Chasm and archaeology at Val-Suzon

A beautiful hike in the superb Val-Suzon National Forest, where you can enjoy varied geology (valleys, viewpoints) and discover some curiosities (chasms, ruins) off the marked trails.
Ideally, do this in mid-autumn to admire the colours of the forest, but preferably in dry weather.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.94 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 426 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 426 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 533 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 357 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Val-Suzon (21121)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.41238° / E 4.902699°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3022ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

There is little parking space under the church. If necessary, you may find space along the D7.

(S/E) From Rue de Sainte-Foy, below the church, walk up Rue de l'Église for 350 metres.

(1) Leave this street and turn right onto the path marked with a pink-orange arrow.
Follow this path uphill and then downhill (steep) until you reach the path that branches off to the left and follows the contour line to a steep descent that leads to a meadow. Cross the meadow.

(2) Turn left onto Combe du Prêtre, climb it and reach a Y-shaped crossroads at Bois des Fouillies.

(3) Leave the yellow marked path and continue right north-northeast on the path that joins a line heading south.

(4) Follow this line to the right, which leaves the woods at the clearing, and walk along the edge of the clearing to elevation 517.
Turn right, then left to head south again. About 500 metres further on, you will find a perpendicular line.

(5) Take it to the left until you reach a large ridge.

(6) Turn right onto this track and, atthe first crossroads, take the line on the left. After 200 metres, take a slight detour to the left (a path with few trees) to reach the Curtil chasm on the right in the woods, marked by a sign and surrounded by wire fencing.

(7) Please note that the chasm is located 80 metres north of the path and 80 metres east of the point indicated on the IGN map.
Return to the main path and follow it until you descend to the "star-shaped" crossroads at an elevation of 466 metres.

(8) Immediately turn right onto the path that climbs south-west. At the next crossroads, turn left twice to reach the archaeological site, which is 50 metres to the left in the woods.
Please note: if the foliage is not very thick, you may be able to see it. There is a path leading to it, but it is not very well marked.

(9) Return to the main path and immediately turn right at the crossroads onto the path that descends to theGR®2. Follow it to the right along the edge of the cliff, passing two viewpoints.

(10) At thesecond viewpoint, continue north and then turn left until you reach the ridge.
Turn left onto it until you reach the junction with the path leading to Combe de Curtil.

(11) Leave the perpendicular path on your right and take the path that branches off diagonally. Follow it (long descent) until you reach the bottom of the valley.
Take the path on the right to reach the crossroads of the Combe du Prêtre, which you passed at the start.

(2) Turn left onto the section you took at the start of the route. Turn left across the meadow to follow the route in reverse and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 361 m - Rue de Sainte-Foy, below the church
  2. 1 : km 0.43 - alt. 434 m - Path blocked by rocks
  3. 2 : km 1.43 - alt. 363 m - Meadow at the bottom of the Combe du Prêtre
  4. 3 : km 3.45 - alt. 492 m - End of the yellow marked trail.
  5. 4 : km 4.03 - alt. 524 m - Head south.
  6. 5 : km 4.85 - alt. 503 m - On the left, towards La Sommière
  7. 6 : km 5.48 - alt. 533 m - Sommière
  8. 7 : km 5.93 - alt. 525 m - Curtil chasm
  9. 8 : km 6.41 - alt. 467 m - Star-shaped crossroads
  10. 9 : km 7.23 - alt. 514 m - Archaeological site
  11. 10 : km 8.39 - alt. 467 m - Second viewpoint. Valley of the - Suzon (rivière)
  12. 11 : km 9.36 - alt. 500 m - Descent of the Combe de Curtil
  13. S/E : km 11.94 - alt. 361 m - Rue de Sainte-Foy, below the church

Notes

Avoid visiting at weekends during the hunting season.
Walking sticks are very useful in wet weather.

Worth a visit

(7) The Curtil chasm: listed by the Dijon Speleological Club. Depth 58m. The site is no longer well maintained as exploration is now prohibited. However, it is protected by a wire fence. It is still possible to approach it, with caution, using a small ladder, which should also be used with care...

(9) The Gallic remains of Bois Jossam (information panel): these are believed to be the remains of a Gallic settlement discovered in 1950. They bear witness to the occupation of the area and agricultural activity at a time when the forest did not exist. The site is fenced off to protect it from wild boars, but you can enter the enclosure via a wooden ladder.

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

4.2 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Birgitt
Birgitt

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

A route that must be very rarely used, completely unmaintained, with brambles, grass, lots of trees and branches in the middle of the path or what is supposed to be the path.
Chasm at point 7 not found
The only advantage was that this hike was shaded
And to top it all off, we brought back lots of ticks

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catherine bretin
catherine bretin

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, but be careful at certain points:
- keep an eye out for the arrow at point 1.
- Some sections are difficult due to fallen trees.
- After the archaeological site at point 9, the path on the right that goes downhill is barely marked and blocked by a fallen tree.
Otherwise, the views are superb!!!

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Bofed
Bofed

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Many fallen trees blocking the path, chasm difficult to find, trail poorly marked in places.

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philjacque
philjacque

Hello.
Thank you for your very positive comment. The caterpillars are most likely gypsy moth caterpillars, the insect that ravages our boxwoods. I have found myself in this unpleasant situation twice and had to wave a leafy branch in front of me to "pick" the caterpillars before they landed on me. See the Wikipedia article on the subject.

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Lucieji
Lucieji
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, unfortunately the area around the lookout points was overrun with caterpillars when I visited (hanging from leaves, tall grass and on the ground), making it very difficult to walk for long distances. It's a shame because, in my opinion, this is the most beautiful part of the trail!

Otherwise, the route was impeccable and fairly cool for most of the way (forest).

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kiara21000
kiara21000

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and varied walk in the woods, enjoyed by all, including older children!
The search for the chasm and ruins was a bonus, with beautiful views in the last part!
Follow the previous comments (from Tacortaine) to start the hike, as a private barrier blocks access to the initial path.
Thank you!

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Jean Luc THEVENET
Jean Luc THEVENET

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike; however, some sections are particularly difficult (very steep) and there is a slight lack of signposting or more precise landmarks; but very pleasant overall.

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philjacque
philjacque

Thank you for your feedback. It's a shame that the section near the village has been 'privatised'. It was much nicer than the path you have to take now. I have therefore modified the route accordingly. I would welcome your feedback on the change.

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Tacortaine
Tacortaine

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The description of the start of the hike no longer matches the terrain. The path used to cross private property, but this path has been closed off with a fence.
Continue along the wide path for 100 to 200 metres, then turn right (arrow marked in pink on a stone).
Then follow a more or less visible path through the forest, which descends quite steeply at the end, just before rejoining the normal path.
Did not see the yellow markings mentioned in the guidebook.

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Quentin046
Quentin046

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Please note that the start and end points of the route have been changed as they are on private property.
At the start, continue straight ahead for 100 metres, then turn right. An orange arrow indicates the path.
For the return journey, there is also an orange arrow indicating a path on the right (very steep). This path is about 150 metres before the fence if you go too far.

Enjoy your hike.

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Hortensia!
Hortensia!

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Pleasant walk, chasm and archaeological ruins a little difficult to find, superb view from the top of the lookout points.

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jcehenne
jcehenne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 12, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Lovely winter outing.

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guylavau
guylavau

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 04, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Have fun discovering original hikes

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