Mont de Sène (Hill of the Three Crosses), Mont de Sène (Montagne des Trois Croix)
A 521-metre summit crowned by three crosses, looking over the vineyards of Santenay and the Maranges.
- Nature and viewpoint
- 25 min from Beaune
- Allow 1 to 2 hours
- Dezize-lès-Maranges
€95one way from Beaune with a private driver
At a glance
- Nearby
- Maranges
- Official website
- beaune-tourism.com
Getting there
Private driver from Beaune: 25 min by road (22 km), €95 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
Mont de Sène rises to 521 metres above Santenay and the Maranges, on the border between Côte-d'Or and Saône-et-Loire. Locals call it the Montagne des Trois Croix, after the three crosses on its summit. From the top you look down on the vineyards of both villages and their neighbours.
What you will see
The reward here is the view. From the summit the vineyards of Santenay and of the three Maranges villages spread out below. Around the crosses you are standing on ground that was sacred to the Celts and later to the Romans, who built their temples here. Walkers can reach the top on marked paths. It is a peaceful place to end a day of tastings.
History
People have used this hilltop since the Neolithic, and dolmens here were studied several times in the 19th century. The Celts held it sacred. The Romans later built two temples on the summit, one of them dedicated to Mercury, god of trade and travellers. Both were destroyed in the 5th century. Jacques-Gabriel Bulliot, the archaeologist of Bibracte, excavated their remains in 1872.
The three crosses came much later. In 1707 a calvary of three crosses was raised at the initiative of Pierre Milliard, a merchant from Santenay. Because the summit sits exactly on the departmental border, one cross stands in Côte-d'Or and the other two in Saône-et-Loire. The calvary gave the hill the popular name that most people use today, the Mountain of the Three Crosses.
Planning your visit
Tips for your visit
The summit is open all year. Choose a clear day, bring a warm layer and good shoes, and take time to walk around the crosses. Pair the climb with a tasting in Santenay or the Maranges. The Beaune and Santenay tourist offices can suggest walking routes to the top. Check the official website for access information.
Around here
What to combine with Mont de Sène (Hill of the Three Crosses) on the same day, nearest first.
Questions
Mont de Sène (Hill of the Three Crosses) is about 25 min from Beaune by road (22 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €95 for the whole car, up to 4 guests.
Did you know? Because the summit lies exactly on a departmental border, one of the three crosses stands in Côte-d'Or and the other two in Saône-et-Loire.
Sources
Mont de Sène (Hill of the Three Crosses) with a private driver
€95 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests