town, visit the Church of St Caradeuc and the remains of the Epeau Abbey as well as the 'Moulin de Maupertuis' on rue Andre Audinett. This ancient flour mill dates back to the 15th century. You can wander with a guide or if you prefer, at your own speed.

The Grand Menarch serves great food although its service times are a little strange but as you are on holiday I am sure you can sort your schedule to suit. Otherwise buy fresh bread from the local boulangerie, picnic by the river and watch the world go by.

The Chateau at Menou

From Oudan, the village of Menou is about 15 minutes by car on the D33. Driving through there is a post office but seemingly not much more than a few houses. Follow the signs for the Chateau though and you will find not only it but a very pretty church and a lovely walk starting opposite the rather imposing gates of the Chateau. By taking the walk it is possible to walk to the 'Tete Ronde' but more about that later. At the last attempt the Chateau was still closed to the public due to refurbishment but it is famed for its parks and gardens often said to be some of the best in Burgundy.

La Tete Ronde

Depending on the season, 'la Tete Ronde' is visible on the hill when approaching Menou from Donzy. It is well signposted and although you can drive right up to it, walking is perhaps the best way to visit. From its position, the surrounding countryside can be studied and with help from the panorama situated outside the chapel, the local landmarks can be pinpointed. A great place for a picnic.

La Motte Josserand

Although a chateau, this building looks more like a fortified farm and even though modernisation has occurred, there are still many underground passages, dungeons and defences to be seen. It can be visited although you need to make an appointment. Call 03 86 39 49 00

Clamecy

This attractive old medieval town stands on a hill where the rivers Yonne and Beuvron converge. Clamecy made it's fortune in the 16th Century by becoming the collection point for logs cut in the nearby forests and then floating this timber down the River Yonne to Paris. The practice ended when the Nivernais canal was built but the historic fact is forever remembered by the existence of the statue of the 'flotteur' on the main bridge and by the July 14th tradition of water jousting. Go along and see the water jousters display their skills by battling with each other on logs floating on the river.

The town, with its narrow winding streets is best explored on foot. Visit the Saturday market where stalls selling their wares take over the streets and where food of all varieties is sold by local producers in the covered market hall in the square.

Also in the square is the Church of Saint Martin, worth a visit at any time of year but especially on a Saturday in July and August when you can join a tour to climb the tower and get a fantastic view over the town and surrounding area. The tour needs to be booked at the Office du Tourisme (Tourist Office) at 24, rue du Grand-Marche, Clamecy. Here you can pick up a range of material about places to visit and events to attend, and some of the material is also available in English.

From our first visit to Clamecy, we have visited ‘La Taverne’ on rue R.Rolland where everyone is warmly welcomed. A typical Bar Tabac, a selection of drinks are available as well as snacks such as Croques Monsieur. Their Chocolate Chaud (hot chocolate) very welcome on a cold day.

 Further afield:

La Charite-sur Loire

Travelling west from Oudan along the D151 you will come to La Charite-sur Loire. From its location on the Loire River you can explore its narrow streets, browse the bookshops, pick up local produce, wander along the river or people watch as you enjoy some refreshment. Whatever you decide a good first stop is the tourist office at 5 Place Sainte-Croix - BP 13 - 58401 for information on guided walks, things the children might like to do and general information on the area. You can also visit  http://www.ville-la-charite-sur-loire.fr/anglais/ages.htm

If it's the historical side of La Charite that interests you, visit the Priory, the church of Notre Dame which in 1998, was recognized by UNESCO as being “an important stopping point on the Pilgrimage Route of Santiago de Compostela” and the Museum which can be found in the Adam Mansion at the foot of the ramparts overlooking the Loire.

Since 2000, La Charite has been known as a 'Book Town' with roughly fifteen bookshops as well as book art and craft workshops all established in the historical part of the town. Each bookshop tends to specialise and there are two book markets each year one in the Spring and the other in the Summer.

Sancerre

This picturesque, yet very famous little town sits atop a 300 meter hill with breathtaking views of the vineyards and the River Loire below. There are a number of viewing points where you can look out in all directions spotting places of interest and just getting your bearings.

The town is a delightful place to visit at all times of the year although beware of the north wind which can send even the hardiest person running for cover - any excuse to try out the local produce! There are numerous places to eat and drink either in the town square or in the little narrow streets running off it. Exploring a new place is fun and made easier when you can do it on foot. No problem in Sancerre, due to the walking route carefully laid out and marked with an emblem of a man walking - have a look at the photo above. By following these signs you can wander at your leisure without any fear that you are keeping others back. On the route you see all sides of the town and round every corner are many interesting and colourful doors, windows and little gardens. Get yourself a map of the town (plan de ville) from the Tourist Office in the main square. Click here and you can gather information on the buildings by clicking on HERITAGE and then 'Guided visit'

Sancerre has an 'arty' feel about it with many shops selling pottery, crafts and art. As well as its world-famous Sancerre wine it is also famous for its Appellation d'Origine Crottin de Chavignol goats cheese.

