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Touring
Routes
Autun and the southern Morvan
Click
for area map
What a mixed bag of civilizations this day presents; from
Celtic warriors to Roman emperors and on to Buddhist monks.
The Romans
 Unlike most towns in Burgundy, Autun
is not sited on a major river but on the Arroux which runs gently through the town. The place has a strong, solid air, brought
about by its position at the southern edge of the granite hills of the
Morvan Forest and its importance in the past. Here the history of the
region unfolds from the Roman domination through to the present day. The
Roman amphitheatre (right) seated 20,000 people in its day, and Porte d'Arroux, built in the 1stC and
Porte St-André, the 4thC are still standing. The Romanesque cathedral, from quite a different time scale, should
not be missed if you are in town.
The Celts
 To find out more about how the Gauls were toppled by the
Romans, head to St-Léger-sous-Beuvray and the Museum of Celtic
Civilization, Bibracte.
The museum is a complete surprise - a state-of-the-art building in the
middle of the forest, the presentation is good and you can visit the archaeological
site, with superb views from Mount Beuvray. See History of the Celts.
The Buddhists
 As a total contrast to the warring factions, head down
to La Boulaye on the D994 to the peace of the Bhutanese temple Dashang
Kagyu Ling. This is a world apart. The vibrant reds, gold and turquoise
in the decoration bring the forest to life. You can visit the Temple, an explosion of colour, pattern and atmosphere, wander around the complex where meditation, yoga and retreats take place and visit the small shop.
North met south with the Celts and the Romans, east meets
west with the Buddhists and Christians, here is a melting pot of ideologies
to be sure.
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