Pont-sur-Yonne – Sens

(S) From the bridge crossing the Yonne at the bottom of Rue Nouvelle, walk along the Quai Nicolas de Veres car park. At the end of the car park, continue straight on to take the Quais de la République, which ends in a pleasant green space. Then turn right onto Rue Paul Bert and walk up to pass under the railway line before coming out onto another street (Rue Pierre Bany).

(1) Turn left and, after about 150 metres, turn left onto Avenue des Droits de l’Homme. Follow this street until it turns into a path as you leave the town. Continue along this path to reach the vast Fond de Douilly valley, which is very open. Ignore the paths on the left and head towards the aqueduct to rejoin the^GR®113.

From here onwards, unless otherwise indicated, follow the^GR® 113 marked in white and red

(2) Turn left, head down into the valley floor and climb back up alongside the Aqueduc de la Vanne (which is part of the network supplying water to Paris). At the top, at a junction, take a path on the left that follows a contour line before gently descending to the village of Villeperrot and its simple church.

(3) Cross the Grande Rue then take the first left. Cross the D58 (Rue de Sens) and continue along Rue des Écoles. Pass under the railway line and head towards the banks of the Yonne.

(4) Then turn right into Rue du Halage. Follow the river on your left and ignore the turn-offs to the right. After the last houses, veer right off the towpath, which is no longer tarmac. Go under the railway line again; you’ll immediately come out onto the D58 and follow it to the left. After about fifty metres, cross the road carefully and take Rue des Pêcheurs opposite. Ignore the streets on the left and head towards Villenavotte church.

(5) Continue straight on and ignore a street on the right. At the crossroads, turn left onto Rue du Couvent. Go straight on to leave the village. At the end of the tarmac, continue along a slightly uphill field path (beautiful view over the Yonne plain).

(6) When the^GR® turns right, leave it and turn left into the Bois Binoche. Join another path and follow it to the right. Cross the woods heading south-east, climbing slightly, and ignore all side paths.

(7) Join the^GR®113again and follow it as it continues (south-southeast) and downhill. Walk alongside the
A19 and go through the first tunnel to pass underneath it. After a left-hand bend, you’ll soon reach a junction.

(8) Then turn right to reach the centre of the village of Courtois-sur-Yonne, continuing straight ahead. At a three-way junction, take the right-hand lane, Rue des Champs Rouges, immediately crossing Chemin de l’Étang on the right and running alongside a football pitch. Pass in front of a school then cross Route de Nailly. At the next junction, continue along a path and pass under some high-voltage power lines.

(8) You’ll come out onto the D26; follow it to the right for about 75 metres. Then turn left to cross the road and continue straight ahead, passing a large building. Head south-west along an open path that climbs gently through the fields. Walk alongside a wood and you’ll soon reach a junction.

(10) Then turn sharply left into the woods. At the T-junction, turn left onto a wide track, then leave it on the right to pass under some high-voltage power lines. Continue straight on towards Saint-Martin-du-Tertre. After passing under the power lines again, you’ll reach the tarmac road. At the T-junction, turn right onto Rue du Clos Romain. At the end, turn left onto Grande Rue.

(11) Take the first right, Rue de la Place, and walk past the town hall. Ignore the side streets and, at the T-junction, turn left onto Rue des Caves. Take the first path on the right and leave the village. Walk past the cemetery on your left and you will reach Saint-Martin Church.

(12) Turn right onto the path that climbs “up the ridge”. Further on, you’ll reach the tarmac road again and pass under some power lines. Walk alongside a wood on your right and you’ll come to a junction.

(13) Turn left onto Chemin de la Ruelle du Crôt and head downhill. At the first right-hand bend, take a well-marked path on the left that leads into a wood. Come out near the first houses to reach Rue Ducrôt.

(14) Follow this street to the right. At the end, join Avenue Aristide Briand and follow it to the left. At the Rond-Point de l’Armée de Patton, head straight ahead into Rue Emile Zola. Pass under the railway line then turn left onto Avenue de la Gare and you will soon reach Sens station (E).

Refreshments
It is easy to stock up on supplies in Pont-sur-Yonne, where you will find all the necessary food shops and a pharmacy. The same applies on arrival in Sens.
Along the way, the trail passes through several villages where water is available

Transport
By car: in Pont-sur-Yonne, you can park along Quai Nicolas de Veres or a little further on at Quais de la République, on the banks of the Yonne.
In Sens, you’ll find a large car park at the top of Rue Emile Zola, just above the station.

By train
Pont-sur-Yonne is served by the Paris-Bercy TER line, from where you can reach Sens (see timetables at www.sncf-connect.com). From the station, to reach the starting point, take Rue de la Gare, which leads down towards the banks of the Yonne, at the bottom of Rue Nouvelle and Quai Nicolas de Veres.

Accommodation in Sens: see the Sens Tourist Office, 6 Rue Général Leclerc, 89100 Sens
03 86 65 19 19 (www.tourisme.sens.com)

Equipment: the route includes some uphill sections. Make sure you have good walking boots, even though the paths are in good condition.

Places to visit:
- The aqueduct and pipeline system supplying Paris with drinking water.
- The 12th-century church in Villeperrot, restored in 2022.
- The banks of the Yonne between Villeperrot and Villenavote.
- Stunning views over the Yonne valley and Sens.
- Sens, which is well worth a full day’s visit.