EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

The most substantial community - approximately 2500 residents - in the park itself is the rather ugly village of CHÂTEAU-CHINON , nestled in contrastingly beautiful countryside dotted with evergreens, lakes and limestone deposits (bus connection to Autun). President Mitterrand was a local council member here until 1983, and the town was the home base of his political life for half a century. Thanks largely to him, it now boasts a major hosiery factory and military printing works, both of which have provided much needed employment to an isolated and often forgotten region.

In the Musée du Septennat (June-Sept daily 10am-6pm; Oct-May Sat & Sun only 10am-6pm; 26F/¬3.96, 40F/¬6.10 to include Musée du Costume), you can see the extraordinary variety of gifts Mitterrand received as head of state. The museum is light and airy, purpose-built to hold a collection of some of the finest handicrafts from their many countries of origin: carpets from the Middle East, ivory from Togo, Japanese puppets, beaded spears from Burundi and bizarre gifts, like a table decorated with butterfly wings. Another of the town's attractions is the Musée du Costume , 4 rue du Château (daily except Tues: May-June & Sept 10am-1pm & 2-6pm; July & Aug daily 10am-1pm & 2-7pm; rest of year 10am-noon & 2-6pm; closed Jan; 26F/¬3.96, 40F/¬6.10 to include Musée du Septennat), featuring a collection of over five thousand articles, the biggest collection in France, and interesting temporary exhibitions.

Mitterrand's preferred hotel was the Vieux Morvan , 8 place Gudin (tel 03.86.85.05.01, fax 03.86.85.02.78; 220-300F/¬34-46; closed Jan), with a nice bright restaurant with view (from 100F/¬15.24). If you're not budgeting at this level, you might be better off in the Hostellerie l'Oustalet on the route de Lormes (tel 03.86.85.15.57; under 160F/¬24; closed Dec 20-Jan 1; restaurant from 60F/¬9.14), or in the comfortable Lion d'Or , rue des Fossés (tel 03.86.85.13.56, fax 03.86.79.42.22; 160-220F/¬24-34; restaurant from 70F/¬10.67, closed Sun evening & Mon). There's also a campsite here, Le Petit Oiseau (tel 03.86.85.08.17; May-Sept).