The Villefranche ponds

Park in the car park of the community hall, opposite the town hall.

(S/E) Walk up the street towards the no-entry sign. At the school, turn right onto a small path that goes round the building on the right. Ignore the paths on the left until you reach a chicane.

(1) Just after passing the chicane, turn left and head up the grassy path alongside the fences on your right. At the end of this path, you’ll reach a junction; facing the corner formed by a low wall, turn right to head down onto the D18. Opposite No. 33 Rue de Villeneuve, turn right and continue for about fifty metres.

(2) Turn left to go down the path and head into the woodland. Cross a ford (if the water is high, take the footbridge on the right). You’ll come to a junction of roads.

(3) Carry on straight ahead towards Les Dionnets. Pass the farm on your left and continue straight ahead along a path lined with hedges until you come out onto a road.

(4) Turn left onto this road and continue to a junction.

(5) Head straight on towards La Millonerie. Cross along the embankment of the Étang de la Chaumotte. Just before the house at La Millonerie, the road turns into a track that crosses a woodland. Ignore all side paths (mostly blocked by chains and barriers).

(6) As you emerge from the woodland, turn left, following the edge of the woodland on your left.

(7) At the junction with the cross-path, veer to the left. Walk along a grassy stretch, with fences enclosing private ponds behind you, until you reach the first houses in Les Crouteaux. Pass the track leading into the property on your left, then turn right to reach a four-way junction.

(8) Take the track on the left, then turn left again at the next junction (Stop sign). Continue along the road until you reach a junction.

(9) Carry on straight ahead, ignoring the track leading to Les Miniers. Pass under the power line and reach a crossroads you have already passed on the way there.

(3) Turn right onto the path which crosses a ford (if the water is high, take the footbridge on the left) and leads onto a road (RD18, Route de Villeneuve).

(2) There, turn right and shortly afterwards (about 50 m), take the grassy path on the left. At the junction, turn left, following the wire fence, then come out onto the tarmac road.
Head to the right, passing the chicane, then join the path running past the foot of the school and the car park (S/E).

Some of the ponds you will pass are private; please follow the instructions on display.
This section can be combined with the Promenade des Moines (a total of approximately 15 km).
This signposted route, which complies with the signposting guidelines of the Puisaye-Forterre Community of Communes, is marked with the number 111 on yellow-backed signs.
The signposting was carried out by the association ‘À chacun son chemin en Puisaye-Forterre’ in February 2023.
If you encounter any problems, please complete this questionnaire (it only takes 1 to 2 minutes).
Take care when crossing roads.
However, even though the route is signposted, you must set off with at least this route description and the accompanying IGN map and/or the Visorando app.