Historic heritage around Coutarnoux

Park at the southern entrance to Coutarnoux, in the small car park opposite the Croix Goix.

(S/E) Take the D386 towards Dissangis and follow the road for 200 m. Turn right onto a dirt track and follow it to the first junction at the edge of a wood.

(1) Turn left, follow the edge of the woodland, then enter it via the path on the right, and continue until, after the difficult section, you reach a tarmac road.

(2) Follow the track to the right, then run alongside the D86 until you join it.

(3) Carry on to the right, cross the bridge towards L’Isle-sur-Serein, and pass a car repair garage on your right.

(4) At the junction, turn left onto Chemin des Fossés. At the end of the road, keep left onto Rue du Moulin à Vent and follow it towards Civry.

(5) Pass the windmill on your left and continue to the first wash house, which you can walk round.

(6) Head back into the village, passing the church and its porch. Turn right, then left to cross through Civry. On leaving the village, look out for the Lavoir de la Fontaine Goby, continue along the road, and you’ll come to a bridge over the River Serein. Cross it to reach the D86.

(7) Cross it carefully, then take the tree-lined path opposite, which climbs slightly and leads to Dissangis. Head down the tarmac section to join the D11, cross it – again , taking care – and continue towards Coutarnoux (D386).

(8) After 100 m from the junction, look out for the wash house on your left, then continue along the road for 50 m. Turn right onto Rue de l’Étang, which slopes downwards, and head for the Lavoir de la Roche, 50 m to the right on the D11.

(9) Turn back the way you came for about 100 m, then turn right and head uphill along Rue de la Roche until you reach “La Citadelle” on the right.

(10) Continue along the path until you reach the junction with the D11, then take the road to the left for about 200 m. Watch out for cars on this stretch of road.

(11) Leave the road and take the dirt track on the left for about 500 m; leave this at the first Fork in the road, following the small grassy track on the left, which leads towards Coutarnoux. Enter the village, go past the first junction, and then turn left onto Rue de la Fontaine

(12) Continue along this street until you reach the main road, the D386, and follow it up on the left.

(13) Walk past “la Maison des Goix” (15th–16th century) and head back to the car park where you started (S/E).

(5) The windmill, restored from ruins in 2007. In September 2013, due to neglect, a strong gale broke the hub of the sails, causing them to fall to the ground where they remain abandoned. Since then, this mill – which was previously open to the public – has been closed and neglected; what a shame!

(6) The washhouse, town hall and school, believed to have been built in 1864, followed by the 13th-century church porch and the Goby Fountain on the outskirts of the village.

(8) The washhouse, town hall and school, where people used to wash their laundry standing up.

(9) The Roche washhouse with its limestone concretion.

(10) The citadel dating from 1847, the purpose of which is unknown.

(12) The waterworks complex with its washhouse and eight monolithic columns. In the past, several quarries were in operation at Coutarnoux. These provided materials for numerous buildings in the surrounding area and even as far afield as Paris.

(13) The “Goix” house, built in the 15th century; admire its projecting sculptures, notably Saint James and the Virgin and Child.

Nearby, the wash houses at Thizy and Blacy are truly remarkable.