In the footsteps of our Gallic ancestors: Bibracte and Mont Beuvray

From its summit at 821 metres, Mont Beuvray offers a wide range of activities, including a visit to the archaeological site of the Bibracte oppidum, the Bibracte Museum dedicated to Gallic civilisation, and plenty of walking options such as the tour of the ramparts or long-distance walking routes like theGR®®13or theGR®®131.
And if, by chance, mist rolls in at the end of your walk, the atmosphere it creates is sure to give you goosebumps.

Details

931166
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.87 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,146 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,136 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,667 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,093 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park to the south of the archaeological site.

(S/E) Leave the car park heading south. At the junction of the paths, take the one on the left to the orientation table. Then turn left and head down towards the forest.

(1) Cross a path and enter the forest. Continue down the main path (signposted), ignoring all the paths to the right and left. Reach a road and follow it to the left for about 600 metres.
(2) At the crossroads, turn right towards Les Jours. Pass a few buildings and take the path on the left. Continue to a T-junction: turn right, then left. Carry on along this path until you reach a road at the hamlet of Le Carrage.

(3) First turn right then left, and take a path heading due south. Join the Route de Saint-Léger and follow it to the right. Cross the bridge over the La Braconne stream. Ignore a turning off to the right.

(4) At the hamlet of Le Colombier, leave the road and take a track on the right, going round the farm on your left. Continue along the main track heading east-southeast until you reach the Ancien Moulin du Gué.

(5) At the junction, turn right.

(6) Pass the Étang de Cognières and continue along a track.

(7) At the next junction, turn right. Ignore the paths to the right and left, pass the hamlet of Corcelles and continue to a Y-junction.

(8) Turn right and follow the Route de Saint-Léger for about 2.3 km, passing the ponds on your right.

(9) Just before Concley Castle, turn left. Pass a track on the left, then another on the right. Head uphill through the woodland until you reach a wider track. Take this track to the left and head towards the Croix de Meux.

(10) Follow the small road straight ahead downhill to a Y-junction.

(11) Turn right, go round a pond on the right and pass Pierrefitte Castle.

(12) Continue along the small road and cross the Ruisseau de La Goutte Renard.

(13) Just after the bridge, leave the road and take a path on the right. At the next Fork in the road, turn left. Follow this path and climb up to the hamlet of Les Praies.

(14) Turn right (north-west then north). Pass a track on the right and go past the hamlet of Montaudué. Continue through the woodland, passing two tracks on the right. Cross the Malvaux stream and follow this track to a junction just before a road.

(15) Turn right onto a path that climbs towards Mont Beuray, until you reach a junction of paths.

(16) First turn right then left, and continue uphill. Pass a path on your left.
Please note! The route of some paths may vary depending on the needs of timber haulage. The main path is easily recognisable; it climbs steadily, and its appearance shows that it is used more frequently than the others, with the haulage tracks converging onto it.

(17) At a fork in the road, take the path on the right. At the next fork in the road, take the one on the left. Continue uphill, ignoring all the paths to the right and left.

(18) Pass the Fou du Loup and then navigate a few sharp bends. Reach Bibracte by crossing the ramparts path, then continue uphill.

(19) Turn right to join the road. Cross it and follow the path opposite. Walk along the terrace on the right, pass the Chapelle Saint-Martin and continue towards the viewpoint and orientation board.

(20) Turn left to reach the car park (start/finish).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,644 ft - Car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.19 - alt. 2,559 ft - Cross a path and enter the forest
  3. 2 : mi 1.33 - alt. 1,722 ft - Crossroads
  4. 3 : mi 2.49 - alt. 1,306 ft - Le Carrage
  5. 4 : mi 2.5 - alt. 1,306 ft - First turn right then left
  6. 5 : mi 3.26 - alt. 1,217 ft - Le Colombier
  7. 6 : mi 3.72 - alt. 1,112 ft - Former Moulin du Gué - Braconne (rivière) - Affluent de l'Arroux
  8. 7 : mi 4.19 - alt. 1,093 ft - Étang de Cognières (Poil)
  9. 8 : mi 4.74 - alt. 1,250 ft - Crossroads
  10. 9 : mi 5.21 - alt. 1,181 ft - Y-junction
  11. 10 : mi 6.67 - alt. 1,181 ft - The path starts on the left
  12. 11 : mi 7.4 - alt. 1,476 ft - Croix de Meux (Poil)
  13. 12 : mi 7.98 - alt. 1,280 ft - Y-junction
  14. 13 : mi 8.29 - alt. 1,270 ft - Château de Pierrefitte (Sarroux - Saint Julien)
  15. 14 : mi 8.47 - alt. 1,240 ft - The path starts on the right
  16. 15 : mi 9.03 - alt. 1,460 ft - Les Prairies
  17. 16 : mi 9.77 - alt. 1,253 ft - Junction before a road near the - Roche (cours d'eau) - Affluent de l'Alagnon
  18. 17 : mi 9.96 - alt. 1,444 ft - Junction
  19. 18 : mi 9.98 - alt. 1,444 ft - At the junction of the paths, turn right/left
  20. 19 : mi 10.29 - alt. 1,768 ft - Fork in the road
  21. 20 : mi 10.71 - alt. 2,159 ft - Le Fou du Loup
  22. 21 : mi 11.41 - alt. 2,585 ft - Crossroads
  23. 22 : mi 11.58 - alt. 2,635 ft - Belvédère de la terrasse
  24. S/E : mi 11.87 - alt. 2,644 ft - Car park

Notes

An easy hike, only the last 3 kilometres may be a little tough on the legs.