Bourges

Once the capital of Aquitaine, Bourges lies in the heart of France at the eastern end of the Loire Valley and therefore is only about an hour and a half away from Oudan. Its long history goes back far beyond the Middle Ages, described in 52 B.C. by Caesar as 'the finest city in Gaul'. I'm not sure about that but with it's fantastic cathedral and beautiful medieval buildings, it's definitely worth a visit.

We first visited in the summer, enjoying a typically French lunch in the sunshine while taking in the awesome views of the Saint-Etienne Cathedral across the street.

During lunch Ellie noticed a form of transport close to her heart, so our next port of call was Le Petit Train Touristique which takes you on a wonderful tour of the city lasting 45 minutes. There are information sheets in a range of languages for those whose French is a little rusty. It was a great way to get an overview of the city and the little medieval streets provide bumpy, atmospheric ride at times. The train starts running at Easter and continues right up to the end of October.

The other 'must do' is to go and see the Cathedral itself. Now an UNESCO World Heritage Site, its construction began at the end of the 12th century and took a century and a half until completion. Flanked by asymmetrical towers, it has five magnificent doorways, including one depicting episodes in the life of St. Stephen. The cathedral has a vaulted roof and five aisles and is remarkably long (122m/400 ft. deep). The stained glass windows are magnificent. Pictures of the cathedral's interior can be seen by clicking here The cathedral is open all year round - from 8.30 to 19.15 April 1 to September 30 and until 21.00 hours in July and August. From October 1st until March 31st the opening times are 9.00 until 17. 45

If you want to get a wonderful view of Bourges and the surrounding countryside, consider climbing the tower. There are 396 steps so take it slowly; you will not be disappointed with the view. It's quite magical to look down on the cathedral's wonderful architecture as well as seeing the little courtyards and terraces hidden away among the narrow streets. When we were there the wind had begun to pick up and on the horizon we could see, what looked like being a magnificent storm, rolling in. It hit about 45 minutes later when we were on our way home - excellent timing.

We have now made a second trip, this time to pick Alan up from the station. He had flown to Tours with Ryanair and taken the train to Bourges. Wanting to sample the shopping, Ellie and I had built this into our day and managed some early Christmas purchasing followed by a relaxed lunch sitting in the sunshine in one of the, many little squares. I thoroughly enjoy the enforcement of a long lunch and given the quality and amount of food on offer, time is needed to do it justice. Who wouldn't turn down the opportunity to enjoy good food, a glass of excellent wine and the chance to recharge the batteries for the next task.

Vezelay

While in the area, one place you must visit is Vezelay. Situated in the north of the Morvan National Park, this medieval town is classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO. The pretty town is best explored on foot so leave your car at the bottom of the hill and wander up the cobbled rue Saint-Etienne to the square in front of the Basilica of Sainte Madeleine so named due to  the presence of  Mary Magdalene’s relics. The basilica is considered a masterpiece of Romanesque art for the beauty of its architecture and the quality of its sculptures. Even today it is a major pilgrimage site and one of the starts to Compostelle.

Briare

It is in Briare that 'Le Pont de Canal' carries the Canal Lateral de Loire over the Loire River. However you do not have to be a boat to cross this bridge as there is a footpath on either side of the canal and cyclists, pedestrians and watercraft can all be on the go at the same time. Because of the canal and river, Briare is a great starting point for a number of walks and cycle rides. If exercise is not your thing, the town itself offers shopping opportunities, numerous places to eat and a church with wonderful mosaics. In fact mosaics are another thing that this area is famous for.

Rogny

Often known as Rogny-les-sept-ecluses due to it's major attraction, this is somewhere to be recommended and as there are so many other interesting places close by, it makes a great day out. Take a trip into the tourist office on 2 street Gaspard de Coligny, 89220 Rogny and pick up information on the surrounding area and look at http://www.peniche.com/25rogny.htm. This vast feat of engineering was the brainchild of Henry IV and his minister Sully in 1597 as a way of linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel. However, the Rogny side was 24 m lower so a series of 7 locks was developed. Work started in 1604 with some vast amount of workers - 12,000 workmen and 6,000 troops but stopped 30 years later after the deaths of Henry IV and the architect Hugh Cosnier and was only completed in 1642 when the first boat passed from the Loire to the Seine. Sadly, but not surprisingly, the 'staircase' has been replaced by a new layout which goes round the hill and the locks have fallen into disrepair. However, work is now taking place to refurbish some of this amazing attraction if only for it's historical relevance.

If you are in the area on the last Saturday of July make a point of attending the firework extravaganza which attracts a crowd of around 10,000.

St Armand

If you like pottery then a visit here is a must. The shops selling their wares though are easy to miss as signposting does not abound from all approaches. If you follow directions for the Museum or Lavoir you will find yourself at the right end of town and there is a substantial car park within walking distance of most of the pottery shops.
 

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