Stories of castles between Missery, Mont-Saint-Jean and Charny

Go to Missery via the D 36. Park in the large shaded car park located at the junction with the D 11b leading to Thoisy-la-Berchère.

(S/E) With your back to the car park, follow the D 36 towards Précy-sous-Thil to get a glimpse of the château from the driveway and a little further on from the crossroads with Chemin de la Corvée. Retrace your steps to the chapel in Missery and turn left onto Rue de la Montagne. At the crossroads at the end of the village, turn right.

(1) The partially paved path passes between two hedges and climbs uphill. It turns into a gravel path and then a grassy path as it runs along a meadow on the left. Turn around to enjoy a sweeping view of the Auxois and Morvan parks. Continue climbing along the same path between two hedges until you pass under a high-voltage power line. Go straight ahead to cross the hamlet of Mairey.

(2) At the end of the hamlet, when you reach the crossroads, go straight ahead, to the left of the water tank, to go around it and descend on a stony path. At the end of the hedge, turn left and follow it, ignoring the path leading off to the right. It narrows and eventually reaches the outskirts of Mont-Saint-Jean. Go around the left side of the Gincey farmhouse to reach Rue de la Bouerie.

(3) Head straight ahead and continue around the farm along the grassy path, passing a building on your left, then, when you reach a field, continue to the left. Further on, it climbs up to the left in the form of a path that passes to the right of a stone wall. It leads to Grande Rue. Turn right and then left to reach Allée des Promenades and walk along the fortified walls of the castle before arriving at Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church.

(4) Pass in front of the castle entrance and then the cemetery to continue around the ramparts via Rue des Fossés. Turn left onto a narrow street that passes at the foot of a house with a turret. Walk down a few metres to the right to see the Saint-Christophe gate, one of seven gates that protected the site. There is a vault before you reach the square where the war memorial, a calvary, a cabote and an old well stand side by side. Continue right along Grande Rue until you reach a fork in the road and the restaurant Le Médiéval.

(5) First, keep right on Rue de Glanot before turning left into the first alleyway to reach a square with a calvary and an old petrol pump. Continue along Rue de la Bouerie to reach Rue des Bergeries (D 117). Pass in front of a building dating from medieval times.
At the next crossroads, turn left towards a place called Les Bergeries. At the calvary, turn right onto a path. Follow it straight ahead until you reach a crossroads of roads and paths. Turn left.

(6) Go straight ahead towards the archaeological site along the stony path. Shortly afterwards, you will arrive at the site of the old Grange du Mont (free to visit). Return to the original path and continue to the right along the forest, with the guide on your right. Further on, you will reach the first carriage road.

(7) Follow it to the right, through the undergrowth, continuing straight ahead. It crosses a transverse path and eventually leads to a white gravel path at the edge of the fields. Turn right, taking care to admire the magnificent view of the Auxois.

(8) This white road joins a local road.

(9) Turn left onto this road and follow it for 100 metres before turning right onto another white road. Follow it straight ahead, through fields and wooded areas, until you reach a tarmac road leading from Thorey-sous-Charny. Turn left to reach the top of the hill at Croix de la Croisette, where the tarmac road ends.

(10) Continue straight ahead along the white path. Pass a calvary at a place called Le Châtelet, then enter Charny via Rue des Juifs, passing the church and cemetery. Turn right into Rue de l'Église to reach the Town Hall and another calvary adjoining the building. Turn right to go down to the wash house and enjoy the panoramic view. Go up to the left on the D 108 to the crossroads with Rue du Château.

(11) The feudal castle was located to the right of the crossroads. Some remains of the fortified enclosure still stand. Pass the Town Hall again, this time keeping to the right and following Rue Saint-Antoine. At the edge of the village, near the agricultural sheds, turn right.

(12) Follow the tarmac road leading to a farm. Just after this, it turns into a stony path and winds its way through fields. When you reach a fork, turn right.

(13) Walk along the edge of the woods on the right. At the next crossroads, at an elevation of 506 metres, in a place called Le Peut Écart, turn left.

(14) Go up the path between the wasteland (on your left) and the field (on your right). It goes over a hill and then down again between the woods (on your left) and the field (on your right). Continue straight ahead. It turns into a dirt track and then a tarmac road at the first crossroads with a track coming from the right. After that, ignore the side roads and tracks. It passes in front of the Missery water reservoir and a pleasant adjoining lake.

(15) Continue on this route to descend to Missery. At the entrance to the village, it joins the crossroads from the outward journey.