If possible, take a tour of Pierrefitte Castle.

Worth a visit

High-quality archaeological sites on the heights of Mont Beuvray have uncovered the Oppidum of Bibracte.

Numerous trails allow you to explore the entire site.

Don't miss a visit to the Bibracte Museum.

Outside of peak season, you can drive up to a car park on the heights of Mont Beuvray. During busy periods, a shuttle service is available.

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.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 17 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Fred Gigi
Fred Gigi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This route is very pleasant, alternating between forest paths, short stretches of road and stunning views of Mont Beuvray and the plain; you can also spot a few castles along the way. The climb back up the hill is quite steep...
Along the route, it is no longer possible to pass between points 13 and 14, as the vegetation has taken over. It is best to follow the GR trail, which takes a slight detour but brings you back to point 14.

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mabiche
mabiche

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very beautiful hike, but the route is unpredictable at times

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Emmanuel 71
Emmanuel 71

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, but some paths no longer exist due to lack of maintenance/frequent use.
By following the route, you can find your way around.
The comments could be better because you pass through a hamlet (Pierrefite) where there is an abandoned castle and you don't know about it. I saw it afterwards when checking the hamlet on maps.
Still a beautiful hike, though. The best place to start is from the museum car park (26 km).
👍

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Anne NLG
Anne NLG

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route covered from 4 to 9. Very good.

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buissart therese
buissart therese
• Edited:

Did this route in the rain!! I wouldn't do the same hike again

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Kroesus
Kroesus
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I did this route on a beautiful Saturday in May and hardly saw anyone: just two hikers, four cyclists and two cars during the entire trip! Hard to understand, but whatever, I love it!
I started a little lower down at the Museum of Civilisations, so there are a few extra kilometres and a few metres of elevation gain. In total:
- 25.02 km
- 860 m elevation gain - including 300+ m of continuous climbing between points 13 and 17 - Those looking for a bit of a challenge will love this last part! I reached a heart rate of 155 bpm.
- 5 hours 6 minutes in total with a short break.

A very "trailable" route! In fact, I would like to come back with just water to do it as a trail run.

Magnificent scenery!

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crevette1
crevette1

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did the hike in beautiful weather, which allowed us to stop longer at certain places to better understand the history of this site. Don't forget to take a detour to the museum, which is well worth a visit.

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Gerard DAUTEL
Gerard DAUTEL

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We followed this circular starting from the town of Poil, at a place called Corcelles, waypoint 7. This allowed us to tackle the slightly difficult section (between waypoints 13 and 17) well warmed up, but not yet tired. it's a beautiful circular, with quite varied sites, ponds, streams, castles, mills, forests, archaeological sites, breathtaking views over part of the Eduins region...
It's true that the route takes in a few tarmac sections, but they are so little used that grass sometimes grows in the middle of them...

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Netra
Netra ★

Hello ropiga, and thank you for your comments.

Good point! The framing of the line was a bit tight around point (11)... I reframed the line, and the problem is now solved.

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ropiga
ropiga

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Lovely walk, just one small downside at point 11 where the route disappears from the map

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orba41
orba41

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Difficulties finding the departure point.
We parked in the Bibracte car park, but you actually have to take a road just inside the museum entrance, near the Gaulois restaurant, which is closed in July and August and only accessible by free shuttle bus, which only runs during museum opening hours.
Unable to find the starting point and the orientation table, we continued by car to the south of the route and parked at Poil.
A little too much tarmac road for my liking, but nevertheless a very beautiful hike, especially at the top of Mont Beuvray and the Bibracte site, which is worth spending some time exploring.
The advantage of starting from the southern end of the route was that we had the ascent and descent in the middle of the route.

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slailheugue
slailheugue

Because you run the courses, it is easier to hear the voice prompts

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

I followed the route using Ridebot's voice GPS after downloading the GPX route from Visorando, but we got lost several times because the GPS sent us on a route that didn't exist.

Why not use the free Visorando GPS app? It's perfectly suited to hiking.

With the description + the route map + the app, it's impossible to go wrong.

See you soon!

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slailheugue
slailheugue
• Edited:

I followed the route using Ridebot's voice GPS after downloading the GPX route from Visorando, but we got lost several times because the GPS sent us on a route that didn't exist.

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to give your opinion.

You rated:

Reliability of map route: Average

"Map accuracy" refers to the accuracy of the route shown on the map in relation to the actual terrain.

The route seems to have caused problems.
Did you follow the route with a GPS or a GPS app?
Is there a discrepancy between your route and the marked route?

Kind regards

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