Urcy - In the footsteps of the Leuzeu Maquisards

A lovely hike around the Combe du Leuzeu, a hotspot of the Resistance in Côte d'Or. A battle between the Resistance fighters and the Vichy militia saw the former emerge victorious in July 1944.

Details

24579
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.12 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 389 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 394 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 586 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 310 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Standing in front of the church and the magnificent wash house with a bear on its pediment (originating from Urcy), we take the street leading straight down into the village (towards the north-east). At the fork, stay on the Grande Rue and at the next fork, ignore the Voie de Fleurey on the left.
At the last houses, take the path on the right, which quickly descends for 1 km. After a rapid descent into a valley, we arrive at an intersection of dirt tracks.

(1) Take the path opposite. Follow this path in the direction of "Ferme de Leuzeu". When the path makes a sharp right turn, continue straight ahead on the path, which leads directly to the ruins of the Ferme de Leuzeu (see explanations in "Things to see" below).

(2) After the farm, take a path on the right with a steep incline, which will lead directly to the Col de la Mialle, well known to hikers in the Côte d'Or.
A Côte d'Or CDRP signpost indicates that we should take theGR®7opposite and to our left. We follow theGR®7for 60 metres and then leave it, taking a path that branches off to the left. We follow this path to a crossroads. We continue straight on until we reach the top of the Combe du Chêne.

(3) We turn left to follow the top of the combe. We follow this path, which offers magnificent views over the Combe du Leuzeu, to a rocky promontory called "La Roche Pompon". This is a magnificent viewpoint offering a bird's eye view of the combe and the villages of Urcy and Quemigny-Poisot in the distance, with Clémencey on the left. It's the ideal place to stop for a snack.

(4) We continue along this path for 600 metres.

(5) When we reach a crossroads, we leave the marked path, continue for about 30 metres and turn left. We begin a long descent under the deciduous trees for 1.2 km, ignoring several paths we encounter over a very short distance.

(6) We then turn left onto a path perpendicular to the contour lines. We arrive at a wider path, which we take, turning left. We follow it for 1.4 km and rejoin the marked path we left further upstream.

(7) We turn right to begin a steep descent. This descent is very rocky and must be taken with caution. We arrive at a white path.

(8) We follow it to the right for 30 metres and take a path to the left, making a hairpin turn. We climb for 500 metres and, at the top of this climb, we take a path to the right that leads us to a field.

(9) When you reach this field, take the path on the left that runs alongside the woods.

(10) You will arrive at the departmental road. Follow it to the left, then take a small municipal road on the left that will lead you directly to the church of Urcy (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 445 m - Urcy Church
  2. 1 : km 1.72 - alt. 339 m - Path opposite
  3. 2 : km 4.46 - alt. 433 m - Path on the right
  4. 3 : km 6.45 - alt. 576 m - Combe du Chêne, on the left
  5. 4 : km 8.4 - alt. 565 m - Roche Pompon
  6. 5 : km 9.03 - alt. 585 m - Straight ahead and then immediately left
  7. 6 : km 10.37 - alt. 438 m - Path on the left
  8. 7 : km 11.86 - alt. 416 m - Path on the right
  9. 8 : km 12.54 - alt. 310 m - Path on the right
  10. 9 : km 13.56 - alt. 390 m - Path on the left
  11. 10 : km 14.31 - alt. 431 m - Road on the left
  12. S/E : km 15.12 - alt. 446 m - Urcy Church

Notes

There is a fountain at the start, but the local council has declared it "non-potable" to avoid the cost of frequent checks.
In addition to standard hiking equipment, walking sticks are essential on certain sections of the trail, especially in wet weather.

Worth a visit

This trail is very close to the Ouche Valley and the Burgundy Canal with its reservoirs. It allows us to admire magnificent landscapes and vegetation that changes with the seasons.
The starting point is twenty minutes from Dijon. We are close to the châteaux of Commarin and Châteauneuf, but that will be for another hike.

