Mont de Sène, la montagne des Trois-Croix

Santenay

The Mont de Sène is an elongated hill, the last of the Côte before the Maranges; from its two viewpoint indicators one sees the Côte de Beaune to the north, the Saône and the Jura to the east, the Morvan to the west. It was frequented from the Neolithic: dolmens, including that of the Cul-Blanc, were excavated several times in the 19^th century, and the summit served as a necropolis. It is said that the Celts held their rites here; what is attested are the two Roman temples on the summit, one dedicated to Mercury, the other to the tutelary deity of the spring that flows at its foot, the Terron, both destroyed in the 5^th century. Jacques-Gabriel Bulliot, the excavator of Bibracte, cleared the temple of Mercury in 1872; fragments of columns are at the archaeological centre of Autun, and the heritage inventory holds the place to be a 'former Celtic and Roman place of worship'. The popular name comes from the calvary: three monumental crosses erected on the belvedere on the initiative of Pierre Milliard, or Millard, 'cordwainer merchant' of Santenay, in 1707 according to his will cited by the Société éduenne, the tourist offices giving 1767 without a source. Pulled down at the Revolution, the crosses were raised again in 1803 and then in 1823; the present crosses, on heavy pedestals, are of concrete and date from the middle of the 20^th century. A chapel of Saint-Jean lies below, in the Bois de la Fée, and the site is listed.

Wikipédia — Mont de Sène ↗

Getting there : From Santenay or Dezize-lès-Maranges, a small road climbs to the summit car park; viewpoint indicator, picnic area under the pines, free access all year round. On foot, a half-day loop from the Place du Jet-d'Eau in Santenay by the Sorine mill and the vineyards, 10.7 km and 360 m of ascent, partial yellow waymarking: a map is useful.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound