--- title: "Source de la Douix, Châtillon-sur-Seine: The Karst Spring" description: "A karst spring bursting from a limestone cliff to join the young Seine, sacred for 2,000 years. A 30-minute stop near the Vix museum, driver from Beaune." url: https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/source-de-la-douix lang: en updated: 2026-09-30 generated: 2026-10-08 image: https://www.cote-privee.com/og/things-to-do/source-de-la-douix.png --- # Douix Spring (Source de la Douix) > Douix Spring: a powerful karst spring bursting from a limestone cliff in the heart of Châtillon-sur-Seine. Douix Spring is in Châtillon-sur-Seine (Côte-d'Or), 1 h 27 by road (124 km) from Beaune. Allow 30 minutes · Private driver from Beaune: €320 one way for the whole car, up to 4 guests. The Douix is a spring that rises from a cave mouth at the foot of a small limestone cliff in Châtillon-sur-Seine. Its clear water forms a short river that joins the young Seine less than a hundred metres downstream. It is a peaceful spot, and it was sacred for more than two thousand years. ## Key facts - Type: Nature & viewpoints - Where: Châtillon-sur-Seine · Côte-d'Or - Location: 95 km north of Beaune · Côte-d'Or - Coordinates: 47.8597, 4.5794 - 1 h 27 from Beaune - Allow 30 minutes - Châtillon-sur-Seine - Official website: [tourisme-chatillonnais.fr](https://tourisme-chatillonnais.fr/) - From Beaune: ≈ 1 h 27 · 124 km - €320 one way from Beaune with a [private driver](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver) ## Getting there - [Private driver from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver): 1 h 27 by road (124 km), €320 one way for the whole car. Coming by train or plane? [Transfers from stations and airports](https://www.cote-privee.com/transfers) Estimates per vehicle for up to 4 guests, tolls included. Your price is confirmed when you book. ## History The spring was a Celtic place of worship from the Iron Age, perhaps of the water goddess Divona. When it was pumped dry for exploration in 1996, around 350 iron and bronze brooches came to light, left as offerings. The custom lasted into the 18th century, when pins were still being dropped in. About 40 Gallo-Roman carved stone offerings also came from the site. With Christianity, the spring was placed under the protection of the Virgin Mary, and a statue of her was set in a niche in the cliff. The name Douix comes from a Celtic root meaning spring, and it is used for several large springs on the plateaus of the Châtillonnais. Cave divers have followed the underground river for more than 200 metres before rock falls block the way. ## What you will see A short walk from the town centre brings you to a clear pool beneath a great rock arch in a small limestone cliff. The water wells up steadily and flows away towards the Seine. It is a place to pause, listen to the water and look for the niche of the Virgin in the rock. The stone offerings found here are on show at the nearby Musée du Pays Châtillonnais. ## Planning your visit Allow 20 to 30 minutes. The Douix is a few minutes from the Musée du Pays Châtillonnais, and the two make a natural pair. The flow is strongest after heavy rain. The site is outdoors, so check with the tourist office for opening times of guided walks and local events. ## Did you know? The Douix pours out between 0.6 and 3 cubic metres of water per second, a strong and regular flow for a spring. ## Around Douix Spring What to combine with Douix Spring on the same day, nearest first. ### Things to do - [Châtillonnais Museum and the Vix Treasure (Musée du Pays Châtillonnais, Trésor de Vix)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/musee-du-pays-chatillonnais-tresor-de-vix), 1 km away: Home of the Vix krater, the largest known metal vessel from Western classical antiquity. - [Forests National Park (Parc national de forêts)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/parc-national-de-forets), 17 km away: France's newest national park, created to protect vast lowland forests of oak and beech. - [Fontenay Abbey (Abbaye de Fontenay)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/abbaye-de-fontenay), 28 km away: One of the best-preserved Cistercian abbeys in the world, alone in a quiet wooded valley of the Auxois. ### Restaurants - [Château de Courban](https://www.cote-privee.com/restaurants/chateau-de-courban) (14 km away · 1 MICHELIN star): A starred country-house orangery in the far north of Côte-d'Or, on the edge of the national forest park ## Questions about Douix Spring ### How far is Douix Spring from Beaune? Douix Spring is about 1 h 27 from Beaune by road (124 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €320 for the whole car, up to 4 guests. ### How long does a visit to Douix Spring take? For the visit, allow 30 minutes. ### When is Douix Spring open? Opening days and times change during the year, so check the official website (tourisme-chatillonnais.fr) before you go. Your driver can plan the day around them. ### Can a private driver take us to Douix Spring? Yes. Your driver collects you in Beaune or at your hotel in an electric Polestar 2 (up to 4 guests), waits while you visit and plans the rest of the day with you. The driver speaks English, French, Mandarin Chinese and Arabic. → [Private driver from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver) ## Book - [Book a driver here](https://www.cote-privee.com/book?service=driver&place=sight:douix): €320 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests ## Sources - --- Canonical page: