Through the woods of Semur-en-Brionnais and Sainte-Foy

Start in the lower part of the village at the visitors’ and campervan car park, Route de la Cray.

(S/E) Head up, to the right of the lower part of the car park, along the Allée des Réfugiés Luxembourgeois (note: signs are not very visible), then turn left twice after the multi-sports area to reach the Montée des Moines Blancs. Follow it to the right to the top.

(1) Turn left onto Chemin de la Fay, then leave the road on your left and continue straight on for 50 m. Continue straight ahead at the bend, go down the tarmac path for 200 m, then continue straight on along the stony path, letting the road curve to the right. Go down between two meadows (the path is sometimes wet at the bottom) to the entrance to the woods.

(2) As you enter the woods, ignore the path going uphill to the right and continue straight ahead, then ignore the next path to the right (bottom of the OSM map). At the bottom of a slope, follow the stony path turning left until you reach a crossroads.

(3) Take the grassy path straight ahead to the junction with a road. Turn right and, at the cross, turn left to reach the Montmégin chapel 150 m further on, which is well worth a short break.

(4) Return to the road and take the^{second path}on the left as you leave the village. After a kilometre, at the junction, turn right and continue until you reach a small country road. Carry on straight ahead towards “Le Chalet” until you reach the Étang des Gonneaux.

(5) Leave the road and take the path on the right that climbs into the woods. At the Rapille junction, turn left onto the Chemin de la Garenne, which will take you to Le Chalet and Launay (beautiful buildings).

(6) At the road, turn right to reach the village of Sainte-Foy. At the junction with the main road, cross over and continue to the right (take care).

(7) After the town hall and a pond, head towards the far end of the green space and take the Chemin du Bois Griand on the right. Pass the^first path on the left and, after about 700 m, take the^{second one}, which will take you past a depot closed off by a gate. Continue for 100 m, take a sharp right-hand bend and carry on to the Bois des Prêtres junction.

(8) Head straight ahead, pass the Chévennes house 500 m further on, then take the first path leading down to the left 300 m further on.

(9) Once at the bottom, take the path on the right and continue to the junction above the Rochefort farm.

(10) Head down the path straight ahead to go round the back of the farm (there are barking dogs that will come towards you but they’re not aggressive) and carry on to the junction with the D9.

(11) Cross the road and head straight on, towards “Semur par les remparts”. Walk up to the entrance to the village. At the top of the hill, continue straight on until you reach a small chapel.

(12) Turn left onto Chemin de la Poterne. Continue to a passage between two walls and climb up to the right towards the Porte de la Poterne to reach the historic centre of the village. You are invited to visit Château Saint-Hugues, the Romanesque church and the convent of the Sisters of Saint-Jean.

(13) After your visit to Place Saint-Hugues, then Place Bouthier de Rochefort, head down Chemin Neuf opposite the castle. Cross Rue de la Basse Ville and continue straight ahead along Chemin de la Menuiserie. At the lodge, turn right onto Chemin du Puits Girardin and head back up to Place du Docteur Fricaud.
Head down to the left, cross the main road with care, and turn right onto Route de la Cray, which leads to the car park on the right (S/E).

Some stony sections require sturdy footwear.
Picnic tables at the Montmegin Chapel and in the village of Sainte-Foy.

Saint-Hugues Castle

Saint-Hilaire Collegiate Church

The village of Semur-en-Brionnais

Village chapels

Montmegin Chapel lay in ruins until 1996, when the hamlet’s residents undertook to rebuild it. The Association for the Preservation of Montmegin Chapel was formed and completely restored the chapel, which now stands resplendent and is open to the public.