Circular route via the hamlet of Montmegin – Semur-en-Brionnais

A walk starting from a village listed among the most beautiful villages in France. This route through the woods will take you to a small, peaceful hamlet where a pretty little renovated chapel stands (ideal for a picnic break). At the start or end of the walk, a visit to the square in the historic village of Semur-en-Brionnais is a must (10th-century castle, Saint-Hilaire Collegiate Church, etc.).

Details

2545491
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.91 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 166 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 160 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 454 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 356 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start in the lower part of the village at the visitors’ and campervan car park, Route de La Craie.

(S/E) Head up Allée des Réfugiés Luxembourgeois, at the top right of the car park, pass the school, then turn left twice after the multi-sports ground to reach Montée des Moines Blancs and follow it to the top. Turn left, then leave the road on your left and continue straight on for 50m. Continue straight ahead at the bend, go down the tarmac path for 200m and continue straight on along the stony path, leaving the road that turns right. Go down between two fields to the edge of the woods.

(1) Head up the first path on the right to reach the D129 after 1 km, which you cross at a place called La Fay.

(2) Keeping the pond on your right, go round the football pitch to find a path at the opposite corner running along the edge of the woods (with a hut on the right). Continue, ignoring a path on the right after 400m. Once you are well into the woods, at a new path, keep going straight on until you reach the La Rapille crossroads.

(3) Take the second path on the left, marked in yellow, and head down to the pond.

(4) At the pond, leave the yellow markings and take the road on the left to reach a junction. Cross the small B-road and continue along the path opposite. Head straight up through the woods to reach the entrance to the hamlet of Montmegin.

(5) At the road, turn right; after 200m, you’ll find the village chapel on your left.

(6) This is the perfect spot for a short break at a wooden table. Continue along the road to the cross.

(7) Turn right towards La Touche via the Chemin de l'Argolay. After 200m, leave the road and take the first path on the left. At the first junction, continue straight ahead (the Santiago de Compostela route). Descend a very stony section, then stay on this path which curves slightly to the right. Cross a bridge at the very bottom and continue until you reach the junction at the bottom of the woods, where you rejoin the path taken on the way there.

(1) Follow the outward route back, heading straight up until you reach the signpost for La Fay. Leave the road on your right and continue straight ahead along the Chemin de la Fay for 150m. Head down the Chemin des Moines Blancs to the right, then turn left into the housing estate and continue downhill to reach the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 382 m - Visitor and motorhome car park, Route de La Craie
  2. 1 : km 1.1 - alt. 368 m - Crossroads at the end of the circular loop (Les Raveries)
  3. 2 : km 1.94 - alt. 418 m - Lake de la Fay
  4. 3 : km 4.18 - alt. 454 m - La Rapille crossroads
  5. 4 : km 5.07 - alt. 411 m - Étang des Gonneaux
  6. 5 : km 6.93 - alt. 418 m - Entrance to the village of Montmegin
  7. 6 : km 7.36 - alt. 411 m - Montmegin Chapel
  8. 7 : km 7.52 - alt. 409 m - Junction with Chemin de l'Argolay
  9. S/E : km 9.91 - alt. 382 m - Visitor and motorhome car park, Route de La Craie

Notes

A route with few tarmac roads. A few stony sections along the way (take care).

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
ropiga
ropiga

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful region to explore, with a rolling and varied route featuring climbs and descents

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waiwaite
waiwaite

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk. Some sections are quite overgrown with tall grass. And the descent down the rocky path is tricky.
The Montmegin Chapel has been beautifully restored. A good mix of open sections and woodland.

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la crique 69
la crique 69

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with long stretches through the forest, which is stunning at this time of year with its variety of tree species and beautiful array of colours
No other walkers on the trail, but some very courteous hunters, which, that said, posed no safety issues
The only slightly difficult section was between point 4 and point 5, where numerous trees had been blown across the path by a storm, which made progress a little difficult

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papyot10
papyot10
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thanks, Fathigahu, for this walk,
I really enjoyed it: sections through the forest or along the edge of woods and meadows; not much walking on roads.
Make sure you wear good walking shoes, as it’s quite stony.
The Montmegin chapel is simple yet stunning; what’s more, it’s open (just make sure you close the door properly when you leave) – the locals have done a brilliant job of restoring it.
Pierre, aka Papyot10.

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j.deshayes
j.deshayes
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We really enjoyed the site, but the route is very poorly signposted. What a shame!

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