Lavau (Yonne) walks

Marked route No. 113.The historic centre of Saint-Fargeau and a nature walk are the main attractions of this outing.From the red-brick castle to the murals of the Sainte-Anne Chapel, via the Loing river, this is a bucolic walk.

Waymarked walk N° 38 In the land of the potters, there is first and foremost the clay that serves as the raw material for the craftsmen, then the water that gushes out of the clay-silica or clay-limestone soils, depending on the geology of the subsoil in this area. But there's also the beauty of nature, with its landscapes, paths framed and even marked by these hedges and their sometimes mysterious, sometimes mischievous tadpoles. They are the source of some of the legends that live in the area.

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).

Marked route No. 85After a section through the woods and then in the open, the gardens below Lac du Bourdon offer a superb panorama of rows of spillways channelled by walls built of Puisaye sandstone. Then, following part of the lake, return to the bathing area and the car park.

Marked route No. 86A short route combining part of the lake shore and sunken paths in the undergrowth. Depending on the water level of the lake, the shore may be preferable to the path.

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

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.

Marked hike N°61. Born in Fougères in Brittany, where there is a museum dedicated to his work, the painter Emmanuel de la Villéon lived on a semi-permanent basis from 1900 to 1935 in the manor house in the hamlet of Bitry. An admirer of Monet, he adopted the approach of the Impressionists. This trail has the added attraction of panels composed of reproductions and commentaries. They allow the viewer to recognize some of the places painted by the artist, with their hedge-enclosed farmlands typical of the Puisaye.

Marked route No. 34. The village of Saint-Vérain, built on a hillside, was surrounded by fortified walls in the Middle Ages, making it one of the most powerful feudal cities in the region. Numerous remains bear witness to the city's importance, including ramparts, towers, gates, wells, a keep, etc.

Marked trail No. 44.Through woods and farmland, passing by ponds, discover the environments where the earth is shaped into artistic creations and pottery.

An all-season trail in this region of Puisaye amid hedges (bouchures), heritage, and legends.

Marked trail No. 3.From the church with its magnificent murals, pass the Gué Ricart, discover the Moutiers pond via the Marseillaise, then the undergrowth before reaching Saint-Sauveur, Pays de Colette and her birthplace.

Market circuit n°23. In an hour walking, rendezvous in the 13th century, on a legendary path and meet the middle-age castles builders.

Marked hike N°24. Leaving from the fairground, you will walk along paths that have a mysterious past and are steeped in legends.

Marked route No. 21.A very pretty route for a short family hike, discovering the Vrille at the very beginning of the route with a ford crossing on the Pont des Canards, then, after the Croix Saint-Jean, another crossing on a stone bridge (the springs are a few hundred metres away). On the way back, you pass in front of the Saint-Symphorien church.

Marked hike N°2. A hike in the heart of the birthplace of Colette. Through woods and passing by ponds, often described in her work.

After a brief incursion into the grounds of the Colette castle/museum and the passage at the foot of the Saracen tower, this walk continues through the countryside along the lanes of the Puisaye.

Marked hike N°1. This trail, dedicated to Colette, was opened in 1993 by the pupils of the Colette college of Saint-Sauveur en Puisaye. Along this trail, everything recalls the works of this author, born in Saint-Sauveur en Puisaye in 1873. The author has described her birthplace so well - that even though she has given other names to the villages and characters, you can sense her literature at every corner.

From Colette's birthplace, discover the greenways, the village of Moutiers and the Moutiers pond, where a few water chestnuts still float.Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye is listed as one of the "Cités de caractères de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté" (villages of character in Burgundy-Franche-Comté).

Discover the village of Saint-Loup-des-Bois, its inhabitants, the Saints-Lupéens, and the forests that surround it. You will pass by the Museum of Agricultural Machinery and Rural Life, which traces the history of agricultural machinery. In addition to these major collections in Europe, there is an astonishing and impressive collection of irons and a collection dedicated to woodworking trades (clog makers, coopers, wheelwrights, etc.).

Signposted route N°69.In this village, known for bric-a-brac, the sunken paths are all the rage! A guaranteed immersion in nature.Mézilles is one of the "Cités de caractères de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté" villages.

Marked trail No. 33. Geologically, the commune of Bouhy belongs to the Forterre, a region neighbouring the Puisaye. Its village is at an altitude of 355 metres. For walkers in search of vast horizons, this dominant position gives this route its panoramic interest, to which is added the architectural interest of the many chapels encountered along the way.

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.

After crossing the various fords on the Branlin, passing through beautiful wooded moors and walking alongside hedges, the Ferrier de Tannerre reveals itself in the shade of this forest, which was exploited for its iron ore in Gallo-Roman times. Travel back in time and into a natural space that is still unspoilt!