Blanot circular loop with gentle slopes

A gentle family walk, perfect for a first exploration of the undulating paths of the Clunis region.

Details

11669632
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.58 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 558 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 558 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,660 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,099 ft

Description of the walk

Park in the car park in the village of Blanot.

(S/E) Cross the road and walk alongside L’Étape, the former hotel and restaurant, which was renamed Le Coing when it was converted into a community bar.

Here, following a tip-off, five villagers who were members of the Resistance were arrested and deported on 23 January 1944. Their names, along with five others, are listed on the war memorial erected to the left of the premises.

Follow the tarmac path lined with houses.

At the junction, head straight ahead. The path becomes grassy and is signposted in blue on a white background.
As you walk, note the view of Mont-Saint-Romain on your right.
It is the highest peak in the Clunisois region. It rises to 579 m and is said to have been a site of Druidic worship. Legend tells of a merciless struggle between the old and the new religions on this wooded and rocky site. A chapel was once built there, but it has since disappeared. The site is now private property and features an orientation table. Access is permitted on certain days.

(1) At a place known as La Musette, there is a group of renovated buildings set in wooded grounds, dotted with a few wooden viewing platforms. Turn left into the open field (or the area left accessible) just before the start of the descent.
At the edge of the field, ignore the path branching off to the right and continue straight on.

(2) Pass Les Échats Loups. At the ‘Bois de la Chassagne’, leave the blue markings on a white background and turn left, heading uphill.
On the ridge, at the junction known as Pierre de Balancin, turn left.
At the ‘Bois de la Roche’ signpost, carry on straight ahead.

(3) At the junction: La Roche, do not head back down towards Blanot but carry on straight ahead on the same path until you reach the edge of the woods. There, take the path that descends to ‘Mollard gros Jacques’ and thus join theGR®76A. Follow it to the right.

(4) At the junction: Notre-Dame des Roches / Ban sacré, follow theGR®76Atowards the Col des 4 Vents.

(5) At the signpost indicating the statue is 100 m away, you can take a detour to visit the site of Notre-Dame de la Roche.
After enjoying the view at the foot of the statue, retrace your steps to rejoin theGR®76A. Follow it down to the left.
Pass the Notre-Dame de la Roche signpost again, then the one for Mollard Gros Jacques, and head towards “Mont St-Romain”.

(6) At Poirier du Prêtre, cross the D146 and turn left onto the path that runs past a large shed.

(7) At Péluzot, stay in the middle of the path, on theGR®76A, heading towards Mont Saint-Romain.

(8) At L’Epinasse, leave theGR® and head down to the left towards Blanot, Place de la Fontaine. At the next junction, carry on straight ahead and, at the pottery, head downhill.

At the three-way junction, turn right to explore the Merovingian tombs, the Priory and the Romanesque church of Saint-Martin. Then continue downhill. Pass the communal oven, the washhouse and its fountain, and the public weigh house to reach the village square (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,161 ft - Car park in the village of Blanot
  2. 1 : mi 0.79 - alt. 1,135 ft - Field on the left before the descent
  3. 2 : mi 1.23 - alt. 1,335 ft - In the Bois de la Chassagne
  4. 3 : mi 1.93 - alt. 1,562 ft - “La Roche” junction
  5. 4 : mi 3.37 - alt. 1,542 ft - N-D junction at Les Roches / Ban Sacré
  6. 5 : mi 3.58 - alt. 1,549 ft - Statue 100 m away
  7. 6 : mi 4.3 - alt. 1,483 ft - D146 at Le Poirier du Prêtre
  8. 7 : mi 4.63 - alt. 1,473 ft - Péluzot
  9. 8 : mi 4.95 - alt. 1,388 ft - L’Épinasse
  10. S/E : mi 5.58 - alt. 1,161 ft - Car park in the village of Blanot

Notes

Toilets are available in the car park in the village of Blanot and at the caves.

Walking shoes recommended.

Picnic area and shelter at Le Poirier du Prêtre.

Accommodation is available at Les Chambres de Blanot.

Refreshments are also available at the Coing community bar.

Worth a visit

There are several options available to you:
- a visit to the caves and/or their refreshment bar in summer.
- a visit to the village of Blanot with its Merovingian tombs, church, priory, wash houses, communal oven and pottery.
- a tasting session in the cellar of the Domaine du Grison or at the cheese dairies.
- A walk to the Mont-Saint-Romain orientation point, situated on the highest peak in the Clunisois region.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
VTRP
VTRP

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Whilst planning this walk for a group of friends, and to meet their expectations, I found myself having to alter the route considerably… The author should not take this as a criticism of his work – which is excellent – but rather as a suggestion for an alternative route that might be of interest.
Start at the Grotte de Blanot car park (about 2 km NNE of the village) to allow time to visit the cave on the way back. From this car park, head down towards the village, avoiding tarmac as much as possible (blue markings). From the village, follow the route in the opposite direction, towards points 8, then 7, then 6 (picnic), then 5, and so on, until you reach point 1 (La Musette). From there, head down to the hamlet of Le Vivier, cross the road and head straight east towards the cave, which is signposted as you approach.
Visorando gives this route a distance of 10.95 km, 270 m of elevation gain and a duration of 3 hours 55 minutes.
NB: a lovely, shaded and peaceful walk through fairly unspoilt countryside, with interesting local architecture and heritage sites, often superbly restored and adorned with flowers; the very pretty village of Blanot is well worth taking your time over (church, priory, wash house, communal oven, etc.) Take care, however, in wet weather: there are potholes between points 5, 4 and 3, and a slippery descent between 3 and 2.

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Lechad
Lechad

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Walk taken on Sunday 21 April 2024.
A lovely walk. In April, thousands of flowers of all kinds are in bloom, including many magnificent orchids. Beautiful scenery.
I’d like to point out one thing (where I went wrong, but we corrected it thanks to the Visorando app):
The crossroads situated about 200 metres before marker 3 shows several paths. According to the map, it is marked as ‘Bois de la Roche’. But I can’t remember if there was a sign there. In any case, you mustn’t take the path straight ahead, as it leads down towards Cortambert, and you’ll be unable to rejoin the correct path. So take the path that branches off slightly to the left, which is flat.
Perhaps a ‘waypoint’ should have been set at this spot?
Similarly, at landmark 3, head slightly to the right.
If I do this walk again (which is likely), I’ll make a note of the signposts in this area.
Apart from where I went wrong (I had to climb a steep hill for 200 metres), the walk is magnificent. Plenty of shade for the summer, and beautiful scenery.
Thanks to the author.

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La Thébaïde
La Thébaïde

Hello,

Sorry for the delay in replying. I’ve actually had another look at the website.
I didn’t see the signpost you’re referring to, but I’ve nevertheless added a few details to point 5, which should help future walkers find their way.
Thank you for your comment, and I hope to see you soon on another route.

Kind regards,

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Alain et Hélène
Alain et Hélène

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in dry weather and mild temperatures.
The directions are easy to follow.
One point worth noting at number 5 is that the very narrow path you need to take isn’t immediately visible. On the grassy area at the end of the path you’ve just come from, there is a small ‘hexagonal wooden marker, approximately 60 cm high’, which is directly opposite (7 metres away) the entrance to the path you’re looking for.

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