Couhard, Montmain and Château du Petit Montjeu

Lovely route starting from the Pierre de Couhard through a bucolic path leading to the Cascade de Brisecou. Lovely views over Autun and the historic quarter.

Details

123246
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.42 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 141 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 146 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 524 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 373 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Area: Morvan
  • ⚐ City: Autun (71400)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 46.942088° / E 4.313435°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2824OT, 2925SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the car park in front of the Pierre de Couhard (views over the town).
(S/E) Looking at the church, turn left onto the Chemin de la Cascade (GR®131-137), which runs behind the church. Follow a small stream through the undergrowth to the Cascade de Brisecou.

(1) Cross the small bridge and immediately turn right. Turn right again at the junction with the forest road, before joining the D120. Turn left for 200m, then take the forest road on the right.

(2) At the crossroads 100m further on, leave the GR® and turn right as far as the old Montmain farm. Turn left in front of the renovated building. Follow the undergrowth track for 150m, then turn right. Continue for 1km on a gentle slope, ignoring the paths leading up on the left.

(3) After a long left-hand bend, continue for 1.2km to the D256. Turn right again towards town. After the hairpin bend, pass a wooden cross and a detached house on your left.

(4) About 100 m before a group of houses on the right, take a small track on the left which leads downhill towards the Château du Petit Montjeu. This path crosses a grassy, wooded valley and joins the Chemin des Berlingots. Turn right, cross the D120 and turn left onto Rue du Faubourg Saint-Blaise, heading towards the town centre for 200m.

(5) Turn right onto Chemin de la Mine immediately after the château entrance. Follow the small stream for 900m, from where you can enjoy lovely views of the old town, before rejoining the road.

(6) At a cross, turn right, then immediately left into Rue de la Cascade. Finally, reach the Couhard church and the car park.(S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 397 m - Pierre de Couhard
  2. 1 : km 0.84 - alt. 411 m - Cascade de Brisecou (Autun)
  3. 2 : km 1.84 - alt. 505 m - Leaving the GR
  4. 3 : km 3.02 - alt. 514 m - Long left turn
  5. 4 : km 4.58 - alt. 437 m - To the left, path to a grassy valley
  6. 5 : km 5.1 - alt. 373 m - Chemin de la Mine. Near the - Tour des Ursulines
  7. 6 : km 5.98 - alt. 378 m - Left, Rue des Cascades
  8. S/E : km 6.42 - alt. 397 m - Pierre de Couhard

Notes

Can be done on horseback or mountain bike.
Parking available at the Couhard village hall (near the pyramid).
Shelter available at the Montmain farm in a covered area for walkers.

Worth a visit

Community gardens in front of the starting car park.
Rock-climbing at the Brisecou waterfall.
Tennis court near Château du Petit Montjeu.

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

4.7 / 5
Based on 25 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Popouruchka
Popouruchka

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The hike was brilliant: the stunning views, the waterfall, the forest, the pyramid – everything was perfect.

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User 4113485

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk.

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User 27408014

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk offering beautiful views of Autun and lovely trails surrounded by nature!
Easy to do with children aged 12 and 4.
We will definitely do it again!

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Julien VR
Julien VR ★

Hi Garbiella,
Thanks for taking the time to rate and review!
I’m happy to hear that you had a nice time. =)
Kind regards,
Julien

Gabriella Vekemans
Gabriella Vekemans

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Mooie wandeling in het bos..

pirouette60
pirouette60

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, fairly short tour, but it's advisable to be in good shape - the section along the waterfall is really beautiful!

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Amélie veraprochre
Amélie veraprochre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great walk!

We cut off after the Auberge de Montmaint to return to Couhard and shorten the walk. This gave us a superb view of Autun and we passed through a botanical garden where the names of the trees are noted on a plaque. Very nice

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patrujmmf
patrujmmf

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk along the small canal and the waterfall, easy route to follow

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Marie France B.
Marie France B.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Exceptional!

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Philipp
Philipp

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk in fine weather. A beautiful waterfall and a wild river this spring.
A very pleasant return along a ditch that fed Autun in Roman times.

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FamilleSabi
FamilleSabi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike, beautiful waterfall and magnificent views over the countryside and Autun.
Just 1 small orientation difficulty:
To the right just after the entrance to the château: although it says "private path", it is accessible.

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Henri RCC
Henri RCC
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant tour despite the gloomy weather and the hunting season. Beautiful waterfall, beautiful river and superb walk in the undergrowth. All that was missing was the sun!
According to my GARMIN watch, the circuit measures 7.63 km, which I covered in 2 hours and 4 minutes, taking the time to take photos. D+ 199 metres.

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Martin W
Martin W

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Good walk

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lionvs
lionvs
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It was a good hike, and the map was very helpful in guiding us when we reached the town via Chemin des Berlingots.
Not much water at the waterfall...to be done in spring if you want to see a beautiful waterfall.
Very shady trail.
Lots of hazel trees at the end of the route.

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jojochamphuet
jojochamphuet
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Lovely walk for a Sunday morning, a bit confusing before the Faubourg St Blaise, but we found our way around all the same.
Superb views over Autun.

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