Gurgy-le-Château and the former Carthusian monastery of Lugny

Warning: this hike requires a good sense of direction as well as keen observation when following, for short stretches, a route not marked on the IGN map and when crossing six fords at the best possible point, depending on the water level at the time of year.

Head to Recey-sur-Ource (21) and park in the car park in front of the Henri Morat secondary school or at Place du Champ Cheneveuil, around the Public Finance Centre building (excluding working days).

(S/E) Start from Place du Champ Cheneveuil. Walk up the embankment to reach the main entrance of the cemetery. Go round the cemetery on the left and continue up the tarmac path to a Fork in the road at the top of the hill (end of the tarmac section).

(1) Keep to the right and follow the signs for “Route de Montot”. Walk along the field on the right to enter the woods straight ahead until you reach a large crossroads of tracks with a wooden hut open at the front (picnic area with tables and benches). Turn right at the building. The path curves to the left shortly afterwards and heads into the forest. At the next Fork in the road, keep right whilst following the yellow markings. Continue straight ahead, ignoring any side paths. It eventually ends at a cross-path.

(2) Turn right (yellow markings). The path descends slightly and joins the D 102. (elevation 386m) Cross this road by continuing straight ahead onto a path that continues to descend towards the Source de Fontenil. Cross the first ford, climb a few metres before turning left (lines 8/10 Recey). Follow the path straight ahead after crossing two side paths and climbing a short rocky slope, until it joins a white track (elevation 423).

(3) Continue straight ahead and follow the path as it continues. The path descends gently whilst running alongside a clearing on the left-hand side. When you reach the lower end of the clearing, turn left. Continue running alongside the clearing at the bottom. At the next crossroads of tracks, continue straight ahead. Pass under an obstacle (a fallen fir tree). Further on, the path turns right and joins a more open woodland track. Keep to the left and, 5 m further on, turn right into a path partly hidden by vegetation (elevation 379).

(4) Descend this path to reach the Source du Coupe-Charme. Cross the second ford. Immediately after, head left to join the path leading uphill through the woods. Continue straight ahead after crossing a side path (line 8 Chambain). Climb a short but steep slope over rocky ground. Further on, to the left, hidden in the vegetation, is a monolith known as “le Cheval Gris”.

(5) A path surrounded by brambles leads to this spot. Retrace your steps to rejoin the original path. Turn left to reach a crossroads a few metres further on. Turn left to follow this woodland path straight ahead. Ignore the side paths until you reach the end of a clearing on the left of the route. There, you will find a stone marker on the left at the start of a path. Continue for 10 metres until you find a second stone marker on the right.

(6) Then turn right onto the stony path which leads straight ahead to a field. Turn left and walk along the edge of the field for a few dozen metres to a path directly ahead, at the edge of a wood. Turn right to follow this field path until it joins a crossroads with the D22 and a local track (elevation 403m). Head left onto the D22 until you reach the right-hand edge of the woods. Go down the path on the right.

(7) Follow the path on the right down through the woods to the Fontaine L’Évêque (surrounded by a fence). Cross a third ford before heading back up towards Gurgy-le-Château. The path leads into Rue du Bourg.
You can turn right up Rue de Chambain to visit the cemetery and see the Chapelle Saint-Michel.
So, at the first junction, turn right onto Rue de Buxerolles, then take the first left onto Rue des Paux before turning right onto Rue de l'Église. Pass a plaque engraved on a house façade by its owners “05/10/1866 Bailleux”, then arrive at the church at the end of the cul-de-sac, with the path leading to the old castle on the left.

(8) Retrace your steps along Rue de l’Église before turning right onto the Sentier des Roches. Head down Rue du Bourg on the right (calvary of 1885) to pass the war memorial and a leat on Rue du Moulin. Cross the junction and head straight up Rue du Petit Tertre opposite. Follow Rue du Tertre as it continues before crossing the junction with the D22, then take the path known as "des Vaches" straight ahead.

(9) Follow this stony track uphill, keeping to the right at the wayside cross (elevation 373), then left at the next junction. Continue along it through woods and fields. Further on, it joins a dirt track coming from the right. Continue straight ahead, crossing a tarmac village road (elevation 407m) by taking a slight detour to the right to follow the sign for “La Pierre qui Vire”. Enter the woods again, ignoring any side paths. The site is signposted at a crossroads 200m before. Turn left to see the menhir.

(10) Retrace your steps to rejoin the original path and head left. It ends at another cross-path (elevation 395). Turn right, then 10 m later left, so as to descend the Val de St-Broing until you reach a clearing at the very bottom. Head left along a visible path on the ground, then leave it on the right as you approach the Ru Le Coupe-Charme, for about 5 metres, so as to cross the fourth ford. Cut across the meadow to the left before climbing steeply up the visible path leading off to the right. Once at the top of the hill, keep to the right before reaching the hamlet of Le Petit Saint-Broing.

Le Petit Saint-Broing is private property. The hamlet is home to a château, a chapel and an old farmhouse with its outbuildings, including a deep well and an old petrol pump. The occupant does not welcome hikers entering her property.
Continue along the path; the hamlet is on the right.

(11) At the crossroads, head south-southeast along the ascending field path lined with walnut trees. At the Fork in the road at the top of the hill, keep to the right (the field then meadow leads to the right). Enter the woods by going straight ahead, ignoring the wider path branching off to the left. At the next crossroads of tracks, turn right.

