Peaks and Chateaus in South Burgundy

A lovely route along the paths of sunny Burgundy. Leaving Chaintré, we reach the crests of the mountains, with beautiful views of the Bois de Fée, Mont de Pouilly and La Grange du Bois. Along the way, we come across several fine castles: Château des Rontés, Château de Chasselas, Château de Leynes, Château de Lavérnette.

Technical sheet

413751
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 19.41 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 519 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 518 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 548 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 245 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the small car park at the entrance to Chaintré.

(S/E) Head towards the village centre and church, turn left at the church, then right into Rue Saint-Vincent, next to the bar (towards Fuissé). Follow this street to a cross.

(1) Turn left at the cross, direction Lavernette, les Petites Bruyères.
Go down the street and enjoy the beautiful view of the Château de Lavernette opposite.
Take the first street on the right, Chemin des Grandes Vernes, towards Petites Bruyères, and follow this road to Domaine la Rochette. Opposite Domaine la Rochette, take the path on the right.

(2) At the path leading to Hameau des Bruyères, go straight ahead. Ignore the concrete path that rises to the left and continue along the bottom of a vineyard.
Follow the main path as it bends to the right, joining a road opposite a ruined house.
Turn right up the road. A few metres after passing a road on the left (Chemin de la Grouillère), take the first path on the left which leads through the vines. Follow this path up to the entrance to Château des Rontés.

(3) Turn left in front of Château des Rontés and take the right-hand path (yellow markings + red and white GR® markings). Follow this stony path to the Bois de la Fée signpost, and turn left towards the Pelouse de la Fée signpost.
Cross the limestone plain. After passing the summit marked by a concrete block with the sign Bois de Fée 417m, continue to a bush hedge on the left and turn left at it. Follow the hedge to reach the orientation table.

(4) From the Bois de Fée orientation table (south-facing view over the Beaujolais mountains to the Monts D'Or) retrace your steps along the hedge to pick up the path (left) on the limestone plain.
Exit through the gate and take the left-hand path to the D172 road a few metres further on (Les Combettes signpost). Cross the road and take the path opposite, along a vineyard (towards Mont de Pouilly). Turn right immediately after the vineyard and continue straight ahead along the edge of the vineyard until you come to a concrete path leading uphill.

(5) Turn left at the concrete track and follow it to a crossroads. At this junction, turn right towards Mont de Pouilly, signposted in yellow. Further on, leave the straight Yellow signposting and turn left onto the signposted MTB track. Follow this new path to Mont de Pouilly.

(6) From Mont De Pouilly (485m), follow the yellow Grange Murger signs. Descend on a narrow path through boxwoods, then follow a vineyard and a meadow. Descend to a new path (Grange Murger signpost), turn left towards the Roman road (Voie romaine) car park and continue straight on to the hamlet of Grange Murger.

Turn left in front of the first house and climb up to the D54 road. Cross the road to take the path leading uphill (Rue du Gros Bois). Climb above the houses and turn right onto the Roman road. Follow it until it crosses a road.

(8) At the "Voie Romaine" signpost, follow the signs for "La Grange du Bois par le prieuré" to the left.
About 50m further on, take the first path up on the left. Follow the narrow path up through the boxwoods until it leads to a track. Go down this for a few hundred metres and take the first left. Follow this new path (featuring LandArt works) to the ridge line and GR®76. Turn left onto the GR® and follow it to the hamlet of La Grange du Bois.

(9) At La Grange du Bois, enjoy the beautiful view of the priory, the Solutré and Vergisson rocks and the Saône valley.
Cross the D31 and follow the road uphill towards Col de Gerbet, Cenves. Go past the hamlet and take the first path on the left, GR®76D, towards Macon-Loché station and yellow markings towards Vergisson. Continue straight ahead for about 500m.

(10) Take the first left path downhill (GR® + Yellow markings).
At a new signpost, go straight on (GR® markings).
Continue along this path until it joins the D31.

(11) At the crossroads with the D31, at the Petit Mont signpost, take the first path on the right towards Chasselas. This runs along the right-hand side of the road, joining it a little further on. Cross the road and take the track opposite, which still runs alongside the road, but to the left, to join it again.

(12) Cross the D31 and take the track opposite, which skirts Mont Saint-Pierre on the right.

(13) At the Chassela calvary, turn left to go up towards the cemetery. Just beyond the cemetery, on the right, you'll find a bench and a viewpoint overlooking the Château de Chasselas. Continue along the path to the right, which leads from here along the vineyards to Château de Leynes. Walk past the château and take the left-hand street down to the village square.

(14) At the village square in Leynes, pass the town hall and take the road that climbs up opposite (signposted Bois de Fée 1.3km).
Just after the second house on the right is a small vineyard. Take an inconspicuous path leading down from this vineyard. This narrow path, bordered by a low wall, runs alongside a park and joins a road a little further up, which you continue to the right. At the next crossroads, take the road opposite, then the one that climbs to the left towards the hamlet of Les Magnons.

(15) After the houses, the road climbs to the left towards Balmont (ignore the two dirt tracks to the right).

(16) In Balmont, take a track on the right, heading east-southeast, and keep going straight ahead.
This leads to a tarmac road which descends to the Château de Lavernette.

