The Carnot Cross

From one side of the Cosanne to the other, the walk takes you through the beautiful surroundings of Nolay, sheltered to the north by the magnificent cliffs of the Bout du Monde.
The Croix Carnot, which can be reached without too much effort, overlooks the town and the entire southern valley, which is blocked in the distance by the Montagne des Trois Croix.

Details

2309133
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.11 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 172 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 170 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 413 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 286 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Change (Saône-et-Loire) (21340)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 46.92884° / E 4.633252°
  • Accessible from the train station Gare de Change.
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2925SB, 3025SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

To reach the start, leave the D133 at the Town Hall and take Rue du Reuil to reach the car park immediately.

(S/E) Set off along the footpath opposite the car park and follow it to a narrow lane a little further up, near the church. Turn left, then immediately right, taking another footpath.
Turn left when you reach the road and continue straight ahead.

(1) At Rue du Fil de l'Eau, turn left. Pass the cemetery and stay on this road, which will be joined a little further on by theGR®7coming from the right.

(2) Continue straight ahead, then at the fork, leave the road that veers left and stay onthe GR® by keeping to the right on a grassy path alongside a low stone wall (the red and white markings are no longer visible). The path veers right and soon reaches a junction in the copse.
Turn left, wade across the stream and continue along the path between the fields until you reach the main road further on at the entrance to Nolay.

(3) Continue to the right and soon turn left onto Rue des Pierres until you reach Rue de la Brasserie. Turn left onto this street, which runs alongside the Cosanne before veering away from it a little further on.
Pass the ruined building of the old brewery and reach a fork just before Moulin Beurtaux at the end of the street.

(4) Turn right into the woods and follow this path, which heads in the opposite direction, to reach a narrow lane a little further on.
Turn left, then immediately right. Soon after, take the metal footbridge to the left, which crosses the spillway just before the lake. Turn right after the footbridge and follow the lake to the junction with the D33a.

(5) Cross the road and head towards Épertully. After 200 m, turn left onto a steep path and reach the reservoir a little further up. Continue along the extension on a narrower path and reach the summit at the Croix Carnot.

(6) Follow the path and then the road further on until you reach an X-junction at the entrance to the village of Épertully. Keep left and pass the church.
Soon after, turn left at the fork and come to a road running perpendicular to it. Turn left to leave the village and reach a four-way junction near an old wash house situated below.

(7) Continue straight ahead, ignoring a path on the right a short distance further on. At the end of the climb, the path curves to the left before heading south-east again and reaching the vineyards a little further down.
Pass a lane on the left, follow the tarmac road and, further on, reach a crossroads just after a left-hand bend. Turn right towards Marcheseuil and, a little further up, reach a four-way crossroads in the centre of the village.

(8) Head down the road to the left until you cross the D1 and continue straight on along a path towards the woods.
Head down through the trees and take the first path on the right before the houses. At the end of the path, take the lane on the left, then turn right at the junction.

(9) Pass the first bridge on your left and continue straight on until the end of the road. Turn left, cross the Cosanne and take Rue du Reuil almost directly opposite to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 290 m - Car park on Rue du Reuil
  2. 1 : km 0.25 - alt. 317 m - Junction with Rue du Fil de l'Eau
  3. 2 : km 0.79 - alt. 306 m - GR7 junction
  4. 3 : km 2.39 - alt. 323 m - Junction with the D111E at the entrance to Nolay
  5. 4 : km 3.47 - alt. 312 m - Moulin Beurtaux junction
  6. 5 : km 4.11 - alt. 315 m - Carrefour du Lac
  7. 6 : km 4.81 - alt. 407 m - The Carnot Cross
  8. 7 : km 6.04 - alt. 386 m - Crossroads by the old wash house
  9. 8 : km 7.98 - alt. 368 m - Marcheseuil crossroads
  10. 9 : km 8.81 - alt. 288 m - Bridge to be ignored - Cozanne (rivière)
  11. S/E : km 9.1 - alt. 290 m - Car park on Rue du Reuil

Worth a visit

Nolay has a rich history, closely linked to that of the Carnot family.
The life of Lazare Carnot is a story in itself, not to mention his grandson Sadi, who would go on to become President of the Republic.
The village of Nolay.
History of Nolay.

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

4.5 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
CAILLE2
CAILLE2
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

a lovely route with beautiful scenery

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jsornique
jsornique

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short hike on a beautiful frosty morning: allow 2 to 2½ hours.

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Anne NLG
Anne NLG

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk around Nolay.

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JOLY Michel
JOLY Michel

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk with varied scenery.

Machine-translated

bonnefoisb
bonnefoisb
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk that we extended slightly (by 800 metres) to visit the centre of Nolay: the church with its jacquemarts and the 16th-century market halls.

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