Puisaye walks

Marked hike N°71. A whole new way to discover the story of the construction of the Canal de Briare! With this hike you can follow a part of its water supply system and come back along the old route to the incredible monument that we today know as the Seven Locks.

Marked hike N°1. This trail, dedicated to Colette, was opened in 1993 by the pupils of the Colette college of Saint-Sauveur en Puisaye. Along this trail, everything recalls the works of this author, born in Saint-Sauveur en Puisaye in 1873. The author has described her birthplace so well - that even though she has given other names to the villages and characters, you can sense her literature at every corner.

Marked hike N°8. You will see no less than 8 fountains and 6 wash-houses on this rather easy hike, ideal for family walks. A few picnics spots are available here and there, to take a break and enjoy a relaxing moment (Fountain of the Moon, of the Pisserotte .....) Even though there are some hills along the way, it is a very pleasant walk with a lot of historical heritage spots to be discovered. Also good for mountain biking.

Marked trail No. 7.A hike focusing on springs and wash houses. All these springs feed the Paris Basin via the water table and the Seine via the Loing. Superbly well-marked route (No. 7) with no damage to the natural environment (no more paint on trees, monuments or houses). This route can be done on horseback or by mountain bike (in the opposite direction if possible).

All along the route, you will discover centenaries trees, educational signs about the chestnut tree.

Signposted route N°69.In this village, known for bric-a-brac, the sunken paths are all the rage! A guaranteed immersion in nature.Mézilles is one of the "Cités de caractères de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté" villages.

Medieval castle, viaduct, springs, washhouses and heritage, something to enjoy with the family ! If that's not enough, a little bungee jump to get the adrenaline pumping ? Druyes-les-Belles-Fontaines is classified in the villages "Cities of character of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté".

The route goes from pond to pond around the village of Champoulet. There is wildlife to discover.

Marked hike N°2. A hike in the heart of the birthplace of Colette. Through woods and passing by ponds, often described in her work.

Market circuit n°23. In an hour walking, rendezvous in the 13th century, on a legendary path and meet the middle-age castles builders.

Signposted route N° 76This route starts from Toucy, birthplace of Pierre Larousse, 19th-century grammarian, lexicographer and educator. It offers multiple viewpoints and panoramas along ridge lines. The sunken paths winding under a dense canopy of vegetation create a romantic atmosphere that you're sure to enjoy. Then, at the bend in the path, you'll fall under the spell of the magnificent Château d'Arthé.

Marked trail No. 33. Geologically, the commune of Bouhy belongs to the Forterre, a region neighbouring the Puisaye. Its village is at an altitude of 355 metres. For walkers in search of vast horizons, this dominant position gives this route its panoramic interest, to which is added the architectural interest of the many chapels encountered along the way.

Marked hike N°51. From the old medieval castle, discover a village built between an old, partly dried-up marsh and a cliff. Druyes Valley offers a green setting that contrasts with the chalky rocks that support the ruined building.

Marked trail No. 61.Emmanuel de La Villéon (1848-1944) was a painter of Breton origin (Fougères, where he has his museum) who lived from 1900 to 1936 in a mansion in the hamlet of Salvard. An admirer of Monet, he adopted most of the characteristics of Impressionism.This route, now enhanced with panels featuring reproductions and commentary, allows visitors to rediscover some of the places painted by the artist, including certain characteristics of the Poyaudin bocage.

Marked route No. 9.From wash houses to wash houses, passing by old underground limestone quarries and ancient Neolithic and Palaeolithic sites, this route takes you around the commune. At each crossroads, you can return to the centre of the village. Beautiful views along much of the route.Please note that this route is reserved for hikers. Mountain bikers, hybrid bike riders and horse riders have their own dedicated route.

Marked route No. 34. The village of Saint-Vérain, built on a hillside, was surrounded by fortified walls in the Middle Ages, making it one of the most powerful feudal cities in the region. Numerous remains bear witness to the city's importance, including ramparts, towers, gates, wells, a keep, etc.

After crossing the various fords on the Branlin, passing through beautiful wooded moors and walking alongside hedges, the Ferrier de Tannerre reveals itself in the shade of this forest, which was exploited for its iron ore in Gallo-Roman times. Travel back in time and into a natural space that is still unspoilt!

Eleven hamlets, each more charming than the last, and four fountains to discover in the footsteps of Joan of Arc.

Discover the village of Saint-Loup-des-Bois, its inhabitants, the Saints-Lupéens, and the forests that surround it. You will pass by the Museum of Agricultural Machinery and Rural Life, which traces the history of agricultural machinery. In addition to these major collections in Europe, there is an astonishing and impressive collection of irons and a collection dedicated to woodworking trades (clog makers, coopers, wheelwrights, etc.).

Marked route No. 85After a section through the woods and then in the open, the gardens below Lac du Bourdon offer a superb panorama of rows of spillways channelled by walls built of Puisaye sandstone. Then, following part of the lake, return to the bathing area and the car park.

Marked route No. 88.Located on a hill, Pourrain offers many sporting activities, including this route which takes you through a very hilly area between woods and fields, valleys and plateaus dotted with springs. Beautiful views of the Puisaye, Forterre and Auxerrois regions enhance this outing.

Marked trail No. 5. At the crossroads of Puisaye, Forterre and the banks of the Nohain, this village invites you to discover its heritage and landscapes.

Marked route No. 113.The historic centre of Saint-Fargeau and a nature walk are the main attractions of this outing.From the red-brick castle to the murals of the Sainte-Anne Chapel, via the Loing river, this is a bucolic walk.

Marked hike n°62. This site located in the void diagonal, as some like to say, conceals many assets. If, with the help of agricultural machinery, the search for productivity was the goal in the middle of the 20th century, it has not led to the expected results. Today, it is towards a restoration of biodiversity that we are moving. The fauna and flora are gradually returning. Discovering this heritage also helps to educate children. Superb educational walk!

