Vailly-sur-Sauldre walks

Set off to discover the traditional heritage of the wine-growing hamlets on the Saint-Andelain hill. Take the opportunity to visit the winegrowers of the Pouilly Fumé appellation and don't miss climbing to the top of the old water tower, now converted into a viewpoint, to see how far you've come and admire the view of the vineyards and the Loire.

Marked hike N°61. Born in Fougères in Brittany, where there is a museum dedicated to his work, the painter Emmanuel de la Villéon lived on a semi-permanent basis from 1900 to 1935 in the manor house in the hamlet of Bitry. An admirer of Monet, he adopted the approach of the Impressionists. This trail has the added attraction of panels composed of reproductions and commentaries. They allow the viewer to recognize some of the places painted by the artist, with their hedge-enclosed farmlands typical of the Puisaye.

Waymarked walk N° 38 In the land of the potters, there is first and foremost the clay that serves as the raw material for the craftsmen, then the water that gushes out of the clay-silica or clay-limestone soils, depending on the geology of the subsoil in this area. But there's also the beauty of nature, with its landscapes, paths framed and even marked by these hedges and their sometimes mysterious, sometimes mischievous tadpoles. They are the source of some of the legends that live in the area.

A rather short bucolic walk. Le Tacot path passes nearby the ochre and clay quarries where a protected species of toad "Le sonneur à ventre jaune", the yellow bellied toad hides away. Easily identified thanks to its yellow and black striped belly, and its heart-shaped pupils, no doubt, remnants of its prince charming days..... Its bright yellow colour, signifying toxicity is a means of protection against its predators.

Mainly on dirt, sand or gravel paths, this fairly easy circuit takes you through the peaceful and varied landscapes of the Sologne: ponds, forests, hedgerow-enclosed pastures and interspersed crops. At the start and finish, the pretty village of Villemurlin offers a typical Sologne charm with its brick houses and blue ladders, reminders of a time when the attic was accessed from outside. Initially shared with the family path of Villemurlin (the "chouette promenade" or "owl walk"), this route then takes a shortened version of the former "PR® des domaines de chasse et cultures" (hunting grounds and farmland), of which a few signs remain.

On the edge of the Sologne, this circuit brings together the typical landscapes that make up the charm of this natural region near the Loire: meadows, ponds, forests, interspersed with crops and pretty brick houses. The little river Sange brings it to life and gives it a little relief. Marked in yellow, this route is also signposted in places as "PR® de la Vallée de la Sange - P 11". Despite two sections on the road, 70% of this circuit is on unpaved paths.

Marked hike N°71. A whole new way to discover the story of the construction of the Canal de Briare! With this hike you can follow a part of its water supply system and come back along the old route to the incredible monument that we today know as the Seven Locks.

Discover the flora and fauna that populate these old swamps that have shaped the environment of this lake, surrounded by woods and forests.

Alternating between meadows, forests, ponds and farmland, this route presents no difficulties. It begins and ends majestically on the banks of the Loire. This is a shortened version of the former "PR® des Rauches" with 76% of the route on unpaved paths.

This route will allow you to discover the marsh, which has been shaped since 1640, when the city of Bourges sold part of its communal land to create gardens for cultivation. The maraitiers surrounded these marshes with outer ditches, dug inner ditches and built service roads. You will discover this work and these gardeners on a superb family walk.

This walk combines a tour of the old town and its main points of interest (including the cathedral, the Palais Jacques Cœur, and streets and alleys lined with beautiful half-timbered houses) with the classic route through the Bourges marshes at the foot of the medieval town (with its many waterways and small market gardens developed since the 17th century). The route through the old town is a minimum loop for those in a hurry, but there's nothing to stop you zigzagging around it to discover little gems around every corner.