Sully-sur-Loire and the banks of the Loire

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A very pleasant route, mostly along the banks of the Loire. Good view of the Château de Sully and the Basilica of Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire.

Details

n°59798
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 18.36 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 9 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 9 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 120 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 110 m
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Description of the walk

Park in the car park opposite the Château de Sully-sur-Loire (opposite the playgrounds).

(S) From the car park, return to the D948 and cross the bridge.

(1) Just after the bridge, turn left onto theGR®3marked in white and red. Pass to the left of a campsite and a tennis court.

(2) At the crossroads, take the left-hand path. Continue straight ahead at the fork in the path (behind you is the discovery trail) and walk along the Loire for 2 km until you reach the D60.

(3) Follow the D60 for about 600 metres.

(4) Leave the road to reach the hamlet of Les Ripeneaux.

(5) At the first houses, turn right to move away from the banks of the Loire. Then turn left onto a small road marked in white and red (GR®3) and follow it for 2.3 km.

(6) You will arrive at the PR® junction. Continue straight on theGR®3and you will arrive at the Île des Mahis nature reserve.

(7) Continue on theGR®3and reach the hamlet of Les Braudins via the road of the same name.

(8) Continue straight ahead until you reach the crossroads at the Red Cross Calvary.

(9) Cross and continue straight ahead. Continue for another 600 metres, then turn left just before a pretty little bridge.

(10) Follow the road to the left, and after a right-hand bend, you will find yourself face to face with the Basilica of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire. Continue straight ahead, then turn right onto Rue Orléanaise. Walk 600 metres to reach the D148 at a three-way junction.

(11) At this junction, take the D148 opposite and continue straight ahead to the small Sainte-Scholastique Chapel, which you can visit (see description and link at the bottom of this page).

(12) Continue on the D148 and reach a crossroads in the hamlet of Carrouge.

(13) Turn left and follow the D148 (Route de Bonnée) for 650 metres until you reach the hamlet of Les Allaires. At the fork, leave the departmental road, turn right onto Chemin de Grosjoncs and continue to the place called Grosjonc.

(14) Leave the pond on your right and continue straight ahead.

(15) At the three-way junction, turn diagonally to the right and then immediately take the left-hand path. After 1 km, this same path is renamed Chemin Des Noues. Follow it for about 650 m to reach the Maison Neuve road.

(16) Turn right, pass through Bel Air and continue along this road for about 1 km until you reach the intersection with Rue de l'Eglise.

(17) Turn left, then right to reach the large crossroads that leads to the D948 bridge. Cross the bridge and retrace your steps to reach the car park opposite the castle.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 119 m - Castle car park, departure point - La Loire
  2. 1 : km 0.57 - alt. 120 m - Turn left onto the GR3
  3. 2 : km 1.57 - alt. 115 m - At the fitness trail junction, turn left
  4. 3 : km 3.81 - alt. 114 m - Continue on the GR, following the D60
  5. 4 : km 4.48 - alt. 114 m - Stay off the road.
  6. 5 : km 5.05 - alt. 114 m - Les Ripeneaux, on the right then on the left
  7. 6 : km 7.4 - alt. 115 m - Junction with the PR, go straight on the GR
  8. 7 : km 8.22 - alt. 115 m - Île des Mahis Nature Reserve, straight ahead
  9. 8 : km 8.7 - alt. 112 m - Les Braudins
  10. 9 : km 9.27 - alt. 111 m - Calvaire de la Croix-Rouge, straight ahead
  11. 10 : km 10.14 - alt. 113 m - Basilica of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire
  12. 11 : km 10.65 - alt. 111 m - At the three-way junction, take the D148 opposite
  13. 12 : km 12.36 - alt. 114 m - Chapel of Sainte-Scholastique
  14. 13 : km 12.93 - alt. 114 m - Le Carrouge, on the left
  15. 14 : km 14.48 - alt. 113 m - Grosjonc, straight ahead
  16. 15 : km 14.89 - alt. 114 m - three-way junction, turn right then immediately left
  17. 16 : km 16.48 - alt. 115 m - Route de Maison Neuve, on the right
  18. 17 : km 17.55 - alt. 115 m - Intersection with Rue de l'Eglise, on the left
  19. S/E : km 18.36 - alt. 119 m

Notes

In (3), the banks of the Loire are magnificent in April, but the paths are still a little wild, so you may have to walk on the road.

Worth a visit

This area along the banks of the Loire is a nature reserve and part of the "Conservatoire du Patrimoine Naturel de la Région Centre" (Centre Region Natural Heritage Conservatory).

In Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire,thehttp://www.abbaye-fleury.com/ (11th-13th century), a masterpiece of Romanesque art, is still home to a community of Benedictine monks.

The Chapel of Saint Scholastica on WP (12): http://lafrancedesclochers.clicforum.com.... This site is also home to Fleury Abbey and the Chapel of Saint Scholastica.
The chapel was originally a votive building some distance from the abbey, where the monks kept a few relics of Saint Scholastica available to the faithful. This chapel was badly damaged during the Revolution and was rebuilt in the 19th century. Oriented from west to east and located at the far end of the hamlet, furthest from the village of Saint-Benoît, this small square chapel is distinguished by its raised gable. It is no longer in use today.

Sully sur Loirehttp://www.sully-sur-loire.fr/tourisme/c...
At the gateway to the Valley of Kings, in the heart of a vast park, the château, owned by the Loiret General Council, was once the residence of the 1st Duke of Sully. Numerous exhibitions and activities are offered throughout the year for all audiences, including children.

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 20 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
Lulu2014
Lulu2014

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Trip at the end of September with a visit to the castle

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842027
842027
• Edited:

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

The route is completely impassable in June, despite being largely on the GR 3 trail. It is overgrown with nettles and sometimes brambles for several kilometres along the banks of the Loire.
Abandon the route around the6th kilometre as soon as possible.

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jacques MILLET
jacques MILLET

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

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Stache59
Stache59

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Note: the section of the GR between St Père and St Benoit sur Loire is poorly maintained. 4/7/2021 The path is infested with nettles, which is unpleasant for hikers.

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poitrineau michel
poitrineau michel

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

The first part of the hike from Sully to Saint-Benoît, along the banks of the Loire, is very interesting and pleasant.
The same goes for the crossing of Saint-Benoît with the Basilica of Fleury Abbey.
However, the return journey from Saint-Benoît to Sully, along the pavements of the D 148, is not particularly interesting, so we took a detour to reach the banks of the Loire via small paths.
In conclusion, we will return but... we will change the return route to avoid the pavements of the D 148 road!!!!

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Clairelys
Clairelys

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

As described. At the entrance to Saint Benoit, we didn't find the left turn but crossed the village to go to the basilica and didn't meet anyone! It was cold on this first day of spring. Thank you

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docteurpierron
docteurpierron

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The first part along the Loire is very pleasant; you can cross the Loire via the footbridge located 200 metres from the bridge, which means you don't have to take the same route on the way back.
The Basilica of Saint Benoit is well worth a visit
The return journey via the north is less pleasant (long, flat straight stretch)

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chanteausien45
chanteausien45

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello
On the way there, along the Loire, we encountered the nettles that had already been reported, and we are grateful to the hiker from the previous Sunday who must have cleared the path after two months of lockdown. We then followed the GR, Loire à Vélo, and fortunately missed a passage leading to the Basilica. We ended up at the port of St Benoit: an enchanting place where we had a picnic.
Don't miss this detour, it's well worth it. Just follow the GR, which will take you straight there.
On the way back, we didn't quite understand the description. Just go straight ahead and you'll arrive in Sully.

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frrando45
frrando45

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route to St Benoit, after a long drive back to Sully, but there was little traffic.
The nettles are still there, but the mosquitoes haven't arrived yet. Bring long trousers.
Best regards

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Daniel86
Daniel86

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Hello

moderate hike, mostly flat terrain, let's say half of the hike, but the banks of the Loire are very pleasant

best regards

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desrumaux
desrumaux

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

very beautiful walk along the Loire

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nanebe
nanebe

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

just to note that between points 3 and 4, there are many nettles, so bring mosquito repellent.

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patricegimel
patricegimel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Between points 3 and 4 on the map, the path is sometimes very narrow, surrounded by tall grass and swarming with mosquitoes.

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GNOUGNOU
GNOUGNOU

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Take a stick or even pruning shears to clear your way, as the vegetation is very lush (nettles, brambles, etc., as tall as me: 1.62 m) on part of the trail (between points 4 and 5.5). For the moment, it is a little clearer following the passage of our group.
There is little shade.
You don't often see the Loire, hidden behind the woods.
PS: we only did the outward journey to St Benoit.

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Phasme91
Phasme91

Good evening,
The difficulties encountered are: at point 4, follow the D60: you can avoid this by taking the Loire cycle route
After the Basilica of St. Benoit, we got a little lost following the GR trail. Perhaps it should be specified that you should not follow the GR trail?
At point 16, take the three-way junction to the right and then immediately to the left. We found ourselves in the middle of fields. In fact, between points 16 and 17, it's all on a dirt track in the middle of fields
Kind regards

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