(12) Descend the fairly steep path to reach the Fontenil stream. The track stops abruptly. Continue along the same route, passing to the left of a watering hole for animals. A clear passage between the trees leads to the stream (line 4 Recey). Keep left to reach two moss-covered trees, which look like stumps, then 5 m further to the left, cross the fifth ford at a tree cut halfway up. Then cross an area that may be damp to reach two standing trees, each marked with a diagonal orange stripe. Head right at the junction to follow a ditch and climb diagonally up to the right at a clearing made by construction machinery. Follow this ascending path until you reach a crossroads of tracks at the edge of the woodland/clearing.

(13) From this junction, follow the track due west (steep climb at the start) to reach and cross the D102 at a left-hand bend (elevation 395m). Head straight ahead (line 28 Recey). When you reach a hump, go straight over it (passing in front of lines 28/32). Descend a path that is barely visible on the ground at times (not marked on the map). It descends along the hillside with a spring below on the right. At one point, bypass a wet area to the left to rejoin the descending path, then step over three fallen trees before crossing the sixth and final ford (Peute Embauche stream).

(14) Continue along the same route and climb straight up a steep slope (line 34), using a stone marker as a landmark. Go round a large fallen tree on the right. At the junction with a perpendicular path, keep left (stone marker). Further on, it opens out into a bend on a wide forest track. Take this track to the left and, after 40 metres, turn left onto a barely visible path. It widens immediately and runs alongside the forest track, keeping to the right. Continue straight ahead after crossing two cross-paths. Just before reaching a large stone marker standing in the middle of the path, turn right onto a more recent forest track to reach the “Chauffage des Moines” botanical crossroads (elevation 404). Picnic area available.

(15) Head left along the Lugny forest road between lines 23/25. At the second crossroads of tracks (elevation 403), turn left onto a wooden path sloping diagonally. It crosses a perpendicular path and descends slightly. At the first Fork in the road, turn right.

(16) At the first Fork in the road, turn right and immediately afterwards, at the second, keep left. Continue downhill to reach the edge of the field. Cross the hedge at its far end on the right, then, on the other side, follow it to the left. Cross through some undergrowth, continue following the hedge to reach a field path further down. Turn right. It runs along the left-hand side of the former Chartreuse estate. It leads onto a white-gravel path (elevation 316). Turn left to pass a few hundred metres further on in front of the former Chartreuse de Lugny (now private property).

(17) Walk past the buildings on the right, along the tarmac path which climbs slightly. After the last building, the path becomes a gravel track again. Follow it continuously until it joins the D29 and the D928 at the entrance to Recey-sur-Ource. Follow the D928 carefully to the Grands Fontaines wash house (late 17th to early 19th centuries), situated opposite the AVIA petrol station.

(18) Continue along the D928 to the next junction. Turn left onto Rue du 8 Mai 1945, then, at the next junction, turn left twice in succession to find yourself opposite the Centre des Finances Publiques, Champ Cheneveuil, the starting point (S/E).

Shelter and picnic area with tables and benches at a large crossroads in the woods, 400 m past the crossing point (1).
Picnic area in Gurgy-le-Château by the leat (2 tables and benches – no shade) (8).
Picnic area on the grass in the walnut tree-lined lane at the exit of the hamlet of Le Petit Saint-Broing.
Picnic area under the trees with tables and benches at the ‘Chauffage des Moines’ botanical crossroads (15).
Walking poles are strongly recommended for crossing woods and streams, and on steep ascents and descents.
Using a compass can be reassuring on sections not marked on IGN maps.
As some paths are rarely used, they have been partially overgrown with brambles. Hiking trousers are recommended.

- Two sections not marked on the IGN map require a good sense of direction and observation.
- Crossing six streams at fords (easy in the dry season – may require a detour to the right or left in very wet weather).
- "Le Cheval Gris" monolith.
- Gurgy-le-Château with its Fontaine L’Évêque; its St Michel Chapel in the middle of the cemetery; a house wall engraved by its owner in 1866; and also the Church of the Nativity of Our Lady, the former chapel of a Templar stronghold dating from the early 13th century with its lava-stone roof; the former castle, also dating from the 13th century, partly destroyed in 1472 by the troops of Louis XI during the conflict with Charles the Bold. Restored in the 16th century. Around 1750, it was the residence of the Duke of Penthièvre, the illegitimate son of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan, and then, in 1769, of his daughter Louise Marie Adélaïde, who later became the mother of King Louis Philippe. Abandoned from 1850 onwards by ironmasters and farmers, it became a mere shelter. Now in ruins.
- The "La Pierre qui Vire" menhir bears witness to Neolithic occupation.
- The hamlet of Le Petit Saint-Broing, incorporated into the commune of Faverolles-Lès-Lucey by decree of 9 Nivôse, Year III of the Republic.
- Nature trail at the “Chauffage des Moines” botanical crossroads.
- Former Chartreuse of Lugny in the valley of the commune of Leuglay. Founded in 1172, it has retained significant buildings, though the cloisters have since disappeared. The church was consecrated in 1203 and then remodelled in 1560. It remained a place of worship until 1790 before being used as a barn from the Revolution onwards. Now privately owned.
- The Grands Fontaines wash house in Recey-sur-Ource – late 18th to early 19th centuries, with its lava-stone roof. It houses a work by Peter Halley: a metallic grey fibreglass relief entitled ‘Asphalt Cell n3’, which refers to urban confinement. The design evokes a housing plan or a fragment of a city.