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If you are coming by car, park in the (free) Esplanade de l’Arquebuse car park on days other than market days (Fridays and Tuesdays). There is another large free car park on the Yonne side, the Roscoff car park between (5) and (6) near the marina. If you are coming by train, join the route at (4) via the Coulée Verte. The route suggested here starts at the Esplanade de l'Arquebuse car park.
(S/E) Cross Boulevard du 11 Novembre and follow Rue du Temple (shops) opposite, continuing straight on until you reach the beautiful Place Charles Surruge, where Cadet Roussel, accompanied by his three large dogs, his three beautiful cats and a swallow, welcomes you (fountain by François Brochet). Cross the square straight ahead to follow Rue de la Draperie on the other side, then turn right onto Rue de l’Horloge, passing the statue of Restif de la Bretonne, a local son. Pass under the Tour de l'Horloge, a beautiful monument, to reach Place de l'Hôtel de Ville (tourist office, statue of Marie Noël, a famous poetess, and beautiful houses).
(1) Turn right immediately after passing under the clock to reach Place du Général Leclerc (modern fountain, house with coats of arms). Cross the square straight ahead, veering slightly to the left, then follow Rue Lacurne to the left. It turns left and leads to Rue Jehan Régnier, which you should follow to the left. You will soon reach Rue des Boucheries, which you should follow to the left. Walk past the low entrance to the Passage Manifacier (former large hardware store). At the end of the street, turn right onto Rue Joubert (beautiful houses). Follow this street until you find an archway on the left. Go under it to reach Place Saint-Pierre in front ofSaint-Pierre Church (closed).
(2) Take the narrow street of the same name to the right of the church. It leads to Rue du Pont, which you should follow to the left, then continue straight on until you reach the Paul Bert Bridge over the Yonne
(3) Walk across the bridge to the statue of Paul Bert for a view of the town. Retrace your steps and walk a few metres to the right along Quai de la République to find a flight of steps leading down to the promenade. Follow this promenade along the Yonne to the right. Further on, take the footbridge and walk alongside the lock of the Canal du Nivernais (signs and postcards detailing the river developments). Pass under the Coulée Verte and take another footbridge (you can enjoy the Parc de l’Arbre Sec before continuing the walk). Take the sharp right-hand bend, go under the Coulée Verte, then climb the ramp on the left to join it. Follow the Coulée Verte to the left to cross the Yonne.
(4) On the other side, immediately head down a path to reach the street, and turn right towards the town centre. Further on, on the right, Rue Thiers offers a glimpse of the façade of the Château de Sparre (18th century). Pass the modern Silex building (performance hall) on your right and arrive at a large roundabout at the Pont Paul Bert.
(5) You need to go round it on the right to get back near the Yonne. Without crossing the bridge, continue between the marina and the large Roscoff car park until you reach the Thomas Jefferson Liberty Footbridge over the Yonne. Cross the river; there is a lovely view of the town from the footbridge.
(6) On the other side (fountains), turn right, into the park or onto the quay, then follow Rue Lebeuf to the left, along the high wall of the Bishop’s Palace. Turn into the first street on the left, Rue des Lombards. At the T-junction (with beautiful houses featuring carved pillars on the left), turn right (Rue Joubert) then take Rue Philibert Roux on the left to reach Place de l’Hôtel de Ville.
(7) Immediately turn left onto Rue Fécauderie, a hairpin bend, to find the upper entrance to the Passage Manifacier. Retrace your steps back to the square, turn right and go straight on, leaving Rue Philibert Roux behind, to arrive immediately at Place des Cordeliers (which is also a car park) (on the left: the site of the old market halls (a large ‘Marché’ mosaic remains), a few fine buildings). Continue by turning right onto Rue Fourier, which leads past Saint-Étienne Cathedral (a very beautiful Gothic-style building with a superb portal; inside, note the keystones and the sculptures at the base of the vaults).
(8) On leaving the cathedral, head right towards Place de la Préfecture then turn left into Rue de l’Étang Saint-Vigile. Turn right onto Rue Michelet (with its beautiful houses) then left onto Rue René Laffon. Turn left and pass under the Porte de Ville. Turn left onto Rue Cochois, then right onto Rue des Tanneries and left onto Rue de la Marine to reach the pretty Place Saint-Nicolas (statue of the saint, fountain, beautiful houses, Quai de la Marine on the banks of the Yonne).
(9) Leave the square via Rue du Mont Brenn (at the corner of the restaurant) and continue along this street, which, further on, bends to the left and becomes Rue du Docteur Labosse. Turn right onto Rue Cochois and you will arrive atthe Abbey Church of Saint-Germain. Self-guided tour but subject to opening hours; features a cloister, archaeological crypt, church with another statue by Marie Noël, archaeological museum and temporary exhibitions. There is an admission charge for the crypt with its painted frescoes (€8 in 2026) and a compulsory 40-minute guided tour at fixed times, so it’s not easy to fit in during a hike.
(10) Leaving the church forecourt, turn right onto Rue du Lycée Jacques Amyot. Pass beneath the Tour de la Prison; further on, on your left, you’ll see a 17th-century mansion. At the T-junction, turn left onto Rue de Paris and continue along this street until you reach Place Charles Lepère.
(11) Keep to the right to follow Rue Robinard and arrive at the square of the same name (house with a turret on the right, “Imprimerie moderne” on the left). Cross the square to the left to follow Rue des Consuls, then turn left onto Rue Capitaine Cognet. You will arrive atSaint-Eusèbe Church (stained-glass windows from 1540). Leaving the church, turn left onto Rue de l’Égalité, then left onto Rue Soufflot. Pass under a building, Passage Soufflot, and you will reach Boulevard du 11 Novembre. Follow its side street to the left until you reach the junction where you will find the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Tourist office
