Between Levis and Fontenoy: the Battle sites

Marked trail No. 43.
A historical journey back to the time of Charlemagne's succession. His grandsons fought over the kingdom. This division was settled by a battle and... discover the places and history of this epic story.

Details

92426
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.51 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 154 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 148 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 272 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 213 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Area: Puisaye
  • ⚐ City: Levis (89520)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.653362° / E 3.325491°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2621SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

The route starts from the car park of Levis church.

(S/E) Walk past the church porch and down the few steps (be careful, some are a little wobbly) to take a narrow path on your left. At the edge of the woods, take the undergrowth path on the left.

(1) When you reach the road, turn right and head downhill, crossing the hamlet of Le Chênoy. At the T-junction, head straight ahead onto the dirt track.

(2) Follow this path downhill, then turn left just after crossing the stream (ford or small bridge). Walk for 150 metres and turn right. At the road, turn right for 50 metres, then turn left onto the path. Pass the remains of some vandalised sculptures on your right.

(3) At the junction with the D3, turn right, then left at the obelisk. Continue straight ahead on this dirt track to reach Fontenoy.

(4) Follow the Rue Principale to the left until you reach the war memorial.

(5) Leave this street and take the path on the left (between the monument and the Impasse du Monument) and continue, turning right at the next T-junction.

(6) Cross the road, continue along the path and take the tarmac road on the left at the intersection.

(7) Walk to the Château-Musée du Tremblay and back, taking the tarmac road on the left.

(8) Turn around.

(7) Continue straight ahead, then turn left after about 150 metres. This path runs alongside woods and crosses fields. Shortly before crossing a road, a few metres after an electricity pole, turn right onto the path that leads into a small wood and ends at the hamlet of Les Ysserts. Cross the road and continue straight ahead. The tarmac road takes you to Les Dubourgs. Stay on this road until the next junction with the D3.

(9) At this crossroads, turn left (watch out for traffic), walk 100 metres and take the path on the right. After crossing the Fontenoy stream, continue for 250 metres and turn right. Continue along this road and, in the large bend, take the path on the left to reach the hamlet of Les Champignaux. Ignore the path leading off to the right.

(10) When you reach the first houses, just after the pond on your left, turn left onto the road that passes between two houses, pass a second pond on your right to reach a small road and the hamlet of Les Michaux (another pond on your left). Turn left, continue for about 100 metres and turn right onto the first road.

(11) When this road bends 90° to the left, take the path opposite and continue to the village of Les Talbruns, staying on the main path which ends in a tarmac road.
At the crossroads, take the road on the left, then the first left and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 243 m - Parking at the - Église Saint-Symphorien (Levis)
  2. 1 : km 0.9 - alt. 272 m - Intersection with the road. On the right.
  3. 2 : km 1.5 - alt. 250 m - To the south, "Les Champs de la Bataille" viewpoint.
  4. 3 : km 2.65 - alt. 261 m - Crossing with the D3. On the right. - Obélisque de Fontenoy (Yonne)
  5. 4 : km 3.43 - alt. 225 m - Arrival in Fontenoy. - Musée de la Bataille
  6. 5 : km 3.7 - alt. 229 m - War memorial. On the left.
  7. 6 : km 4.44 - alt. 242 m - Crossing with the D1. Go straight ahead.
  8. 7 : km 4.8 - alt. 264 m - Return trip to the castle
  9. 8 : km 4.91 - alt. 265 m - Château - musée du Tremblay
  10. 9 : km 8.51 - alt. 228 m - Intersection with the D3. Turn left then right.
  11. 10 : km 9.96 - alt. 254 m - Change of direction. To the left
  12. 11 : km 11.01 - alt. 256 m - Leave the road and take the path opposite.
  13. S/E : km 12.51 - alt. 243 m - Église Saint-Symphorien (Levis)

Notes

Route to be completed on foot or by mountain bike.
Some sections are exposed to the sun, so water is necessary.
This hike is offered bythe Puisaye-Forterre Tourist Office.
The route is marked by the association À chacun son chemin en Puisaye-Forterre (To each their own path in Puisaye-Forterre) in accordance with the graphic charter of the Communauté de Communes de Puisaye-Forterre (Puisaye-Forterre Community of Communes) in the direction of the description and is numbered 43.
However, as the signposting is mentioned, you must set off with at least this description and the accompanying IGN map or the Visorando app.
If you encounter any problems, please fill in this questionnaire (only takes 1 to 2 minutes).
Take care when crossing roads.

Worth a visit

On this route, many places are reminiscent of wartime. There are many places to stop and observe and discover the heritage: castles, museums, crosses and calvaries...
There are some lovely viewpoints offering interesting insights into the landscape.

The battle museum.
The Château du Tremblay.
For visits, check opening hours and days.

Be sure to look up and observe the walls of Levis Church, which are adorned with many sculptures.

This route is well marked with signposts and engraved directional plaques. It is numbered 43. Other paths cross this one, so be sure to follow the number engraved on the plaques.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
anat
anat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting route, with quite a few hills and beautiful views
some small roads. Best done in spring or autumn

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User 20653312

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Grass that comes up to my waist in some places, and I'm 1.90 metres tall.

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piépiédu89
piépiédu89

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Trail run with friends at the end of January. We enjoyed the unobstructed views along the route, the few small hills and the passages through the hamlets. Very pleasant overall. Some sections are on roads, but there is little traffic.

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berly6
berly6

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello
A very pleasant route that is well signposted. I highly recommend it.

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TDahlem
TDahlem

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A pleasant little hike, without any particular difficulty, but also without any interest (the museum and castle mentioned are closed to visitors. These places are only open in the afternoon, which is very frustrating when hiking in the morning).
Allows you to discover an open site and some rather cute views.

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Bernard 10
Bernard 10

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful hike in Puisaye. Well marked. A pleasant route, even if there are a few too many tarmac roads. But sometimes it's difficult to do otherwise. That said, these are narrow roads that are rarely used.
Be careful at point 10. I didn't see the sign and continued along the tarmac road without crossing the group of houses. I should have read the description!
However, after point 11, and in particular after passing "les Marécages", I took the path
(grassy track) opposite (signposted post). But when I reached the first trees, I continued on the same track, straight ahead, and walked along the hedge of trees on the right for about 100 metres. This brought me to a fence. The track ends there!
In fact, at the first trees, you have to turn left and find the wide path that runs alongside the same hedge of trees. But on the other side.
Thanks to the creators of this hike.

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POULIN Gérard
POULIN Gérard ★

Hello Chrisbruno,
I'm glad you enjoyed the hike.
Thank you for your feedback. See you soon for more themed routes or simply to explore (over 400 km in this region).

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Chrisbruno
Chrisbruno

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike through a site that marked French history over a millennium ago...

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