A walk through the world of biodiversity, starting from Fontaines

Park your car in the town hall car park. The start of the walk is at the Maison du Patrimoine, on the town hall square.

(S/E) Start the walk by heading towards the Grande Rue and turning right. Walk for 200 metres, then take Rue de l’Église on the right. Pass Saint-Just Church (see information below) and continue along Rue de l’Égalité (as you enter this street, you’ll see what remains of the old city walls on your right). Walk to the cemetery, turn right, then left to go round it.

(1) Turn left at the corner of the cemetery and continue along this path for 2 km until you reach the woods.

(2) Enter the woods, walk for 500 m and you’ll reach the crossroads by the hunting lodge.

(3) Turn left at the sign for the ‘Sentier Nainglet Découverte’. Follow the path all the way along. The little ‘mischievous elf’ will guide you if you’re unsure. In the woods, trees are also painted green to help you find your way. Walk for 200 m to information point 1: the forest pond, a small wetland with a rich biodiversity. Take the time to explore the area. Then take the path on the right, going round the pond. When you reach the forest track, turn left for 30 metres, then right (follow the signpost and/or the ‘mischievous elf’). Continue for 200 metres to reach information point 2: the even-aged forest, where high-quality timber is grown.

(4) At the end of the track, turn left for about 60 metres, then head left into the woods to discover information point 3: A majestic oak named Daniel. Retrace your steps and continue along the path on the left, returning to the ‘Sentier Nainglet Découverte’ trail. Walk alongside the high forest for 250 m, then turn right, continuing to walk alongside the high forest and the stream. Walk for 250 m to reach information point 4: The life cycle of a forest plot.

(5) Let the ‘mischievous elf’ guide you for 1 km as you look out for the information signs. Pass under the high-voltage power line and arrive at a new wetland area. To get through this area more easily, it’s best to go to the right of the pond. You’ll arrive at information point 5: Encountering the forest’s wildlife...

(6) Continue for 300 metres, cross the forest track, and head to information point 6: A dead tree for a living forest!

(7) Turning slightly to the right, carry on for 150 m, pass under the high-voltage power line and arrive atinformation point 7: The coppice with standards – but what else?

(8) Carry on for 400 m to information point 8: The irregular high-forest, a welcoming space, then rejoin the forest track at the crossroads by the hunting lodge.

(3) Turn left and follow the path back the way you came, taking the track opposite the lodge. Stay on this path until you reach the cemetery.

(1) Walk alongside the cemetery to Rue Chaumont, then turn left and immediately right. Walk down the street to the gate. Go round the back of the tennis courts, entering through the gate with the two pillars, then head to the car park entrance via the main gate after the waste bins (S/E).

Within a 100-metre radius of the car park, you’ll find all the essential shops: a bakery, a grocery shop, a chemist’s, a restaurant, a bar, etc.

Toilets are available: the first set is located in the corner between the park and the Heritage Centre building, and the others are in the town hall courtyard, on the right as you enter.

The Church of Saint-Just de Fontaines, originally Romanesque and later remodelled in the Gothic style, bears witness to a rich and eventful history. First mentioned in 1180, it was initially linked to a noble family, then to the Bishop of Chalon. The church, situated at the centre of a former fortified castle, has endured the vicissitudes of history, notably a fire set by the Tard-Venus in 1363. Rebuilt in the 15th century, it retains Romanesque features (bell tower, south façade of the transept, chancel) and Gothic elements (nave). The lava-stone roof, added in the 17th century, altered the building’s appearance and the amount of light it receives. Converted into a Temple of Reason during the Revolution, it later regained its bells, three of which have been preserved. Restored in the 19th century, the church features a Cistercian portal, a Gothic window and a statue of the Virgin Mary. Listed as a historic monument in 1987, it underwent restoration in 2020.