Itinérance Verte en Autunois-Morvan links the wine country around Santenay with Autun and the Morvan hills. France Vélo Tourisme presents it as a connection between the Tour de Bourgogne à vélo and the Grande Traversée du Massif Central à VTT. Its character changes along the way: vineyard views and former railway lines give way to forest, rougher tracks and steeper terrain.
From Santenay to Épinac
The journey begins among the vineyards of Santenay. An old railway corridor climbs along the hillside towards Nolay, a town with medieval streets and timber-framed houses. Beyond Nolay, the Rochabec and Cormot viaducts offer views across the surrounding countryside.
The approach to Épinac brings a change in rhythm: after the Bois de Châtillon there is a climb before the greenway returns near the Farge stream. Épinac’s mining past offers a reason to pause, with the Hottinguer shaft and a museum devoted to mining, glassmaking and the railway.
Across the Autun plain and into the Morvan
From Épinac, the itinerary continues towards Autun. France Vélo Tourisme suggests a stop at the Renaissance Château de Sully, reached from the greenway by a tree-lined approach. Autun itself rewards time off the bike: its Roman theatre, ancient gates and Saint-Lazare cathedral are among the sites listed in the route guide.
West of Autun, the landscape rises from the plain towards La Celle-en-Morvan and the Chaloire valley. Small roads and the former railway corridor known as the Voie du Tacot lead into a more wooded and demanding part of the journey. Expect steep climbs and descents; the route guide describes the Tacot surface as ballast covered with humus and recommends wide tyres.
The official end and the Château-Chinon extension
The signed official itinerary ends at the D978 junction before Arleuf. France Vélo Tourisme also describes a continuation to Château-Chinon on the C2 and C1 local roads. That extension is a proposal for experienced cyclists and is not signposted; its climbs and descents need to be accounted for when planning.
The distinction matters when choosing an endpoint. Château-Chinon offers a panorama over the Morvan, but riders who do not return the way they came must plan their own onward connection to a railway or bus station.
Choosing a bike and direction
France Vélo Tourisme recommends travelling from Santenay for a more gradual overall ascent. Its adventure classification reflects a mixture of shared roads, paths and sometimes rustic greenways, together with rolling terrain and natural surfaces. It suggests gravel bikes or electrically assisted mountain bikes for riders comfortable with this type of route.
The publisher advises against riding in winter when temperatures become too low. Before setting out, review its route information and make a return plan suited to the section you choose.