Millay: Romanesque Architecture, Summer Music and Traditions

Millay offers several distinct reasons to visit: Romanesque architecture, summer classical music, an August procession, and tours related to fruit processing and animal husbandry. You can plan your trip around your own interests, rather than grouping all the experiences into a single category. If you are looking for a hotel in Millay, start by considering whether you want to focus on cultural events, a cycling route or insights into local production.

Church, Music and Religious Tradition

The Church of Saint-Maurice is a Romanesque building dating from the mid-11th century. Each summer, the Le Vent sur l'arbre festival brings classical music performances to the church. Its architecture and music programme therefore offer two distinct reasons to include Saint-Maurice in your itinerary: one is a permanent feature of the building, the other a recurring seasonal cultural event. As the festival programme may change, check current performance dates if you are planning your visit around a concert.

Another annual event is the procession in honour of Saint Christopher, held in Millay every August. Exact dates may vary. If this tradition is important to your trip, it is a good idea to check the August dates in advance. Unlike the summer festival, this is a religious procession, not a concert programme.

The processional cross of Millay dates from the late 17th or early 18th century; it is difficult to determine its exact date. It is also considered one of the oldest and most homogeneous processional crosses in the area. The cross offers a different perspective on the past from the church: Saint-Maurice dates from the mid-11th century, while the cross was created several centuries later.

Mont Dosne and the Cycling Route

Mont Dosne (Oppidum) is another point of cultural and historical interest. The site was designated a site and natural monument in 1977. In addition to the church and processional cross, visitors can explore a place classified as an oppidum and a natural monument.

For cyclists, the Circuit vélo des Eduens runs from Luzy to Bibracte and back. The outward leg passes by the church in Millay; the circular route is not signposted. If you include it in your trip, take the lack of signposting into account when preparing. The church is therefore both a Romanesque building and a point specifically mentioned on the outward leg of the cycling route.

Tours Related to Fruit and Animal Husbandry

The Cave cidricole du Morvan offers tours at Le Petit Montigny in Millay, explaining how products are made from organically farmed orchards. Three products are sampled during the tours. Visits are arranged with the producer; group tours are available by appointment. The product range includes organically certified apple juice, apple vinegar, jam and eau-de-vie. The range may change over time.

Les Prairies Gourmandes du Morvan in Millay offers a different perspective on local production: free tours of Charolais cattle and sheep farming are available by prior reservation. The two tours have different focuses. The Cave tour covers making and sampling products from orchards; the farm tour focuses on animal husbandry. If you plan to take one of these tours, bear in mind the arrangements required or the need to book in advance.

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For the main travel overview: Nièvre.