(17) After passing the château entrance, turn left onto the road and follow it to the Chaintré wash-house.

(18) At the Lavoir de Chaintré, turn right, and a few metres further on, turn left, onto a grassy path which passes between the vines and leads up to the village of Chaintré.
Reach the village square, then the small car park by turning right at the church(S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 277 m - Car park at the entrance to Chaintré
  2. 1 : km 0.41 - alt. 275 m - Cross
  3. 2 : km 1.29 - alt. 270 m - Les bruyères
  4. 3 : km 2.74 - alt. 367 m - Château des Rontés - Château
  5. 4 : km 3.62 - alt. 414 m - Fairy Wood
  6. 5 : km 4.77 - alt. 386 m - Seguin Wood
  7. 6 : km 6.75 - alt. 458 m - Mont de Pouilly
  8. 7 : km 7.67 - alt. 413 m - La Grange Murger pile of stone gathered from fields
  9. 8 : km 8.56 - alt. 409 m - Hiking poles & quot;Voie Rom
  10. 9 : km 10.63 - alt. 524 m - La Grange du Bois
  11. 10 : km 11.53 - alt. 539 m - Rontémonard
  12. 11 : km 13.32 - alt. 426 m - Petit Mont
  13. 12 : km 14.09 - alt. 395 m - Mont Saint-Pierre
  14. 13 : km 14.75 - alt. 326 m - Calvary Chasselas
  15. 14 : km 15.78 - alt. 313 m - Leynes village square
  16. 15 : km 16.43 - alt. 328 m - Les Vessats
  17. 16 : km 16.87 - alt. 368 m - Balmont
  18. 17 : km 18.61 - alt. 261 m - Château de la Vernette
  19. 18 : km 18.9 - alt. 247 m - Chaintré wash-house
  20. S/E : km 19.41 - alt. 277 m - Car park at the entrance to Chaintré

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 26 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Rackoon
Rackoon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful route in autumn. The numerous views of the Roche de Solutré are superb.
The ruined house mentioned in point 2 is still there.
A walk to be repeated.

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dominique cornet
dominique cornet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

We've split the route in two. The house shown as a ruin no longer exists (it has been demolished). When we reached the D172, we got off at Leynes and followed the route again. No signposting!

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Didier Angelergues
Didier Angelergues

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

We did the northern part from Leynes (point 14) directly to the lookout point (point 4), then the recommended route. We also cut across the northernmost part of the loop by reaching La Grange du Bois (point 9) via the priory (path in a bend, before the fontaine au ladre). Then hike back to the starting point (Leynes, point 14). Beautiful views of Solutré (among others). We still have the south to go...

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terika
terika

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Lovely route despite persistent fog all day.
No difficulty with the GPS route
I would recommend...

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monile
monile

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk on a beautiful autumn day.
We particularly enjoyed the route, which was very varied, between vineyards and undergrowth, and not at all difficult for beginners (we had someone with us who was a bit like us).
We did have one minor problem with the route on the map compared with the app: very often the blue line doesn't follow the exact route on the ground. For example, we were on a tarmac road when the app said we were in the vineyards (which led to a few minor errors). But it wasn't too serious, as we always found the right direction soon afterwards without any problems.
The view of the Roche de Solutré from Mont Pouilly is superb.
Thanks to the author for this beautiful walk.

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CARNOT Antoine
CARNOT Antoine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

parish specific to Brittany with a view of almost 300 km that day. incredible and magnificent.

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PHGASSE71
PHGASSE71
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Magnificent walk in our region. We passed through some beautiful villages and had some wonderful views. The sun was out. We met a few walkers and mountain bikers. We had downloaded the route onto our TWONAV GPS, so that was no problem.

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FloHt
FloHt

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

This is a very fine hike with many panoramic views and a view of several châteaux.
There is also a fine view of the Roche de Solutré, but beware: consolidation work has been under way since the end of June and will continue for several weeks.

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Eric89
Eric89

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

An interesting and pleasant walk, taking in the natural meadows and the Roche de Solutré, as well as the village of Chasselas and its "châteaux".

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stuch
stuch

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

To shorten the walk, we cut under Mont Pouilly towards marker 12.
It was a very pleasant 3? hour walk for the time of year.

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jfgui
jfgui

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 27, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

a little difficulty to find your bearings in the very first part then very well ?. hike done in october with superb red and yellow vines. Thank you for this guide.

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MOGWAI69
MOGWAI69

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very pleasant walk that alternates between ridges, undergrowth and vineyards, with beautiful views of the châteaux and villages of the Beaujolais region.
Look up at every crossroads to get your bearings on the map and according to the directions provided. I think we took the wrong route from point 15. But we had no trouble finding our way after that. We did it on 2 June. I think that in October the scenery must be magnificent with the autumn colours.

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michel moreau
michel moreau

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 25, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

at the end, from Balmon onwards, it's not very clear and we get a bit lost; we find our way again because we're not far from the finish.

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jbrunot
jbrunot

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 22, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant walk!

One minor complaint towards the end (from point 15): there are fewer signs and we got a bit confused.

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Florène
Florène

Hello Syl71. Thank you for your comment. I've changed the explanations in point 5 and after point 14 in the hope that it will be clearer.

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