This family hike is historically very interesting. Between the shaded first part and the canal-side second part, the route has a total elevation gain of 28 metres, mainly at the beginning. In terms of history, from Henri IV to Charles de Freycinet, the size of boats has increased, imposing new standards. Today, we talk about the amount of water consumed that needs to be saved.

A historical and cultural route on the border between Puisaye and Forterre, with some beautiful views.

In the land of fruit trees, a walk through the valleys and hills. Sunken paths, springs, viewpoints and built heritage enhance this outing.

Marked trail No. 43. A historical journey back to the time of Charlemagne's succession. His grandsons fought over the kingdom. This division was settled by a battle and... discover the places and history of this epic story.

Marked route No. 114.Discover the remains of open-air ochre pits and mines, the Sauilly ochre factory and its drying kiln.

Marked route No. 22. Passing by the cathedral of Puisaye, a tour of the heights to discover vast horizons, alternating landscapes of large-scale farming and forests, dotted with springs. And then, Perreuse, a magnificent village with a rich history.

Visit the Ferrier de Tannerre-en-Puisaye, one of the largest in France, dating back to Gallic times.

This very natural outing allows you to discover the landscaped paths, shaped by man over the centuries. It allows, with some beautiful viewpoints, to discover the Puisaye and the town of Toucy, nestled against a hill.

This route takes you back to the time of fortified castles and knights. Built on the marshy lands of Perroy, the Château de la Motte Josserand is one of the most beautiful military constructions of the Middle Ages in the Nièvre region, with its famous adventurer Perrinet Gressard who acquired the seigneury in the 15th century.

Marked trail No. 3.From the church with its magnificent murals, pass the Gué Ricart, discover the Moutiers pond via the Marseillaise, then the undergrowth before reaching Saint-Sauveur, Pays de Colette and her birthplace.

Waymarked walk N° 38 In the land of the potters, there is first and foremost the clay that serves as the raw material for the craftsmen, then the water that gushes out of the clay-silica or clay-limestone soils, depending on the geology of the subsoil in this area. But there's also the beauty of nature, with its landscapes, paths framed and even marked by these hedges and their sometimes mysterious, sometimes mischievous tadpoles. They are the source of some of the legends that live in the area.

Marked trail No. 17A trail that smells of trogne trees. This tree, emblematic of field edges and woods, which for years has fed animals and heated homes in the Poyaudine region, can be found in countless numbers along this trail.On both the outward and return journeys, you will enjoy a wonderful discovery of the streets and alleys of Old Toucy.

Marked path n°32 Alternating ups and downs among the orchards, vineyards and crops. Beautiful views over the valley and the hillsides of Yonne.

Between the longer hikes around Toucy and the discovery of down-town, this walk allows you to gain heigh in order to contemplate this screen of greenery which surrounds the village. These paths, oftenly traveled, offered a great diversity.

Marked trail No. 44.Through woods and farmland, passing by ponds, discover the environments where the earth is shaped into artistic creations and pottery.

The springs and washhouses without forgetting the Château and the Chapel of Chéry will be the most important heritage sites to discover for this outing. Throughout this route, alternation between valleys and hills where points of view are numerous.

From Colette's birthplace, discover the greenways, the village of Moutiers and the Moutiers pond, where a few water chestnuts still float.Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye is listed as one of the "Cités de caractères de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté" (villages of character in Burgundy-Franche-Comté).

Starting from the central car park on Place des Frères Genêt, you will discover the fishing lake and leisure centre very close to the town centre, offering a magnificent panorama. Crossing woods and medieval streets, stop at the promontory overlooking Place de la République, dominated by the bust of Pierre Larousse, and enjoy exceptional views of this village, whose existence has been documented since the middle ofthe 3rd century.

Marked trail No. 35.The commune of Bitry covers 1,746 hectares. The Ramois boundary marker is at an altitude of 326 metres, while the La Maloise river flows at the lowest point, 189 metres above sea level.Between the village and the hamlet of Les Beauchats, you can visit a chapel dedicated to Saint Marc and Saint Roc, which was restored in the 20th century.

Marked route No. 21.A very pretty route for a short family hike, discovering the Vrille at the very beginning of the route with a ford crossing on the Pont des Canards, then, after the Croix Saint-Jean, another crossing on a stone bridge (the springs are a few hundred metres away). On the way back, you pass in front of the Saint-Symphorien church.

A signposted, family-friendly, shaded walk along the Breteau ditches that feed the Briare Canal. This easy route also takes you to the Étang de la Grande Rue lake and its dam. Suitable for pushchairs and bicycles, you can enjoy the cool shade of the undergrowth in summer and a dry path in wet weather.

Waymarked route N°48. A beautiful woodland walk on this limestone plateau, even if at the start you need to take a little road to reach the Bois de la Faine and beyond. The forest we pass through is rich in species of wood and specimens of oak and beech, and is no match for the nearby Forêt de Frétoy.

An all-season trail in this region of Puisaye amid hedges (bouchures), heritage, and legends.

A mountain biking route for anyone who loves bike rides and discovering natural and architectural heritage. You're in for a treat! But be prudent!

A route focused on painting with Le Michel-Ange des Arbres. Around twenty representations of Henri Harpignies' paintings line this walk among the trees, sunken paths and viewpoints of Puisaye.Saint-Privé is listed as one of the "Cités de caractères de Bourgogne - Franche-Comté" (villages of character in Burgundy-Franche-Comté).

Pass by the Moulery wash house and the Roman road with panoramic views of Puisaye, Forterre, Frétoy Forest and Druyes Castle.