Le Châtelet - Bibracte

(S) With your back to the pond, head up to the hamlet of Le Châtelet via the GR® de Pays marked trail. Cross the hamlet on the right and take the path branching off to the right. Cross the stream and, once you reach Les Bougnons, continue along the path to Fâchin (campsite).

(1) Head up the road to the left, passing the church and then the cemetery. Leave the road and head up to the left along a path marked in yellow. Follow it to a junction on the left, descend into the valley and cross the Yonne (which flows into the Seine).

(2) After the footbridge, head up opposite to a small road. Follow it 100 metres to the right and take a path on the left that winds its way up.

(3) Take the Route Forestière de la Rosée on the right. Follow it for 1 km. At the junction at the top of the hill, continue to the right. Turn right onto the road to reach the Pré du Massé. On the left, the Route du Port des Moines marks the site of a timber-floating port where wood was stored whilst awaiting the ‘great flood’ that would carry the logs all the way to Paris.

(4) At Pré du Massé, head up the GR®13 to the right. Follow it straight on, then turn right at the junction. At the end, turn right again to reach the Route du Port des Lamberts (yet another one).

(5) Follow the road to the right (it is possible to bypass the sources of the Yonne).

(6) You’ll arrive at the start of the Yonne springs discovery trail. Turn left three times and walk around the nature reserve (please be mindful, this is a highly sensitive national reserve: keep dogs on a lead, no litter, no fires, no camping and no picking of plants). In this area lie the archaeological remains of a Gallo-Roman sanctuary.

(7) When you reach the junction you passed on the way out, take the path that climbs to the right up to Route de Fontian. Follow the road for 50 metres to the right.

(8) At the junction, head downhill to the left towards Cléments, with the fountain on your left. Head straight down, then left and right, and you’ll reach the Route de L’Eschenault (caution: traffic).

(9) At L'Eschenault, take the road, keeping well to the right. At the end, take the road on the left and immediately take the second path on the right.

(10) Climb up the Mont Beuvray road to the Fontaine de l’Écluse. It’s steep!

(11) Head down to the left.

(12) Pass Theurot de la Wivre (a large rock). Take the road on the left. Then follow the path left, right, then left again. At the next two junctions, turn right then left, zigzagging. Go round the back of the museum and head for the car park (E).

Please note that there are no places to eat here; you will need to stock up in Arleuf: there is a grocery shop and a bakery.

Picnic tables at the Bibracte car park, Gallic restaurant, toilets, shop.

All tourist information can be found on the tourist office websites:

Grand Autunois Morvan Tourist Office for Saint-Prix, Roussillon and Anost 71 https://autun-tourisme.com

Morvan Summits and Great Lakes Tourist Office (for Arleuf, Fâchin and Glux-en-Glenne 58) https://morvansommetsetgrandslacs.com/

The sources of the Yonne: peat bog and archaeological excavations.

The archaeological site of Bibracte, museum, Gallic restaurant.