Avallon walks

This “challenging” round-trip hike follows the River Cousin as closely as possible between Avallon and Pontaubert. Various signs along the route provide information on the work carried out to restore and maintain the habitat necessary for fish reproduction.

Immerse yourself in the heart of the Morvan Regional Natural Park! Explore enchanting trails through mystical forests, green hills and crystal-clear rivers. Soak up the tranquillity and unspoilt beauty of these places. Marvel at breathtaking panoramas, observe a diverse range of flora and fauna, discover authentic villages such as Vézelay and finally relax by the Lac du Crescent. Whether you are a keen hiker or simply looking to get away from it all, this getaway to the Morvan is an invitation to wonder and serenity. Put on your walking shoes and set off on an unforgettable adventure in the heart of nature.

The title of the hike refers to the two main attractions: the Cousin valley and the old town of Avallon. The rest of the walk takes you along pleasant forest and country paths, offering different views of these two highlights of local tourism.

This walk is almost entirely through forest on the outskirts of Avallon, with a few sections on the road. The first part is mainly in forest, while the second part is more open, bordering meadows and pastures.

This is a walk that takes you along small roads, numerous paths and, towards the end, alongside the River Cure. This walk offers varied scenery, is not difficult and features a well-distributed elevation gain. Away from the town and the tourists, let yourself be guided through the countryside, amongst the trees and to the sound of flowing water.

Montmarte Hill offers stunning views of the Avallon region, hidden treasures, and the village of Vault-de-Lugny, which it overlooks.

Start from the church in Vault-de-Lugny, where the paintings were restored in 2017, and head to the summit of Montmarte. Return via Château de Domecy.

This relaxing route, which is entirely shaded except between points (6) and (7) (approx. 600 m), offers a pleasant way to follow the course of the river and discover a fly-fishing route.

Accessible à deux tours de roue d'Avallon, la commune de Magny est un village paisible peu fréquenté. Voici une petite randonnée rafraîchissante dans la forêt, le long de la rivière avec quelques montées faciles et idéalement réparties sur le trajet.

A short walk across the plain and through the fields between Avallon and Annay-la-Côte. This route has very few inclines, with just one notable one right at the very end. It mainly follows paths through the fields and takes an old Roman road that is no longer used by vehicles. The starting point offers a magnificent view over the whole plain, with the small town of Avallon in the background.

Between Saint-Germain and Chastellux, a walk in the northern Morvan, through pastures, meadows, woods and hamlets. This is initially a rural route that joins the road after passing the dam. The path then becomes more wooded until it passes under the bridge of the main road. The final few kilometres follow a small road. As well as the Crescent reservoir, you can admire the beautiful Château de Chastellux. There is also a short passage under a small aqueduct, which is actually an underground river that required a small structure due to the terrain.

From the hamlet of Usy, and after crossing the Bois des Rompées, you will reach theGR® 13. The appeal of this route is the crossing of this pretty wood and the views of the landscape. There are no difficulties except for the small slope leading up to Notre-Dame de la Lumière. From this statue, there is a view of the Cure valley and the village of Cure.

From the charming village of Cure, after crossing the Bois de l'Épenay, you arrive at the beautiful site of Pierre-Perthuis, with its 18th-century arched bridge overlooked by the more recent road bridge. You then climb up the River Cure through the undergrowth. A steep climb leads to a superb viewpoint over the valley. A diversion to the statue of Notre-Dame de la Lumière and another viewpoint precedes the descent to the starting village.

A tributary of the Yonne, the Cure is an iconic river of the Morvan. This river descent, by kayak or canoe, takes place amidst woodland and meadows, close to villages with a rich heritage. Please disregard the elevation gain shown: this is indeed a river descent.

Come and discover this historic heritage: a windmill, five very different wash houses, old houses and other architectural curiosities. An easy walk, apart from one difficult section – in wet weather – 1 km from the start. Please note: there are no signposts on this route.

Starting from L’Isle-sur-Serein, this route takes you past eight historic wash houses, each one different, a windmill and some very old houses in the villages you pass through. There are no particular difficulties on this route apart from its length; however, you can split this walk into two sections starting from L’Isle-sur-Serein.Please note that there are no specific signposts for this route, except in a few places where this is indicated.