The Leuzeu farm:
This farm was originally a hunting estate belonging to the Dukes of Burgundy, but it mainly served as a refuge for the Maquis du Leuzeu resistance fighters during the Second World War. Escaped prisoners and Allied airmen on their way to freedom found refuge there. Denounced in July 1944, they were attacked by the Vichy militia. The Maquis fighters defeated the militiamen, who lost several men and vehicles.
A plaque recounts the history of the site. The buildings are currently being restored by an association that wants to turn them into a popular hiking destination.

 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 / 5
Based on 21 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
ChristianNant70
ChristianNant70

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Leuzeu Farm is interesting given the restoration work carried out on this site.
Pompon viewpoint: beautiful view and finally some visibility of the landscape.
Most of the route is through woods, with no visibility of the surroundings. Suitable in hot weather.
But a little restrictive over 15 km. That's the nature of the region.
Thank you for this interesting route nonetheless.

Machine-translated

Elorac7021
Elorac7021

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A very beautiful, varied and sheltered hike, which was pleasant at this time of year.
Just a small error in the description: the balcony of the belvedere is at point 4 and not between 3 and 4.
A hike to be recommended

Machine-translated

Michel des Courtils
Michel des Courtils

I am simply a friend of nature, attentive to its condition and... concerned.

Machine-translated

rando21
rando21

As a former forester, I can confirm your observation regarding the large number of wild animals on this route.
In addition to the numerous and varied footprints on the ground, the signs of browsing on the vegetation are obvious.
This is an observation that very few people are able to make...
Are you a forestry professional or an experienced naturalist?

Machine-translated

Michel des Courtils
Michel des Courtils

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with some beautiful views and no particular difficulties.
The Leuzeu farm is very welcoming to hikers and very interesting for its history and the restoration work being done on the site. Even without seeing it, you can sense the strong presence of wildlife. Thank you for the route!

Machine-translated

monnerief
monnerief

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike in the opposite direction in order to arrive at Leuzeu around noon to enjoy the location and have lunch in shelter if the weather is inclement. In this direction, there are two significant climbs to reach the top of Plain Suzanne before reaching La Roche Pompon
Best regards

Machine-translated

rando21
rando21

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
This hike passes through "...La Roche Pompon. A magnificent viewpoint where we have a bird's eye view of the valley and the villages of Urcy, Quemigny-Poisot further away and Clémencey on the left...", according to the description.
In fact, La Roche Pompon does offer a view of three villages, but these are Urcy in the foreground, then Gergueil almost in the same line, slightly to the left but much further away, and finally Quemigny-Poisot much further to the left.
Clémencey is not visible from La Roche Pompon, as the village is hidden by the wooded hill of Le Chatelet (a former fortified spur).
Best regards.

Machine-translated

chambelland christophe
chambelland christophe

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

disappointed with the signage on the map and the description, but this isn't the first time, so if you don't know the hiking area, it can be a problem and you might get lost.
have a good day... room for improvement

Machine-translated

JJ Michaut
JJ Michaut

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello,
Due to tree pruning, the paths between points 5 and 7 have been completely dug up. I had a lot of trouble finding the path on the right at point 7.

Otherwise, the route is very good and very pleasant. I recommend it.

Machine-translated

jeanjosette
jeanjosette

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The pompon rock is poorly marked

Machine-translated

biscotte21
biscotte21

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

lots of walking through woods (choose a warm period).
Highlights: visit to the Lezeu farm (if a member of the association is available; moreover, I was alone) and beautiful view from the Pompon rock

Machine-translated

grandin
grandin ★

Thank you, Ponsot, for that clarification. As a result, I have added waypoints to the description of this "old" hike to make it easier to follow, as well as the names of the streets at the start, as suggested by FranckDufresne

Machine-translated

FranckDufresne
FranckDufresne

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Street names for the start of the hike would be a plus to avoid getting lost. The great thing about this route is that a large proportion of it is wooded and shaded. Ideal in summer when it's hot.

Machine-translated

ponsot
ponsot

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice hike, clear view due to the absence of leaves on the trees. A small correction: at the end of the route, you have to walk along the D35 for 200 metres to take the small municipal road, and not follow it before the departmental road as indicated in the description.

Machine-translated

bibi
bibi ★

Thank you for your feedback. The author may explain his choice of itinerary, but if you would like to share yours, we would be happy to review it for publication.
Kind regards

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.