Tintury offers two distinct ways to enjoy a stay: the 18.7-kilometre circular hiking trail “Circuit entre étang et forêt de Vincence” and a local history that stretches from a parish established in the late 11th century to archaeological traces. The trail starts and ends in Tintury; its length provides a concrete measure for planning your day. Both are possible reasons to consider Tintury as a travel destination.
Hiking between Étang de Fleury and the Vincence Forest
The circular trail runs from Étang de Fleury to the heart of the Vincence Forest. Its length of 18.7 kilometres is a practical planning detail: fit the hike into your stay so that it matches the amount of time you have set aside for the day. Check local conditions before setting out. Since the circular trail starts and ends in Tintury, the town is both the starting point and the endpoint of the route described.
The natural setting also includes the Type 2 ZNIEFF area “Vallée de l'Aron et forêt de Vincence,” which includes Tintury. Its regional importance stems from numerous habitats around waterways, in forests and on meadows, as well as the animal and plant species associated with them. The circular trail leads from the pond into the forest; the description of the ZNIEFF adds a perspective on the area’s different habitats to this specific route. The trail and the ecological context thus offer two different perspectives on the landscape.
Church, parish and local history
The parish church of Saint-Fiacre in Tintury was built starting in 1886. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross, and stained-glass windows are part of its architectural features. The floor plan and windows provide specific points of interest for anyone looking at the church’s architecture. The parish of Tintury has existed since the late 11th century. Its history therefore reaches much further back than construction of the parish church began; the two dates mark different periods.
Saint Fiacre is Tintury’s patron saint. He is celebrated every year in late August or on the first Sunday in September. If you would like to plan your trip around this tradition, check the exact dates for the year you want to visit. This lets you take the annual celebration into account when planning without confusing it with the fixed date when construction of the church began.
Archaeological evidence also reaches back to earlier times. Two rigid Celtic torcs, or neck rings, were found at La Justice. Near Fleury-la-Tour, several Gallo-Roman remains attest to the presence of active communities in the area of Tintury. These traces point to different periods in the area’s history: the finds at La Justice and the community life evidenced by the remains near Fleury-la-Tour.
Another historical trace is the 15th-century tower “la bonde de l'étang.” A monk lived there to regulate the pond’s water outflow and access to fishing. The tower is therefore associated not only with a building from a particular period, but also with the regulation of water and fishing at the time. Together with the church, parish and archaeological evidence, it offers a varied perspective on local history.
Plan your stay around your interests
If hiking is your main interest, you can make the 18.7-kilometre route a key part of your day’s plans. If you are more interested in history, there are several distinct points of interest: the church, built from 1886 onward; the older parish; the archaeological evidence; and the history of the tower.
Discover more destinations: Saincaize-Meaucé, Isenay, Fertrève, Saint-Benin-D'azy, Saint-Honoré-Les-Bains, Druy-Parigny, Pougues-Les-Eaux, Luzy.
For the broader travel overview: Nièvre.
