Cirque du Bout du Monde
A limestone amphitheatre near Nolay, with sheer cliffs, a spring-fed waterfall and falcons overhead.
- Nature and viewpoint
- 24 min from Beaune
- Allow 1 to 3.5 hours
- Cormot-Vauchignon
€90one way from Beaune with a private driver
At a glance
- Official website
- beaune-tourisme.fr
Getting there
Private driver from Beaune: 24 min by road (20 km), €90 one way for the whole car.
Or add it to our half-day wine tour, €290.
Coming by train or plane? Transfers from stations and airports →
About the place
North of Nolay, the Cozanne, a small trout stream, leads into a dead-end valley ringed by cliffs. This is the Cirque du Bout du Monde, the Circus at the End of the World. At its head a spring gushes from a grotto and falls as a waterfall, except in dry spells. Walkers, climbers and birdwatchers all come here.
What you will see
From the car park at the foot of the cliffs, a short path leads to the waterfall, where a spring emerges from a grotto in the rock face. It flows best after rain and can dwindle in dry summers. Walkers can follow the Tour du Bout du Monde, a loop of about 10 kilometres that includes a stretch along the edge of the cliffs.
History
The cirque is a reculée, a steep-sided blind valley carved into Bajocian limestone. The Cozanne and the water seeping through the rock shaped it over long ages, leaving caves and a wall of cliffs that rises to about 530 metres above sea level. Vauchignon, the hamlet at its foot, merged with Cormot-le-Grand on 1 January 2017 to form the commune of Cormot-Vauchignon.
The site is part of the Natura 2000 network. Its cliffs are a refuge for the peregrine falcon, and the alpine swift is found here too, while bats hibernate in the caves. To protect nesting falcons, a prefectoral order restricts access to parts of the cliffs from 15 February to 15 June. The nearby Cormot cliffs are a well-known climbing site, with more than 200 routes.
Planning your visit
Tips for your visit
The waterfall is an easy stroll, but the full loop takes about three and a half hours, and children need watching near the cliff edge. Late spring and early summer are the best seasons for walking. Wear proper shoes. The Nolay tourist office has maps and advice on routes. Check the official website for access information.
Around here
What to combine with Cirque du Bout du Monde on the same day, nearest first.
Saint-Romain
5 km awaySaint-Aubin
6 km awayBlagny
8 km away
- Nature and viewpoint
Mont de Sène (Hill of the Three Crosses) Mont de Sène (Montagne des Trois Croix)
7 km away
Questions
Cirque du Bout du Monde is about 24 min from Beaune by road (20 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €90 for the whole car, up to 4 guests.
Did you know? The waterfall is fed by a resurgence, a spring that emerges from a grotto in the cliff face. In a dry summer it can almost disappear.
Sources
Cirque du Bout du Monde with a private driver
€90 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests