The Sainte-Barbe Chapel in Villy-en-Auxois, starting from Champrenault

Park in the car park at Place de la Fontaine in Champrenault.

(S/E) Head towards the castle, then the little church, then return towards the fountain and follow the sign for Nazoirs. In front of the houses, turn right and follow the white arrows. Continue to Nazoirs.

(1) Turn left onto a wider path. Continue uphill along this path until you reach a farm track. Take this to the left, then, just before the electricity pylon, turn right.

(2) Turn slightly left and carry on to the small ford at Belle Fontaine, which is easy to cross. Continue along the track, soon reaching the edge of the woodland. When you reach the stony track, turn left, then keep left round the bend.

(3) At the three-way junction, keep to the right on the track, ignoring the side paths. At the end, turn left onto the descending track, then turn left and immediately right. The track descends, passing under two power lines, to join a small road. Head towards the village, cross the bridge and head towards Charencey church, passing to the right of the town hall.

(4) Go partly round the church, following the Chemin de Villy. Continue to Charancey Haut.

(5) Turn left onto the stony track amongst the farm buildings. Follow this track uphill to the old Roman road from Sombernon to Alésia.

(6) Turn right onto it and follow this straight stretch to reach the crossroads marked by four boundary stones (elevation 490).

(7) Turn left; a sign points to Chapelle Sainte-Barbe. A little further on, take the path on the right which cuts across a bend in the road. Then take the road to the right, then quite soon to the right again (upside-down sign for Chapelle Sainte-Barbe). You will reach the chapel.

(8) Go round it to the right via the steps, then take the path on the left. Follow this path and you’ll reach the crucifix. Go round the rock, then take the path on the right which descends steeply. At the bottom of this steep descent, turn right. As you emerge from the woods, keep to the left and follow this path to the end. There, do not take the road but follow the narrow path alongside the hedge to reach a wash house.

(9) Head towards the village, then head towards Vitteaux by turning left onto Rue du Pont. After the wayside cross, a signpost indicates the direction to take: Antananarivo, then Rue de l’Ozerain. Stay on this street until you reach the junction with Rue de Vellefrey.

(10) Turn right onto this street and cross the Ozerain. Further on, turn left onto Chemin de la Martrois. After the farm buildings, take the grassy track on the left. After crossing the Ozerain again and passing under the power line, you’ll reach a multi-way junction.

(11) Turn right onto Chemin du Bas de Lointe. Keep left at the Fork in the road shortly afterwards and pass under the power line once more. Then enter the woods to reach the junction with the old Roman road that you passed on the way out.

(6) Head straight on into the Bois Prieur. On leaving the woods, you’ll reach the junction of the D114 and D114g roads.

(12) Take the 114g straight ahead, head uphill towards the village and continue towards the castle to reach the car park at Place de la Fontaine (S/E).

The route passes through woodland, so please take care during the hunting season: check for details.

(S/E)^13th-century Château de Champrenault.^14th-century church with an unusual bell tower.

Nazoirs: vats used for retting hemp.

(4) Charancey Church.

Between (6) and (7) Roman road from Sombernon to Alésia.

(7) Four milestones (not original) which marked the junctions of the Roman roads.

(8) Sainte-Barbe Chapel.