La Bussière walks

Marked hike N°71. A whole new way to discover the story of the construction of the Canal de Briare! With this hike you can follow a part of its water supply system and come back along the old route to the incredible monument that we today know as the Seven Locks.

This family hike is historically very interesting. Between the shaded first part and the canal-side second part, the route has a total elevation gain of 28 metres, mainly at the beginning. In terms of history, from Henri IV to Charles de Freycinet, the size of boats has increased, imposing new standards. Today, we talk about the amount of water consumed that needs to be saved.

This first stage runs along the Loire to take you to Briare, a charming little town full of flowers, with its small river port. Please note: this hike can be done either as part of the 3-stage Gien - Cosne-sur-Loire hike, or on its own by taking the train from Briare back to Gien.

This route is offered by the Gien Town Hall to explore the town while learning about its history and discovering its heritage. As you progress, you will find information boards with explanations of the various historical points of interest identified. I am sharing it here, with my personal modifications to the route and the various points of interest, which are more or less in the same positions.

This hike begins with a crossing of the magnificent Briare Canal Bridge. This crossing is a privilege and if you are there early in the morning, you are sure to experience a range of emotions.It continues along paths that run alongside the canal parallel to the Loire, offering bucolic panoramas.

A signposted, family-friendly, shaded walk along the Breteau ditches that feed the Briare Canal. This easy route also takes you to the Étang de la Grande Rue lake and its dam. Suitable for pushchairs and bicycles, you can enjoy the cool shade of the undergrowth in summer and a dry path in wet weather.

The route goes from pond to pond around the village of Champoulet. There is wildlife to discover.

A short walk in the village of Bléneau, exploring the Water Gardens on the River Loing, the mural and the carved capitals of Saint-Loup Church in Troyes, the Châtaignier Fountain and a wash house.

In the Orléans Forest, the route runs alongside the vast Étang de Corcambon, ending around the Étang du Bourg which borders the flower-filled village of Dampierre-en-Burly, at the foot of its fortifications.

A route focused on painting with Le Michel-Ange des Arbres. Around twenty representations of Henri Harpignies' paintings line this walk among the trees, sunken paths and viewpoints of Puisaye.Saint-Privé is listed as one of the "Cités de caractères de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté" (villages of character in Burgundy-Franche-Comté).

A largely shaded circular walk along the water’s edge. This walk follows the Rigole de Courpalet for nearly 5km before entering the Forest of Orléans and skirting the Étang du Gué l’Évêque. The Rigole de Courpalet, 32.8 km long, was dug to feed the Canal d’Orléans.

A circular in the Orléans Forest along a pretty path that winds between the trees. You will discover a series of springs converted into fountains and end this walk at the Résistance crossroads, a place steeped in Second World War history. A monument has been erected there in memory of the resistance fighters who died for France.

Marked route No. 81.Wooded sections, rural and sunken paths, and small roads in the heart of the countryside make up the charm of this walk through the lands of the former Grand Treasurer of the Kingdom of France, Jacques Cœur.

Marked route No. 83.This beautiful hike will take you through quite a few wooded areas, not to mention the famous spot known as Le Moulin Rouge.

Starting from Saint-Didier Church in the welcoming village of Villemandeur, with its many shops, this route will take you due west towards the peaceful village of Saint-Maurice-sur-Fessard, following the old towpath of the Canal d’Orléans, which has been converted into a cycle route. The route passes Machot Lock and follows various paths through the countryside, offering magnificent scenery that alternates between farmland and wooded areas.

An easy route, with a variant, open to pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. The Blue Route is rich in heritage that characterises Blancafort: the canal, the river, the old marl pits and the paths rehabilitated for the enjoyment of walkers by the Blancafort et Patrimoine Association. Five other trails are suggested on the sign at the wash house (canal bridge, Euro monument).