The Druyes Viaduct and the Panama Valley

Marked route No. 11.
This route takes you to the small village of Druyes-les-Belles-Fontaines, passing through wooded areas and farmland. The return journey follows an old railway line. Between Les Roches and Pesselière, you can admire the cedars of La Lavière, and in Pesselières, the Sully tree as well as the ruins of the old castle.

Details

n°148113

Creation:
26 Aug 2015

Last update:
20 Nov 2023

Last review:
18 Oct 2023

Activity: Walking
Distance: 10.00 mi
Average duration: 4h 55
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 341 ft
Descent: - 358 ft
Highest point: 820 ft
Lowest point: 564 ft

Country: France
Area: Puisaye
City: Sougères-en-Puisaye (89520)
Start/End: N 47.563233° / E 3.343254°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2621SB
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Description of the walk

The starting point is on Place de Pesselière, near the lime tree known as Le Sully. Parking is available in the lay-by very close to the joinery.

(S/E) With your back to the joinery, take Rue du Tilleul southwards, towards Les Billards. Ignore the two streets branching off to the right and left and continue along this small tarmac road.

(1) In the hamlet of Les Billards, pass the wayside shrine on your left, cross the D73 road and go up the street opposite.

(2) After walking for about 300 m, turn left. Continue straight on along the tarmac road and follow the path into the woods.

(3) Cross a small tarmac road, continue and walk alongside cultivated fields.

(4) As you approach the hamlet of La Sauvin, turn left (towards the east). Walk through farmland and woods.

(5) Pass the Maupertuis farm on your left and turn right (south). Continue along the path, veering eastwards at one point. Several paths shown on the map no longer exist.

(6) On reaching the hamlet of La Petite Poisse, continue straight on along the tarmac road. Pass two roads on the right, go past the 216m mark to reach a path on the left.

(7) Turn left onto this path; it leads to the foot of the Druyes Viaduct.

(8) Join the old railway line on the left; the slope is a little steeper.

(9) To the right is the viaduct; opposite is the junction with a signposted path; the route continues to the left. The walk follows the old railway line north-north-west. It passes under the D73 road, leaving Les Singes on the left.

(10) At this junction, an old gatekeeper’s house on the left and a path running around it serve as landmarks to help you follow the widest path, almost directly opposite where you arrived, but slightly to the left.

(11) Using the houses and farms of the hamlet of Les Roches on the left as a guide, turn left. Keep heading west, crossing the hamlet until you reach the wayside cross at the edge of the village.

(12) At this four-way junction, follow the road leading left from the wayside cross.

(13) Pass the site of the 3 Cèdres de la Lavière and continue straight on. On reaching Pesselière, opposite the joinery, turn right into Rue du Tilleul, then left in front of the Sully lime tree.

(14) Return to the square in Pesselière (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 820 ft - Main square of the hamlet
1 : mi 0.8 - alt. 679 ft - At the four-way junction, take the middle road
2 : mi 0.93 - alt. 719 ft - Turn left
3 : mi 1.5 - alt. 771 ft - Crossing a road
4 : mi 1.84 - alt. 758 ft - Turn left onto the path that branches off at a right angle
5 : mi 3.48 - alt. 725 ft - Turn right
6 : mi 4.17 - alt. 719 ft - La Petite Poisse, straight ahead
7 : mi 5.04 - alt. 689 ft - Turn left onto the path
8 : mi 5.68 - alt. 604 ft - Head left, below the viaduct
9 : mi 5.79 - alt. 646 ft - On reaching the old railway line, turn left
10 : mi 7.49 - alt. 689 ft - From the left, take the second path
11 : mi 8.18 - alt. 666 ft - Turn left towards the hamlet
12 : mi 8.45 - alt. 696 ft - To the left of the wayside shrine
13 : mi 9.22 - alt. 768 ft - Cèdres de la Lavière
14 : mi 9.9 - alt. 820 ft - Tilleul de Sully de Pesselières
S/E : mi 10 - alt. 820 ft - Main square of the hamlet

Notes

Make sure you have good walking shoes, a drink, sunglasses and a hat, if needed. In wet weather, you may encounter some damp and muddy sections.

In Druyes-les-Belles-Fontaines, near the lake, there is a picnic area. In summer, there is an open-air café, also near the lake, and a restaurant in the village.

This route can be completed by mountain bike in the opposite direction, with the option (9) to extend the route by following this route.

This marked route, following the marking guidelines of the Puisaye-Forterre Community of Communes, is marked with the number 11 on yellow-backed signs. It was created by the association À chacun son chemin en Puisaye-Forterre in January 2020.
If you encounter any issues, please complete this questionnaire (it only takes 1 to 2 minutes).
Take care when crossing roads.

Worth a visit

(7) Panoramic view of the viaduct, the Château des Courtenay, and the church below the castle in the village of Druyes.

(9) If you turn right, you can walk to the viaduct and back. On the hiking trail, a little past this point, a sign points to the Panama site. You can get there by following the signs (20 mins there and back). It’s well worth a visit!
Following the route of the old railway line, you’ll notice the impressive work involved in cutting through the rock.

(13) The Cedars of La Lavière between Les Roches and Pesselières: four cedars were planted over 100 years ago on a burial site. Three have grown (well). ‘La Lavière’ refers to the flat limestone slabs (known as ‘laves’) found in the surrounding countryside; it has nothing to do with volcanic lava.

(14) The 400-year-old lime tree in Sully. Joan of Arc is said to have passed through Pesselière on her way from Auxerre to the Loire.

