Charny’s historic centre and ponds

The route starts from the Pôle de Loisirs car park, Chemin du Bignon.

(S/E) Facing the pond, head to the right towards the toilet block. Take the path between the pond and the river. Keep the pond on your left until you reach the footbridge over the spillway of the reservoir.
As you leave the footbridge, before the barrier marking the edge of the car park, turn right to join the road at a street lamp. Take this road to the right. On the left, the buildings you can see are the town’s former abattoirs. Continue along the road and, at the fork in the road, keep to the right, staying on the hard-packed track (ignore the paths leading towards the meadows and the pond). You will reach a second fork in the road.

(1) Head down towards the Étang des Regains and walk alongside it. It will be on your right, with the Ouanne on your left. Continue to the end of the lake.

(2) Take the footbridge on the left and, at the other end, take the path on the right which runs alongside a fence through the meadow. At the crossroads, turn right. Follow this green-marked path, with a branch of the River Ouanne on your left. Ignore the first footbridge and continue to a cross-path.

(3) Cross the river branch via the footbridge on the left (the one on the right leads back to the car park). Walk past the boules court and reach Rue du Billoy, lined with plane trees. Turn left and you’ll come to a locksmith’s workshop on the left.

(4) Turn right and cross the footbridge over a stream. Continue along this street, passing the Grange aux Dîmes on your left, followed by a small car park. Head up the street opposite, ignoring Rue Sainte-Anne. At the cross street (Rue des Ponts), turn left and carry on, passing the Auberge de Bourgogne on your right. You’ll come out onto the Grande Rue.

(5) Cross the road and take the pavement on the right. Walk past the Tourist Office, then the Post Office building, and, in front of the church, turn left up Rue Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul. At the crossroads, turn right and stay on this same street, which leads back to the Grande Rue. Turn left without crossing the road. Shortly after passing a carriage entrance, when you reach the sign for Chatillon-Coligny, use the pedestrian crossing and cross the Grande Rue.
Head up Rue de la Fontaine via the side lane on the right. At the junction, cross the river via the road bridge, making sure to stay on the left-hand pavement.

(6) In front of the roundabout, turn left into Rue de la Gravière. Follow this road uphill until it curves sharply to join the Boulats Blancs. Continue along the road and, at the junction with the road leading off to the left towards the hamlet of Le Mouton, look for a path on the right.

(7) Take this path and head downhill to the housing estate. At the entrance, turn left onto a gravel track. Continue until, just before the Clos property, you come to a lovely tree-lined avenue on your right. Where this meets Rue de la Gravière, turn left and stay on the left-hand pavement.

(6) Cross this junction, situated between two bends, with care: first walk slightly uphill along Rue de la Fontaine (D16), then cross this road at the pedestrian crossing. Once on the pavement, take the left-hand side to reach the Pôle de Loisirs (S/E).

Another starting point is available from the town centre at (5) (Tourist Office). Please note, however, that there are few parking spaces available.
From the start at the pond, there are several paths leading to the outdoor fitness equipment; they all converge and end at the far end of the pond.

This marked route, which complies with the marking guidelines of the Puisaye-Forterre Community of Communes, is marked with the number 68 on yellow-backed signs.
The signposting was carried out by the association ‘À chacun son chemin en Puisaye-Forterre’ in October 2022.
If you encounter any issues, please complete this questionnaire (it only takes 1 to 2 minutes).
Take care when crossing roads.
However, even though the route is signposted, you must set off with at least this route description and the accompanying IGN map and/or the Visorando app.

Over the centuries, Charny has undergone significant changes and transformations. Through this urban walk, you will learn more about this ancient part of France, which has witnessed successive eras, lords and events.
In addition to its origins dating back to the Gallic period (with evidence attesting to human presence in prehistoric times), the town of Charny went through three distinct phases:

• In the Middle Ages, it was a thriving town with over 2,000 inhabitants, as it was home to a leper colony and a Hôtel-Dieu. The Hundred Years’ War led to the town’s near-total destruction, due to the conflict and a massive fire.
• The second phase saw Charny revived, notably under its successive lords, right up to the illegitimate half-brother of the Grande Mademoiselle de Saint-Fargeau; however, on 24 July 1706, a terrible fire ravaged the town and the church itself was burnt down. The church was not rebuilt until Charny’s third revival, 30 years later.
• The Revolution arrived and made its presence felt in Charny with the removal of two bells from the new church and the burning of feudal documents and titles on the Pâtis.

A land of water and forests, the town of Charny has always been damp, even marshy. Nevertheless, the two ponds you are about to see are man-made and date from 1997.

Our thanks to the Puisaye-Forterre Tourist Office for this historical section.