Washing houses and sandstone in Colette’s homeland

Start from the Château car park.

(S/E) As you leave the car park, turn right onto Rue de la Roche for 50 metres, then head down Rue Colette; at the bottom, turn left. Continue straight on for 100 metres, passing the church.

(1) When you reach the main road, cross the level crossing and take the small path between the house and the gardens below. You’ll come across the Petit Saint-Jean washhouse.
Retrace your steps and, before the railway line, take the path that branches off to the left and crosses the River Loing.

(2) Follow this path, which is dotted in places with blocks of sandstone, remnants of the old iron-bearing sandstone quarries.

(3) Carry straight on; do not take the signposted path to the left (if you wish, a 300-metre round trip offers a viewpoint). Walk uphill to a small tarmac road.

(4) Cross it to reach the St Pierre cross (80 metres away). The blocks of iron-bearing sandstone are imposing.
Head back to rejoin this small road on the left. Once you reach the village of Moutiers, a visit to Moutiers Church is a must.

(5) Return along this road for 150m and turn left towards Saint-Sauveur. Follow it for 200m and take the small path on the left. Cross the bridge over the Loing. Continue until you rejoin the Moutiers road via La Marseillaise. In this hamlet, do not cross the railway line but follow it along the path on the right.

(6) At the road, turn left, passing under the railway line. Walk up Rue des Murailles to the war memorial. Turn left onto Rue de la Gerbaude for 200 metres and, just before the large crossroads, head down the small alleyway on the left to discover the Gerbaude washhouse.

Retrace your steps to the war memorial, then head straight on along Rue du Bourg Gelé for 20 metres, before walking up Rue Saint-Claude to reach the main square.
Take Rue de la Roche to return to the car park.

A very pleasant walk for the whole family. On very sunny days, the route is very well shaded. In wet weather, make sure you wear suitable footwear. Please note: many paths are signposted; do not follow these, but stick to this description and the accompanying map.
All along the route, there are numerous points of interest – including the murals in the church at Moutiers – and in the village of Saint-Sauveur, you’ll find art galleries, picturesque houses and a charming church.

The Colette Museum.
The Saracen tower.
In Moutiers,the church and its murals.

The small towns of Toucy, St Fargeau and Treigny are well worth a visit.

And then, nearby, the unmissable Guédelon castle, currently under construction.