La Truchère-Ratenelle Nature Reserve and Site des Charmes

From Tournus, head towards the village of Sermoyer via the D933. Just before the village, you will find the Chemin des Charmes on your left: altitude 179. Take this road and park at the Site des Charmes.

(S/E) Return to the Chemin des Charmes and head towards Les Charmes on the left. At the junction with Rue des Acacias, turn right onto a grassy path and follow it to rejoin the D933, Route de Cuisery.

(1) Cross the road carefully and head towards the cemetery on the right. Take the tarmac path on the left, passing in front of the sheds, then turn left towards the sewage treatment plant. This path becomes a grassy track. Join a gravel path.

(2) Turn right. At the junction with an altitude of 175, turn right and stay on this road until you reach the gate on the bridge, which may be open or closed depending on whether there are cows grazing there.

(3) Depending on the situation, open the metal gate, go through it and close it behind you: there may be cows in this field. Follow the path to another gate, which you must also go through on the left-hand side: make sure you close it properly behind you. Then, continue along the path that runs alongside the banks of the Seille. At the junction with the stone bridge, go straight on to cross the bridge and continue along the tarmac path beside the Seille to the lock.

(4) Go over the lock at the top, then cross the bridge. Continue along the Promenade du Barrage and, after the harbour at the village entrance, turn left onto Rue Maison Blanche. At the end of this street, first turn right then left to continue along Rue de la Berthière. Leave the village and join the elevated road.

(5) At the crossroads, turn left and after 250 m (altitude 173), take the white stony path on the right. After 50 m, keep to the right and follow this grassy path to the edge of the woods.

(6) Enter the woods via the path on the left, then at the next Y-junction, turn left towards Bois Bouget: you are now entering the “La Truchère-Ratenelle” Nature Reserve. Follow the sandy path, which will soon turn to earth. At the first X-junction, turn left, following the sign for “Pilotis Tourbière”, and head towards the sign bearing the same name.

(7) Walk there and back. Back at the junction, continue left until you reach the tarmac road. Turn right for about 150 m.

(8) Turn right onto a dirt track under the high-voltage power line. Continue along this track and, at the first Y-junction, turn left. At the following junctions, continue straight on to reach the Chemin Communal de la Grande Ly (D376).

(9) Cross carefully and take the path opposite which branches off to the left to join the path called Les Bruyères and then the D933.

(10) Cross the main road carefully and continue along the path opposite, which runs south of Étang Fouget. Stay on this path until you reach the road (Champ Plénet). Turn right towards the hamlet of Pont Seille. Pass under the high-voltage power line and reach the first houses.

(11) Follow a grassy path to the left, reach the banks of the Seille and turn right to join the D933.

(12) Turn left to cross the Seille, then continue for 300 m along the roadside: please take care. Next, take Rue Près des Chevaux just before the memorial, which you will find on the left at the side of the road. Just before the house, turn right onto the grassy path. At the first junction, continue straight on until the next junction.

(13) Turn right, following the blue ‘Espace Naturel Sensible’ signs to enter the Site des Charmes, and continue to the gate. Go through the gate to reach the starting point, where you’ll find picnic tables and play areas (S/E).

You can have lunch at the Site des Charmes.