Arnay-le-Duc () is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of eastern France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as Arnétois or Arnétoises Geography Arnay-le-Duc is located some 25 km north-west of Beaune and some 35 km south-east of Saulieu. Access to the commune is by the D906 road from Lacanche in the south-east passing through the town and continuing north-west. The D981 comes from the end of the A38 autoroute in the north-east and passes through the town continuing to the south-west where it becomes National Highway N81. These two roads were originally Gallo-Roman roads linking Autun and Alesia, then in the Middle Ages linking the Rhone corridor to fairs in Champagne. The D17 comes from Marcheseuil in the west passing through the town and continuing to Bligny-sur-Ouche in the east. The D117A goes north from the town to Allerey. The D36 branches off the D981 south of the town and goes to Maligny. Apart from the town there is the hamlet of Chassenay in the south-west of the commune. Apart from the town and two large forests in the north-east, the commune is all farmland. The Arroux river passes through the town from west to east forming part of the western border of the commune and gathering several tributaries rising in the commune. The Arroux eventually joins the Loire at Digoin. The Ruisseau de Barive forms the eastern border of the commune flowing north to join the Arroux. Climate Arnay-le-Duc has a oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb). The average annual temperature in Arnay-le-Duc is . The average annual rainfall is with November as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around , and lowest in January, at around . The highest temperature ever recorded in Arnay-le-Duc was on 24 July 2019; the coldest temperature ever recorded was on 20 December 2009. History Arnay-le-Duc was the location of the worship of the Celtic god Abilus, who was associated with the goddess Damona. Battle of Arnay-le-Duc on 27 June 1570: During the French Wars of Religion the Catholic armies of Artus de Cossé-Brissac (Marshal of Cossé) were beaten by the Protestant armies of Gaspard II de Coligny. This was the first military engagement of Henry of Navarre, the future Henri IV. Jean de La Taille was wounded. The arrest of the fleeing aunts of King Louis XVI occurred here in