The Parc Noisot Combe de Fixin – Napoleon’s Russian campaign

Start: Car park at the Salle des Fêtes situated at the top of Fixin village and just past the Clos de Napoleon wine-cave and gates to the eponymous vineyard.

(S/E) From the car park, walk a short distance (130m) along the road as it curves left (South)and go up to a right turn taking you to the Museum Noisot (open at weekends only).

(1) Then walk onwards up through the woods using initially the Russian, Egyptian and Italy campaign markers to guide you (a soldier’s helmet, and church cross, for Russia; pyramids for Egypt; and for Italy monuments and Napoleon’s hat).

Gradually the walk will become the Russian trail only. Yellow stripe markers on trees also begin to help you, and later in the walk you will find a yellow cross if you have made a mistake. You will eventually come to a Source of Spring water with wooden log seating.

(2) You will see a sign to Les Cent Marches (100 steps) pointing to the left. Follow this (do not turn right as the ambiguous Russian sign might indicate.) You will climb gradually to the Cent Marches, namely the 100 steps.

(3) Climb these steep and twisty, but manageable, steps, passing a cliff face and a square metal plaque embedded in rock. After the top of the 100 steps, continue climbing , all the while following the Russian campaign and you will reach a small circular clearing.

(4) At this point, you start to turn back towards the start - there is a very sharp right turn (the lower route, which goes back through the forest) but a simple right turn is the correct path for the Russian campaign route. There are more yellow marks on the trees and Russian logo as you walk uphill.

You will soon leave the forest and walk along a flat open track of scrub and grassland above the forest until you reach a sharp right turn downhill back into the forest. Walk down through the forest following the yellow marks and reach a T-junction.

(5) Turn left back to the start at the carpark, and delightful wooded picnic area where you could enjoy a packed lunch at one of many picnic tables. Unlike Napoleon, you’ve had a successful Russian campaign!(S/E)

Start: Car park at the Salle des Fêtes situated at the top of Fixin village and just past the Clos de Napoleon wine-cave and gates to the eponymous vineyard.

Facilities: There is a shady picnic area next to the carpark.

Waymarkers: Symbols of Napoleons’ Russian, Egyptian and Italian military campaigns.

Note: This walk is an ideal alternative if you’ve finished with your vineyard walks or find them too straining under the high summer sun.

Noisot was also a painter and there is a small museum near the beginning of the walk The museum is only open at weekends – but don’t let that stop you doing the walk midweek.