On the heights of Mont-Saint-Jean

Arriving in Mont-Saint-Jean on the D117 from the Serein valley, turn right at the village entrance to park in the car park beneath the castle wall.

(S/E) Continue South on the path leading to the castle entrance and church.

(1) From the castle entrance, continue downhill to the right on the path that passes the cemetery, then under the castle's eastern ramparts to the road (tomb on your left) and turn right.

Blue and Green-Yellow signposting

(2) Pass under the south gate of Mont-Saint-Jean, then turn left down a grassy path. At the bottom, turn right through the hamlet of Moulin de l'Étang.
Continue along the asphalt track to the crossroads and turn left.
Turn right onto the dirt track that leads up to the plateau.
After a steep climb, turn left onto a shady path that leads to the plateau. At the signpost, descend to the left into the undergrowth, which leads to a tarmac road. Turn right for about 50m.

Blue markings

(3) Turn left onto a grassy track which bends left after 600m at the entrance to a wood.

(4) Cross the small road and take the dirt track slightly to the right under the power lines, which then bends to the left across the fields.
Cross a small road and continue on the field track opposite.

(5) Near the pylons, cross the road to continue straight ahead on the asphalt track.

Blue and Green-Yellow signposting

(6) At the crossroads, turn left onto the hedge-lined dirt track, and follow it to Mont-Saint-Jean.

(7) Fountains along the road.

(8) Old hospital.

(9) At the first turning to the right, note the Manoir de Gincey.

As you cross the village, you'll see many dovecotes. This shows how powerful Mont-Saint-Jean was in the Middle Ages.

Follow the village's main street, past the town hall and turn right towards the Monument aux Morts to reach the car park (S/E).

Be very careful during the hunting season, as you'll be passing through wooded areas where big game is frequent.

Make sure you wear hiking boots with good ankle support, as the terrain is stony and there is a risk of injury.

There are no water refreshment points on the trail.

For information on accommodation in the area:
La Capitainerie - Port de Plaisance - 1 Rue de la Coopérative - 21320 Pouilly en Auxois
Tel: 03 80 90 77 36 / Fax: 03 80 90 81 66
info@pouilly-auxois.com

(1) The Château de Mont-Saint-Jean, situated on a spur overlooking the Serein, was a major Burgundian castellania from the 10th to the 14th century.
Its power lay in its control of the great Seine-Saône road up the Serein valley.

(1) Romanesque church with its distinctive bell tower supported by winding columns.

(2) Gateway to the south entrance of Mt-St-Jean (explanatory panel to read).

(4) To the south, view of the South Morvan, with, from right to left, Haut Folin (highest point in the Morvan at 901m), Mont Beuvray, Autun at the foot of Montjeu and the Antully plateau.

(5) To the east, from right to left, view of the Auxois and its wind turbines, and the Châtillonnais region.

(6) You can return to the west on the field path at the edge of the forest to see the remains of a medieval farmhouse.

(7) To the west, views of the Morvan and the village of Saulieu.
(9) Possibility of a short detour to the Manoir de Gincey.