Circular walk between Blanot and Cortambert

Park in the car park in the village of Blanot.

(S/E) Turn left to pass between the war memorial and L’Étape, the former hotel-restaurant in Blanot, now renamed Le Coing. It was here that, 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 memorial. Stay on this wide path which winds its way uphill until you reach the Chemin du Faîtral and the signpost "La Roche".

(1) Head towards Chissey-les-Mâcon on the right until you reach the signpost “Bois de la Roche”.

(2) Head down to the left towards Cortambert. At the signpost “Sous la Roche”, turn left towards Cortambert as you descend. Note Château Boutavent high up on the left. See § During the hike or nearby.

(3) In the wide bend, at the foot of the vineyard, take the path that descends steeply to the left, marked by a brown symbol on a slanted square. Pass a waterhole to the left of a clearing and continue downhill, passing between houses to reach the Church of Saint-Maurice in Cortambert. At the Stop sign, cross the D117 at the pedestrian crossing and head down Rue de la Mairie to the left. Pass under an old fire hose reel. Head back up to the left.

(4) Turn right onto Rue de Roussot towards the cemetery and Varanges. Pass the cemetery. At the entrance to Varanges, continue left along the road. At the ‘Give Way’ sign, cross the junction and take the road opposite, turning immediately left towards a water feature consisting of a fountain with a drinking trough and a covered wash house dating from 1847. Walk up Rue des Colots, then continue left along Rue du Four à Chaux for about fifty metres.

(5) Follow the yellow-marked Ban Sacré route, which heads off to the right. At the end of the path, leave the marked route and turn left, then right onto the road. When you reach the Domaine des Sarilles, take the path on the right that leads uphill.

(6) When you reach the road, cross over to the opposite side and follow the Ban Sacré route which climbs towards Notre-Dame des Roches.

(7) At the top, turn right onto the GR® to reach Notre-Dame des Roches and admire the view over the entire Grosne valley.

(8) Retrace your steps until you reach the previous junction.

(7) There, leave the Ban Sacré markings and follow the red and white markings of the GR®76 towards Mont Saint-Romain. On the right, you can see the village of Donzy-le-Pertuis. To the left, there is a view of the Plaine de l’Ain. In good weather, you can make out the Alps in the distance.

At the Mollard/Gros Jacques crossroads, continue straight on, still following the^GR®. Do the same at the next junction a few dozen metres further on: the path is marked in red for mountain bikes. At Le Poirier au Prêtre (formerly Buisson du Fournil), pass a picnic area and cross the D146. Take the stony path on the left, pass a large shed and reach a crossroads at an elevation of 448 metres at a place called Peluzot.

(9) Continue straight on, following the GR®76A towards Mont Saint-Romain until you reach the Épinasse junction.

(10) Leave the GR® and turn left, heading north-west towards Blanot and the Place de la Fontaine. At the junction, continue straight on. At the pottery, head downhill.

At the V-shaped fork, turn right to discover the Merovingian tombs, the Priory and the Romanesque Church of Saint-Martin. Continue downhill. Pass the communal oven, the wash house and its fountain, and the public weigh house to return to the starting point of this walk (S/E).

Toilets in the car park in the village of Blanot.
Walking shoes recommended.
Don’t forget your water bottles.

Accommodation available in Blanot.

Note, high up on the left, Boutavent Castle. It was probably built in the first half of the 12th century by the Gros d’Uxelles, lords of Brancion. In 1237, Josseran IV de Brancion ceded the fortress of Boutavent and its castellany to Cluny Abbey. From the 14th to the 16th century, the castle was captured several times before being definitively dismantled and converted into a farm estate.

There are several options available to you before or after the hike:
- 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.
- Arrange a tasting in advance at the Domaine du Grison wine cellar or at the cheese dairies.
- Head to the Mont-St-Romain orientation table, situated at the highest peak in the Clunisois region.

During the hike:
- Visit the village of Blanot.
- View of the castles of Cortambert and Lournand.