Walk in Sainpuits in the Forterre valleys towards the Roman road

Departure from the car park at Place de la Mairie.
(S/E) Head towards the crossroads formed by Rue de la Gare and Rue de la Chapelle (north-west). Continue straight ahead towards Perreuse, leaving the housing estate on your left.

(1) Take the dirt track on the left. Pass in front of the football pitch. Cross the road, leaving the calvary on your right to arrive at La Madeleine (two houses on the left).
Take the road on the right (D3) for 200 metres.

(2) Continue on the right-hand lane until you reach the five-way intersection (elevation 229). Take the second road on your left and continue to the next intersection.

(3) Cross and walk for about 750m along the path running alongside the fields. At the T-junction, turn right. At the next crossroads (elevation 228), turn left. Cross the woods.

(4) Turn left at the second path on the left, towards the Flassy farm.
When you reach the farm, go around it, keeping it on your right, continue along the tarmac road, passing in front of the well with a windlass.

(5) Continue, turn left and follow the boundary wall, partly hidden by a thick hedge, of Flassy Castle. You will come to the road.

(6) Walk along the right-hand side of the road for 100 metres, then take the path on the right (transformers on the right-hand side). At the cross, turn left, ignoring the road on the right that leads to the farm (there are often dogs here) and you will come to the main road.

(7) Continue along this road on the right for 300 metres. You will come to the first crossroads. Cross over and take the left fork, then immediately turn left again.

(8) Continue straight ahead for about 2.5km. You will come to a small road.

(9) Turn right and after 300 metres, turn left onto the dirt track. This track is actually an old Roman road, which you should follow straight ahead in a north-easterly direction.

(10) Cross the D66 road with caution. Continue straight ahead until you reach the D6.

(11) Cross this road and continue straight ahead on a paved section. Leave a paved road on your left. Pass an old farm on your left to reach Montagne des Alouettes.

(12) Arrive a few metres before the altitude marker (367m). Take the dirt track on the left, then turn left again at the next one. Then, leave the old windmill (private property) on your left.
Stay on this main path, ignoring the paths on the right and left, to reach the road (D6).

(13) Cross and descend the path opposite. Ignore the paths on the left and right to reach a tarmac road. Pass a pond on your left. Reach La Villeneuve and cross straight ahead via the only access road. At the crossroads, on the outskirts of the village, take the road on the left.

(14) Before the next road (D66), take the path on the right. Leave it after about 500 metres to take the path on the left (marker on the ground) which leads to a small tarmac road. At this crossroads, go straight ahead. Then take the next left to arrive at Rue de la Chapelle opposite the café and the Notre Dame de Lorette Chapel.

(15) Take the road downhill, go around the church on the left, passing between the church and the house, to reach the starting car park (S/E).

In strong sunlight, sunglasses, a hat and water are essential.
This route can be done by hybrid bike, mountain bike or on horseback in the opposite direction.
If you wish to shorten this route, at the crossing point (6), you can take the road on the left for 150 metres, turn right at the cross and finish the route by joining Sainpuits via the small tarmac road. To do this, go straight ahead at two junctions of maintained paths and turn left at the third junction, then right at the next one. You will reach the crossing point (15).

There is a picnic area in the avenue of lime trees in front of the church square and in the small square near the lodge opposite the town hall. If the weather is good, enjoy a picnic on the Roman road at Montagnes des Alouettes.
There is a mini-market in the village.
This hike is offered bythe Puisaye-Forterre Tourist Office.
The route is marked by the association À chacun son chemin en Puisaye-Forterre (To each their own path in Puisaye-Forterre) in accordance with the graphic charter of the Communauté de Communes de Puisaye-Forterre (Puisaye-Forterre Community of Communes) in the direction of the description and is marked with the number 5.
However, as the signposting is mentioned, you must set off with at least this description and the accompanying IGN map or the Visorando app.
If you have any concerns, please fill in this questionnaire (only takes 1 to 2 minutes).
Take care when crossing roads.

When you reach the horse-drawn well (5), it is worth stopping. The horse-drawn mechanism has been completely restored by the owner of the Flassy farm. In the past, this well supplied water to the château located about 400 metres away, as well as to the farm.

When you arrive at Montagne des Alouettes (12) (the term Alouettes refers to the legions raised by Julius Caesar, in reference to the shape of their helmets), if the weather is very nice, don't hesitate to follow the road for 600 metres to discover the panoramic views of the region. Then turn back to continue the hike.

In the village of Sainpuits, visit the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine church.