A day’s walk with the option of visiting the village of Druyes: lake, church, viaduct, castle, exhibitions... Option to continue along the path.

Druyes: a very beautiful village to visit:
- the Château des Courtenay, which overlooks the village: in 1217, the Lord of Courtenay, cousin of King Philip Augustus, was proclaimed Emperor of Constantinople. Guided tours are organised in summer.
- the 12th-century church: despite its modest size, it is well worth a visit.
- in the cliffs near the lake, was the site of the hermit St Romain (you can see a cross).
- The viaduct: built in 1884 on the Surgy (near Clamecy) – Triguères (near Montargis) line. The railway enabled the transport of stone (we are very close to the old Aubigny quarries, which are open to visitors), timber, grain, etc., to major centres including Paris. This impressive structure is 180 metres long and has been owned by the municipality of Druyes since 1962. The first train crossed the viaduct in 1884 and the last in 1942. The tracks were dismantled in 1943 and sent to the Eastern Front. Today, a bungee jumping site has been set up at the top of the viaduct.
- Exhibitions in the wash house and at the tannery.
- The pond, which receives water from the region’s underground rivers, including water from the Panama (see below) during heavy rainfall.
- The Panama site: in the woods, in the 19th century, a ramp was carved into the rock to reach the water 6 metres below in order to water the animals (there were many meadows in this area at the time). This was arduous work in the stony ground, which must have taken several years. The stone extracted was used to build the protective walls in this area, which has now become woodland. Ironically, the locals nicknamed the place ‘Le Panama’ by analogy with the canal of the same name being dug at that time (IGN map at 1:25,000).

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5

Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5

Route interest
3.7 / 5

marcus c2

18 Oct 2023 at 16:51 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, what a lovely walk – it’s a shame about the tarmac on the last few kilometres. We took a detour to see the Panama Canal; it’s a magnificent structure that deserves to be showcased more. The old railway line is also a fine piece of engineering.
Best regards

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Christian M

03 Aug 2020 at 15:18 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

On the route, the final 2.5 km, after Les Roches (point 12 on the map) on the way back to Pesselières (point 14), are along a small tarmac road, which is a real shame; but there is no alternative as there are no paths available in the vicinity; Fortunately, to break up the monotony of this final stretch, there are the three splendid cedars of La Lavière and, at the finish, the Tilleul de Sully dating from 1598!
The route is beautiful, with splendid views, paths that are often stony but in good condition, and where they are grassy, very well mown; the 4.5 km of the old railway line are unique and pleasant to walk along, taking in the impressive carvings made into the rock
The alternation between the wide open spaces of cereal fields and the woods is very pleasant;
The route is 15 km long, not 16 km as stated in the description;

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jbp58

06 Jul 2020 at 21:53 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Nothing to say about the signposting and route description... they’re perfect!
Whilst the first part is varied and enjoyable, the return along the railway line is long and monotonous, not to mention the final stretch on the road.

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prieurguy

15 Jun 2019 at 12:34 7200

That’s lovely to hear, and it’s encouraging for the volunteers who marked out the route. G Prieur (guyprieur520@gmail.com)

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jean-michel remolu

12 Jun 2019 at 10:23 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A really lovely route – don’t miss the old quarries.

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annecornut

16 May 2017 at 08:13 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A well-signposted walk. The final stretch along the old railway line is a bit monotonous. As you approach the hamlet of Les Roches, the signpost placed before the path leading directly to the hamlet is confusing and encourages walkers to take this path, which they should in fact avoid, and instead take the next path on the left. It would simply be better to place this signpost AFTER this path.

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prieurguy

08 Aug 2016 at 23:13 7200

I have taken note of your comments regarding this route;
As for the signposting, the one you found is out of date. The new signposting is due to be installed in early September: the council has given its approval, the materials have been purchased and delivered; all that remains is to organise the signposters for a date that suits everyone. Maintenance of the areas to be mowed will follow. We are pleased to note that our guide has been useful to you. We’ll keep an eye on the Sauvin area.
The Panama site: you didn’t find it, which is a shame: when you reached the old railway viaduct, a few dozen metres after the exit from the viaduct (not the one on the side of the A-road but the other end), there is a very well-made information sign on your left pointing you in the right direction and showing the correct path; there is only one, so you can’t go wrong with a signpost halfway along the route. If you could send me your email address, I’d be happy to send you some photos of the spot when the hollow in the ground is empty and when it’s full!
As for the landscape, the monotony is understandable: we are in a region that has undergone land consolidation, with all that entails—in particular the removal of hedgerows, which is a great shame. Fortunately, there are woods where it is pleasant to walk; as for the railway line, in addition to the viaduct, you may have noticed the spectacular work involved in its construction for what was ultimately a rather short period of use. Best regards.
Guy PRIEUR; prieur.guy89520@orange.fr

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randonneurfou89

28 Jun 2016 at 23:24 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

There are lots of areas of grain fields and unmown paths, with no signposts because there are no posts. It’s not easy to find your way around near “Le Sauvin”. Fortunately, I had a GPS and your route description is reliable
. The signposts are nailed to the posts, but some nails are missing and the signs are coming loose.
I couldn’t find the Panama Hole; a sign halfway along would be useful. After about ten minutes, I got discouraged and turned back
A bit of a monotonous walk. Nice area and the locals are very friendly.

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Author

prieurguy
1 Route

Visorando Member

City: Sougères-en-Puisaye (89520)

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