The Blu plateau starting from Essoyes

A lovely walk through the Champagne vineyards.

Details

15584323
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.11 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 168 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 168 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 352 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 183 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Essoyes (10360)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.060695° / E 4.534819°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2918SB, 2919SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

Free public car park on Rue de la Gare, behind the fire station. There are even two charging points for electric vehicles.

(S/E) Walk past the fire station to reach Route de Noé (D79). Follow the road to the left for a few dozen metres and take the dirt track on the right.

(1) At thefirst junction, turn left and head up the hillside alongside the vineyards. At the next junction (elevation 246m), turn right, still following the vineyards.

(2) Turn right onto a small track to stay alongside the vineyard. Join the main track and follow it to the right.

(3) At the fork, take the path on the right, between the woods on the left and the vineyards on the right. Ignore all the paths on the left and you will come to a crossroads.

(4) Take the path on the left. At the next junction, turn left and you will immediately come to a T-junction.

(5) Turn right, stay on the main path and ignore the side tracks. Reach the Plateau de Blu, ignore a path on the left and continue east-northeast to reach the viewpoint (orientation table, picnic tables).

(6) Head south and descend along a grassy path, leaving the D45 on your left. You’ll come out onto a dirt track; follow it to the left. Join the D45 and stay on a path running parallel to it. At a triangular junction, turn right onto the D45.

(7) At the next junction, turn right. Walk alongside the vineyards on the right and ignore the paths branching off to the left.

(8) At the crossroads, turn left and follow the valley floor. Walk alongside a pond and turn left (south).

(9) At the crossroads, follow a wide path to the right and immediately ignore a path branching off to the left (elevation 224). Stay on the wide path at the bottom of the valley and ignore all paths branching off to the sides.

(1) Continue straight on, come out onto the D79 and first turn left then right to reach the car park on Rue de la Gare (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 184 m - Car park on Rue de la Gare behind the fire station
  2. 1 : km 0.27 - alt. 185 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 1.47 - alt. 248 m - Junction
  4. 3 : km 2.94 - alt. 278 m - Junction
  5. 4 : km 3.86 - alt. 303 m - Crossroads
  6. 5 : km 4.13 - alt. 306 m - T-junction
  7. 6 : km 5.37 - alt. 352 m - Viewpoint
  8. 7 : km 6.13 - alt. 321 m - Junction
  9. 8 : km 7.64 - alt. 254 m - Crossroads
  10. 9 : km 8.84 - alt. 223 m - Crossroads
  11. S/E : km 12.11 - alt. 184 m - Car park on Rue de la Gare behind the fire station

Notes

(5) As a bonus, there is a beautiful panoramic viewpoint with an orientation table.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
Fanfan94
Fanfan94

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This walk is fairly easy as it follows dirt tracks, but as already mentioned, it’s best to do it on a slightly overcast day as the sun gets very strong very quickly.
There’s a steep climb at the start, so you’ll need to be out of breath, but the scenery is magnificent. When we reached the viewpoint (and picnic tables), it was too early for lunch, so we did a short additional 1-hour circular route above Fontette and Noé les Mallets, simply following the path that starts on the other side of the road and the IGN map to return to the picnic tables; it’s very well signposted.

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User 7325328

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Great for the magnificent view once you arrive on the Blu plateau and its picnic area.
Avoid in hot weather (not much shade). Stony paths.
Can be combined with a visit to Essoyes.

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lilou5410
lilou5410

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with views over the vineyards and valleys. The countryside is lush at this time of year, with plenty of flowers and flowering shrubs. The route is easy to follow along wide, unchallenging paths. I highly recommend it.

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virgule
virgule

Only two reviews in three years. I reckon this is the route for me

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brageole
brageole

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An early start, with hot weather forecast, for this walk entirely along dirt tracks through the vineyards of the Champagne appellation. There’s a bit of an uphill climb – 160 metres – to reach the Blu plateau, where there’s a remarkably well-maintained picnic area, complete with a lovely cadole, and a panoramic view of the Côte des Bar.The return journey along the Vallon was a pleasant surprise as it was largely shaded.
On arrival, the Renoir route stands out.
Thanks to the route’s designer

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clovert
clovert

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful area; the scenery is stunning. A lovely walk.

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virgule
virgule

Something to do one day. It’s a beautiful, uncrowded area.

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