Beaune is a town of art and culture, whose main monuments, ramparts and houses dating back to the 15th Century, have come down to us in an outstandingly good condition of preservation. Flowers are everywhere, highlighting the architecture, the colour of the stone and the materials used, without ever being too obvious or eye-catching. The work of the parks department mainly relates to the arrangement, and the quest for the right colours and shapes to harmonise with the buildings. This style requires many species and the use of simple, natural, and even wild plants. The very wide-ranging use of regional materials, such as wood and stone, gives the skilful creations a very natural appearance. An enjoyable walk follows the ramparts round the old town for an almost unbroken 2 km, edged by magnificent plane trees. Here and there along the promenade are small public gardens with sophisticated flowerbeds. You can go as far as the Parc de la Bouzaise, ornamented with very fine ancient trees and a lake.