Darois–Étaules circular loop

Parking is available in the church car park, Rue de l’Église, in Darois.

(S/E) From the car park, continue along Rue de l’Église, keeping the cemetery wall on your left, until you reach the junction with Rue du Grand Puits, on the^{GR® trail.}

(1) Turn left here, walk past the Grand Puits, then continue along Rue du Sentier (a cul-de-sac) for a few dozen metres.

(2) Just before the end of the street, turn left onto the footpath and follow it for about 400 m until you reach a junction after a right-hand bend.

(3) Turn right onto the path leading down into the valley. After 250 m, take a short detour to the right to visit the Lavoir de la Motte, a beautifully restored stone washhouse. Continue down the valley; after a wide left-hand bend, you’ll reach a crossroads.

(4) Turn left onto the^GR®2for a few dozen metres, then turn 90° to the right to climb the side of the valley and reach the Fontaine de la Trouvée. The IGN map is not up to date for this section. Continue for about 250 m to reach a crossroads.

(5) Leave the^GR® and continue straight on until you reach the junction with a track suitable for vehicles. Turn right onto it, leave the woods and continue to the next junction. Turn left onto the track leading to the Croix Cassée.

(6) Take the track on the right, then turn 90° to the left to reach the D104. Follow it to the left for about fifty metres, then take the path on the right which leads down to a pond. Continue along the path, cross Rue de l’Abreuvoir and take Rue Roulotte opposite, then turn left onto Rue de la Cure to rejoin the D104. Turn right to reach the square with the town hall and the church.

(7) Walk round the church on the right (D104), then turn right along Rue de Darois. Follow this road to the end, past the sports ground on your left, just before you leave the town.

(8) Leave the street and take a quick first turn left then right to join the wide Chemin de la Combe aux Geais. At the crossroads, ignore the path on the right and the one opposite; turn left and pass in front of a reservoir. Keep left, heading south-south-east, until you reach Darois on the D104. Follow it to the right for a few dozen metres, then turn left onto Rue de l’Église to reach the car park (S/E).

If there’s no space in the church car park, you can also park in the school car park and then walk to Rue de l’Église.

The Lavoir de la Motte, 700 m from the start.
The Fontaine de la Trouvée.
As well as offering a lovely view of the Dijon region, the final stretch between the reservoir and Darois is like a limestone meadow where you’ll see plenty of ‘witch’s circles’ – a sign that mushrooms thrive here. A must-see for enthusiasts!
For light aviation enthusiasts, Darois aerodrome, situated at the entrance to the village on the Dijon side, is easily accessible thanks to a free car park alongside the D971.