Plains and woods around Orgeux

Orgeux is situated 10 km north-east of Dijon. To get there from Dijon, head towards Saint-Apollinaire then Varois-et-Chaignot. Follow the D960 and, upon reaching Orgeux, leave the village on your left and continue to the edge of the village to take the Chemin du Breuil just before the River Norges.

Park on the right-hand side of Chemin du Breuil, past the glass recycling bin, on the grass verge under the trees.

(S/E) Head north towards the village along Chemin du Breuil until you reach the^first junction.

(1) Continue straight on along Rue du Moulin. Take the^second right, Rue de l’Assomption, then the^first left, Rue du Cornet. Return to Rue de l’Assomption and follow it for a few metres.

(2) Turn right onto Rue Rasée and walk past the Church of the Assumption (13th century). Cross Rue des Terres Blanches on the right-hand side, then turn left into an unpaved alley. At the end, turn left onto Allée du Pigeonnier. Ignore two streets on the right and rejoin Rue de l'Assomption.

(3) Then turn right. You will soon come out onto the D960 (also known as Au contour des Crais) and follow it to the right for about 250 m.

(4) Take a stony track on the right which winds its way to the next junction.

(5) Turn left. After the^first unpaved track on the left (marker 234), continue straight on along the track, which now has a grassy central strip, until you reach the next junction (marker 228).

(6) Take the path on the right. At the end (marker 232), turn right again. Continue straight on until you reach the D28d road.

(7) Follow it to the left and cross at^{the first} pedestrian crossing. On the other side, turn left and take a path running parallel to the road. At the end of the path, head right for about 50 m.

(8) Turn left. Continue straight ahead, ignoring the^first path on the right, and you will eventually reach a second junction.

(9) Turn right onto a grassy path lined with a hedge of trees. At a gamekeeper’s hut, turn left onto a path that leads into a wood. On your left, follow the Norges river and the A31 motorway. When the path turns right, continue straight on along a path through the undergrowth beside the river.

(10) Take the footbridge crossing the Norges (sign: “No Swimming”). On the other side, head right. At the junction, turn right onto a dirt track. Ignore the paths branching off to the left and continue for about 200 m.

(11) Shortly after a sign for the Orgeux ponds, turn right onto a path that enters the Bois de Loisy. At a Y-junction, turn sharply left. Take the footbridge over the needle dam to cross the Norges again.

(12) As you leave the plot, follow a dirt track to the left and walk alongside some gardens. Cross a stone bridge over a stream and note a wash house on the right-hand side. Immediately afterwards, at a junction, turn left onto Rue de la Noue and return to the junction you passed at the very start of the walk.

(1) Follow Chemin du Breuil to the left to quickly reach the car park (S/E).

Bring a cap or hat for the start of the walk, which is not shaded.

The Church of the Assumption dates from the 13th century and features beautiful stained-glass windows in the chancel.
In the cemetery, there is a 17th-century calvary with a stone tablet.

Along the route, a needle dam on the River Norges slows the flow of the water.

During this walk, you can visit the studios of Couqueberg, an animal sculptor.
Please ring to enquire about opening hours and days.