An easy ten-kilometre hike gives La Motte-Ternant a clear focus for active days: the Boucle de La Motte-Ternant follows the banks of the Baigne River and passes through several conifer plantations. The Église Saint-Martin is also along the route. The circuit thus brings together specific landscape features, an architectural landmark and the village’s medieval history.

The Boucle: an easy 10 km hike

The Boucle de La Motte-Ternant is an easy 10 km hike. The distance and difficulty rating answer different planning questions: the distance describes the length of the route, while the easy rating indicates its level of difficulty. Along the way, the route follows the banks of the Baigne and passes through several conifer plantations. When choosing a hike, you can therefore take both the distance and the landscape into account. The riverbanks and conifer plantations add specific features to the route beyond its stated distance. This makes it easy to consider the Boucle as a hiking option in its own right, without making hiking the focus of your entire stay.

The church and traces of history

The Église Saint-Martin lies along the Boucle and dates from the 11th century. Its apse has a hemispherical cul-de-four vault, a rounded, dome-like form of vaulting. The church also appears to contain remains of a small Carolingian basilica. The vault is a specific architectural feature; the Carolingian basilica remains a tentative interpretation. The Château de La Motte-Ternant has been mentioned since 1306. These details point to different historical connections: a church dating from the 11th century, a possible Carolingian trace, and the Château’s mention since 1306.

The Monastère du Val Croissant

Another historical landmark lies about 1 km south of the village, in a valley by the Brazon. According to Baudiau, the significant Monastère du Val Croissant was founded in 1216 by Guillaume, lord of Mont-St-Jean and La Mothe. Compared with the church dating from the 11th century, its foundation in 1216 provides a later medieval point of reference. The monastery cannot be visited; check its access status again before visiting. This distinction is important for planning: the monastery’s history adds to the historical context, but it is not a sightseeing stop.

More activities at Va Mollo

Va Mollo offers canicross hikes with wolfdogs, as well as individually bookable horseback rides. Compared with the Boucle, the focus here is on the type of activity; for the circuit, the 10 km distance and easy rating provide guidance. At Va Mollo, you can choose between canicross with wolfdogs and a horseback ride. Horseback rides can be booked individually. Check the current availability of the activities before making firm plans.

Discover more destinations: Labergement-Lès-Seurre, Sainte-Sabine, Cessey-sur-Tille, Viserny, Manlay, Saint-Apollinaire, Recey-sur-Ource, Chevigny-Saint-Sauveur

For the broader travel overview: Cote-Dor.