The Pottery at Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye
This region steeped in culture, art and history is definitely not to be missed ! Children are not forgotten with plenty of fun events, workshops and leisure activities.
The Pottery at Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye, land of ochre and clay
Don’t miss the « Art and Craft » town of Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye on the border between Yonne and Nièvre. The area is rich in ochre and clay, so it is hardly surprising that pottery is top of the list ! Visit the workshops including the former pottery of M. Gaubier which depicts the life and work of potters in days gone by. To know more about the history of pottery, head for the Renaissance château at Saint Amand en Puisaye and its museum of earthenware. During a one hour visit, discover a superb collection of items from five centuries of pottery making, including the first objects of cookware used in the Nivernais region of Burgundy ! Stroll around enchanting Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye to see how clay is turned into a little Puisaye pot at some of the workshops of the town’s 25 ceramicists and potters and visit the art gallery which has exhibitions by local artists.
Discover the medieval building project at Guédelon
During your stay, make sure you visit the medieval building project at Guédelon where a castle is being built using tools and methods from the 13th century. It is one of the most visited places in Burgundy. Also on a historical theme, the spectacular show at the castle at Saint Fargeau is one of the largest in Europe with 600 performers and 60 horse riders. The area is also the birthplace of many literary figures : Pierre Larousse of encyclopaedia fame (statue at Toucy), Romantic author Colette (museum and birthplace at Saint-Sauveur en Puisaye) and Jean d’Ormesson, author and member of the Académie Française (originally from Saint Fargeau). Puisaye also has lots of outdoor attractions for all the family, like Lac du Bourdon for swimming and pedalo hire and popular Boutissaint Animal Park where 400 animals live in semi-captivity (deer, bison, mouflon sheep and wild boar).
«Every year I take great delight in going to see how the castle construction has progressed, an amazing achievement by dynamic enthusiasts which appeals to both adults and children » says Aude from Gites de France.
To get to the Puisaye area by road, take A6 autoroute from Paris, then A77 and exit Bonny-sur-Loire or Cosne-sur-Loire (1¾hours).
Discover the loveliest places in Nièvre with Gites de France Nièvre : Charité sur Loire, the town of Nevers, Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Destination Sancerre-Pouilly Fumé and Giennois, Etangs de Baye et de Vaux, Canal du Nivernais, Le Morvan, Lac des Settons, Bibracte."
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Le gîte des Paillards
in Moutiers en Puisaye - Yonne