Le long du canal et de l'Yonne à partir de Joigny

Long walk on flat ground, along the Joigny diversion canal to Cézy and back along the Yonne. Easy, peaceful route with the opportunity to spot wild birds such as wild ducks, cormorants and even wild swans.

Details

983916
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.82 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 19 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 19 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 93 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 74 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car parks on Rue Davier.

(S/E) From the Sophie Barat Centre (11, Rue Davier), go down the street, then turn right onto Rue Saint-Jacques and immediately take the first street on the left. When you reach Rue Pasteur, turn right and go to the end, then turn left down Rue Paul Bert to the quays. Cross the road and head west (right) along the river (downstream) along Quai Général Leclerc.

(1) Turn left onto Quai d'Épizy (let the D959 continue straight ahead). Walk along the Yonne for about 1 km. Cross the stone bridge over the Yonne diversion canal.

(2) Immediately turn right onto the path that runs alongside the canal. Follow the canal for about 3 km.

(3) At the Saint-Aubin lock, follow the D134 road on the left and cross the Yonne river via the bridge towards the village of Cézy. Cross the village via Avenue Jacques Coeur and then Rue Port d'en Haut.

(4) When you reach the entrance to Rue de la Chapelle Saint-Esprit, continue straight ahead. Go around Le Gravier on the right. After 1.5 km, you will reach the banks of the Yonne.

(5) Follow the path along the river to the right and continue to the first bridge you come to.

(6) Cross the Yonne on the bridge and turn right immediately.

(7) At the intersection, turn left. Pass between two bodies of water and rejoin the bridge you crossed on the way there over the canal.

(2) Cross the canal and follow Quai d'Épizy to the right along the Yonne.

(1) Cross the D159 road and go up opposite, to the right, along Faubourg Saint-Jacques. Continue along Rue Saint-Jacques towards the town centre. Cross Impasse des Chartreux on the left and take the next street on the left to reach the Centre Sophie Barat (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 93 m - Car park - Centre spirituel Sophie Barat
  2. 1 : km 0.68 - alt. 84 m - Quai d'Épizy
  3. 2 : km 1.62 - alt. 78 m - Stone bridge over the canal
  4. 3 : km 4.52 - alt. 80 m - Saint-Aubin lock
  5. 4 : km 5.45 - alt. 76 m - Path that goes around Le Gravier - Vrin (rivière)
  6. 5 : km 6.33 - alt. 76 m - Left bank - Yonne (l')
  7. 6 : km 7.88 - alt. 77 m - Bridge - Yonne (l')
  8. 7 : km 8.28 - alt. 77 m - Intersection. Confluence of the Yonne and - Tholon (rivière)
  9. S/E : km 10.82 - alt. 93 m - Car park - Centre spirituel Sophie Barat

Notes

Picnic area with tables and benches 200 metres after the Cézy bridge.

Worth a visit

The town of Joigny is well worth a visit; a free leaflet with a suggested itinerary is available from the Tourist Office.

Joigny Tourist Office
4 quai Henri Ragobert - BP 52 - 89302 Joigny Cédex
Tel: +33 (0)3 86 62 11 05 - Fax: +33 (0)3 86 91 76 38
Email: accueil@joigny-tourisme.com

Visits to Madeleine Sophie Barat's birthplace are available at 11 rue Davier • 89300 Joigny
For further information, please contact
or Tel: +33 (0)3 86 92 16 40 •
Email: centre-sophie-barat@rscj.com

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
jijir
jijir

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Please note that the section along the Yonne diversion canal is impassable (brambles and tall grass). At point 2, stay to the right of the diversion on a paved path and do not cross the small bridge.
Otherwise, it's a pleasant and easy walk.

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Ma Vidal
Ma Vidal

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk, but access to the bridge is closed from November 2023 to May 2025, so it is impossible to go via Cézy.
At point 2, we recommend staying on the bank (without crossing the bridge), which is easy to walk on, whereas the bank originally planned is not well maintained, with lots of grass and brush.
To connect point 3 to point 5, the route allows you to walk along the Yonne on the opposite bank and get up close to the swans and cormorants. The path starts at the foot of the bridge and you can't miss it.
A walk to be repeated with pleasure once the work is completed.

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mmechain
mmechain

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

We parked on Quai du Général Leclerc. We could have parked on Quai d'Épizy just before the bridge. We followed the advice posted and stayed on the right side of the canal because the left side is not cleaned.
After the village of Cézy, we drove along the Yonne without ever really seeing it.

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Cyclochica
Cyclochica

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very nice. The left side of the canal (which we took) is very grassy, but it's passable. The other side, where there is a cycle path, is much easier to walk on. You can hear and see lots of birds.

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Francis C4.
Francis C4.

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy route with beautiful scenery. We completed this walk in 2½ hours, including short stops to admire the scenery.

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Joyce_Gb
Joyce_Gb

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Good hike, but half of it is close to the Yonne river, while the other half is through fields in the sun, which is less pleasant.

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A pied
A pied

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike yesterday, and it was interesting because there was no elevation gain.
We took the towpath as indicated.
It was grassy, so it's better to take the other side of the canal.
A lovely family hike with a few kilometres of easy walking.
Thanks to the contributor.

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nanoufra
nanoufra

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

An easy hike offering beautiful views. We took the opportunity to take a short stroll through the village of Cézy, which is also very pretty.

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Wanderung89
Wanderung89

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Randonnée agréable au bord de l’eau - Sans difficultés puisque le parcours est sur terrain plat tout le long du parcours.
A recommander pour les randonneurs qui ne marchent pas régulièrement.

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vivipeynaux
vivipeynaux

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

For those who may find it challenging: the path to the right of the diversion canal is easier than the left side and leads to St Aubin.
A pleasant walk.
Thank you

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Sissy89
Sissy89

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A few fallen trees to climb over in the first part of the route and a few muddy patches left over from bad weather, but a very pleasant walk.
An easy walk between the canal, river and fields on flat ground.
Thanks to the author.

Sissy

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