(1) Walk back down Rue de la Montagne, with the option of taking a detour to the right via Rue du Docteur Fonteray. At the chapel, cross the D 36 and take the Route de Thoisy past the church and cemetery (about 100 metres away). Retrace your steps to return to the car park (S/E).

Walking sticks are recommended for the sometimes steep hills.
Binoculars are useful for observing the various panoramic views.
Picnic area in Mont-Saint-Jean (tables and benches).
Picnics can be enjoyed on the grass at the La Grange du Mont archaeological site.

Shortcut possible between points (8) and (12). From (8), head straight ahead and follow the path through the fields that leads to the entrance to Charny (12), at the crossroads near the agricultural sheds. However, it is advisable to follow the circular route through Charny (Town Hall - Wash House - Castle) before retracing your steps to continue the hike towards (13).

- Missery Castle (private) dates from the 14th, 17th and 18th centuries. At the end of the 18th century, the old castle in ruins was demolished. The four towers and beautiful paintings decorating its interior have been preserved. It is surrounded by a moat and stands on a square plot of land with a tower at each of its four corners. The main body of the castle joins two towers in a rectangular layout. The main courtyard is located between the façade and the other two towers.

- The Chapel of the God of Mercy in Missery was built in 1762 by the parish priest of the time.

- The Church of Saint-Michel in Missery consists of two rectangular buildings separated by a massive square bell tower, the whole covered by three gabled roofs aligned east-west.

- Hamlet of Mairey: a farm breeding Mulard ducks (males) and producing foie gras.

- Manoir de Gincey: built around 1570 by Léonor Chabot, son of the admiral.

- Mont-Saint-Jean was an important seigneury in Burgundy and the residence of a powerful family under the Capetian dukes of Burgundy, most likely linked to the Viscount of Beaune and the lords of Vergy. It became a barony. The castle was first mentioned in 924. The Mont-Saint-Jean family died out in the 14th century. In 1442, Mont Saint-Jean was sold to Pierre de Bauffremont, Lord of Charny and Molinot, Knight of the Golden Fleece, an ally of Philip the Good. In 1534, Mont Saint-Jean and the entire county of Charny were given to Admiral Chabot by Philiberte de Luxembourg, widow of Jean de Chalon. In 1761, the Countess of Brionne inherited the barony of Saint-Jean, which she sold in 1778 to the royal house of Saint-Louis in Saint-Cyr (l'Ecole - Yvelines). Note: there is a Rue Chabot-Charny in Dijon.

- Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church: Originally the castle chapel. The choir and bell tower date from the 12th century. It became a parish church in 1446 and was consecrated in 1453. The bell tower has three floors. The crypt is under the 10th-century apse.

- In the Middle Ages, there were eight gates leading into Mont Saint-Jean, including the Saint-Christophe gate. Take a stroll around the town to see the many medieval buildings that still exist and several wells.

- There are 16 stone crosses scattered throughout the village of Mont-Saint-Jean and the surrounding area.

- The archaeological site of La Grange du Mont: a state-owned farm belonging to the seigneury of Mont Saint-Jean, built at the end of the 13th century. Built for sheep farming on unoccupied land (but also for cereal and wine production). It was abandoned at the end of the 14th century and beginning of the 15th century after local depopulation and profound changes in the wool trade.

- The Church of Saint-Germain de Charny dates from the 16th and 17th centuries. A beautiful double-sided carved cross with an altar can be seen in the cemetery enclosure.

- Worth seeing: the Châtelet calvary and the one next to the Town Hall. Go down to the wash house with its adjoining water basin.

- Charny Castle: Built in the 13th century by the Bauffremont family. In 1534, as with Mont-Saint-Jean, the entire county of Charny was given to Admiral Chabot by Philiberte de Luxembourg, widow of Jean de Chalon. The castle was destroyed under Louis XIII around 1614. In 1658, a report mentions the castle as having 10 stone towers, 3-metre-thick curtain walls topped by a covered walkway, a large main building with two wings, wide and deep moats, and a 6-acre bailey, all in very poor condition. One tower was 14 metres in diameter and the walls were 4 metres thick. In 1761, the Countess of Brionne inherited the barony, which she sold in 1778 to the royal house of Saint-Louis in Saint-Cyr (l'École - Yvelines). She retained the title of Countess of Charny, which now belongs to the royal family of Italy. By 1774, only a chapel and ruins (parts of towers and walls) remained. The current owner of the 'field of ruins' is said to live in Les Yvelines. Note: there is a Rue Chabot-Charny in Dijon (Léonor dit Chabot-Charny 1525 - 1597).