The wash houses around L’Isle-sur-Serein

Park in the car park at Place Saint-Georges in L’Isle-sur-Serein.

(DA) From the car park, head towards the village centre and continue to the right along Rue du Général Leclerc, which joins Rue de Joffre, heading towards Blacy via the D 114.

(1) On leaving the village, on the left, you’ll come to the first wash house; opposite this, take the path to the right of the D 114 before the farm shed. Follow it to the first junction.

(2) Turn left, then 50 metres further on turn right and continue to the junction with the D 114.

(3) Follow this road to the right towards Blacy. Walk through the village along the Grande Rue, past the church, then turn left towards the cemetery. Follow the D 114 to reach Thizy.

(4) Turn right into Rue de Blacy (castle on the left), then into Rue des Écoliers towards the care home; follow the road, which is a cul-de-sac, continuing along a path that leads to the Fontenille washhouse.

(5) Go round the back of the washhouse and take the path through the woods, marked in yellow. On emerging from the woods, you’ll come to a road (marked by a cross).

(6) Leave the marked trail and follow the tarmac path towards Blacy, then turn left onto the Chemin de Ronde for about 100 metres. Next, turn left onto Rue de la Mairie and continue along the grassy path which descends to the third washhouse.

(7) Head back up towards Blacy along the path running parallel to the road, then follow the road for about a hundred metres. Turn left onto Rue de Faguenille to reach the D 114; cross it carefully and continue along the Porte de Cravant, leaving Blacy on your right.

(8) Leave the road and take the path on the left; follow it straight on until you approach some farm buildings (La Cordelle, a former monastery) and rejoin the road.

(9) At the junction, head left for about 200 m

(10) Turn right onto the dirt track (yellow markings) to join the D 12.

(11) Cross with care and take the path opposite to reach the next junction.

(12) Turn right and head towards the village of Civry-sur-Serein, passing a windmill on your left.

(13) Pass a fourth wash house on your left, reach the village centre and walk past the church. Continue to the right, then to the left, and on leaving Civry-sur-Serein, you’ll come to the fifth wash house. Follow the road and cross the bridge to join the D 86.

(14) At the junction, take the path opposite, which climbs slightly, and continue along a street to reach Dissangis.

(15) At the junction, cross the D 11 towards Coutarnoux. On the left is the sixth wash house; turn right onto Rue de l’Étang and rejoin the D 11.

(16) Opposite the seventh wash house, rejoin the D 11 on the left and turn right up Rue de la Roche, continuing until you reach the junction with the D 11. Take this to the left for about 200 m. Caution! Cars travel at high speed on this stretch.

(17) Leave the road and take the dirt track on the right. Follow it for 500 m and turn left onto the grassy path leading to the road towards the village of Coutarnoux.

(18) Turn left onto the tarmac road, go past the Stop sign and turn left onto Rue de la Fontaine to find the eighth wash house. Head up to the right and then left onto the Grande Rue.

(19) Head left onto the D 386 towards Dissangis, then leave the road by turning right onto the dirt track to reach the edge of the woodland.

(20) Continue left along the grassy track that follows the edge of the woodland; enter the woodland by following the path on the right to reach the next junction with a road.

(21) Turn right onto the tarmac track to reach the next junction with a small footpath.

(22) Turn right onto this path and follow it alongside the river.

(23) Take the footbridge on the left, follow the road and turn right to return to the car park at Place Saint-Georges (S/E).

A few muddy patches when it rains.
(10) You can turn back to the car park at this point if you wish to split this walk into two sections. Continue along the road, then turn right and carry on straight on to the car park.

The ‘Beuffenie’ washhouse, where sculptures by Mr Pierre Goeneutte are on display inside.

(5) The Fontenille washhouse, built on the site of an ancient Celtic sacred site. In 1997, the sculptor Michel Roetzer created a representation of the Gallic goddess Epona and the spiral, a Celtic symbol.

(7) The Blacy washhouse, dating from the 18th century but possibly older (a century earlier). It is the oldest washhouse in the Avallonnais region.

(13) The washhouse-town hall-school, built in 1864; note the central pillar erected in the middle of the large basin.
The 13th-century church porch, which is said to have been brought from Montréal.
The Fontaine Goby washhouse.

(15) The washhouse-town hall-school, where laundry was washed whilst standing.

(16) The Roche washhouse, built in 1860, features a limestone concretion in the centre of the basin caused by petrifying water.
The citadel, built in 1847 for an unknown purpose, was restored in 2014 thanks to a fundraising campaign.

(18) The washhouse with its ten 3-metre-high monolithic columns, adjoining a drinking trough and a large basin.
The Goix house, dating from the 15th century; note the two statues on the façade, St James and the Virgin and Child.