The Val de la Norges and the Edge of the Langres Plateau

Park in the car park opposite Norges Town Hall, by the river.

(S/E) Cross the footbridge over the Norges and turn left onto the wooden duckboards. This path winds its way over a natural wetland. Cross the Norges again, then continue to the right until you reach the concrete bridge over the Norges, near a wash house. This bridge is situated on the old Roman road.

(1) Turn right for a few metres to cross the Norges for^{a third} time. At the next junction, turn left onto the Chemin de Raffenot, which passes between houses and then along the edge of fields, towards Bretigny. At the village entrance, you’ll reach the junction with the path known as the Grande Montée.
Cross it, continue straight ahead, passing through a square where there is a large standing amphora. Walk along the Norges again, until you reach Rue de la Mairie. Turn left onto it, cross the river once more and reach the Grand Rue opposite the church.

(2) Cross over, go round the church to the right along a picturesque little path, then turn left to join the gravel path of the Grand Rousseau. Turn right onto it and you’ll soon reach the junction before the cemetery. On this stretch, Bretigny Town Hall opened a public park, Parc Ombrage, on 10 October 2020, which adds a little more charm to the route; it has a single exit.

(3) Continue straight ahead, skirting the cemetery. Follow this path, ignoring all turnings to the right and left. You will reach a T-junction with a new path.

(4) Turn right at a 90° angle; this almost straight path leads to a new crossroads with four perpendicular directions.

(5) Turn left and then immediately right along the edge of the woods into Rue de la Fontaine aux Lions. You will reach the Louvières district. At the junction opposite the stadium, turn right onto Route de Marsannay-le-Bois. Follow it to the junction with Grande Rue. Turn right onto this road to reach the church. For safety’s sake, go round the church on the left via a path, then head left towards Place du Monument aux Morts, on the banks of the Norges.

(6) Cross the River Norges and turn right immediately afterwards onto Chemin du Tertre. When you reach the edge of a field, go right, then left and finally right in the middle of an orchard. Continue along the wide Chemin des Varennes, which joins Rue d’Avau. Turn right onto it, cross the River Norges again, and you will soon come to a path. Please note that this path is not shown on the map.

(7) Turn left onto it, follow the Norges and further on you will reach the crossroads by the church in Bretigny.

(2) Turn right and follow the previous route to the cemetery junction.

(3) Turn left just before the cemetery, then turn right at the next junction. You will reach a multi-way junction known as Carrefour de la White Cross. Please note that there is no visible cross.

(8) Take the path heading north-west; this is the second exit from the junction. Walk alongside some small ponds. Further on, you’ll reach the Voie Romaine junction.

(9) Follow it to the left, cross the D28a (Route de Norges) and go straight ahead. You will return to the original junction at the bridge over the Norges.

(1) Turn right; do not cross the Norges, but take the Allée du Lavoir. You will rejoin the D28a, here known as Rue de Bretigny. Follow it to the left; it becomes Rue des Sources and leads back to the car park opposite Norges Town Hall (S/E).

At the Fontaine aux Lions, there is a picnic table, as well as one near the Clenay wash house, opposite the war memorial, down by the river.
This walk can be undertaken during the hunting season. It does not go through the forest but runs right along the edge of it on Rue de la Fontaine aux Lions.
Take care if it has rained recently or during the walk, as the wooden boardwalk at the start may be slippery.
Keep an eye on young children as the path runs alongside the water in several places.
The two sections along the edge of the Langres plateau can be windy and cold depending on the weather.

(S/E) Near the wash house next to the car park at the start, there is also a statue of Abbé Pierre.
(Between S/E and 1) The boardwalk at the start is an educational trail with several nature information boards.
(6) Similar panels can also be found at the war memorial square in Clénay and at the Fontaine aux Lions.
(6) The wash house is worth a visit, just below the bridge.

Notes: On websites, it is easy to find historical facts or legends about the relatively recent coat of arms of Norges linked to its history, the former Commandery of Norges and the old hospital, the legend of the monster at Bretigny, the distinctive features of the church at Bretigny, the legend of the Fontaine aux Lions, the Roman road from Chalon-sur-Saône – Langres and its importance in the development of these towns, the monument to the Maquis, etc.