One distinctive feature of Igornay is how its cultural history can be read in its architecture: at the Château, the remains of medieval towers stand alongside residential buildings redesigned at a later date, while the Église Saint-Symphorien dates from the 19th century. There are also woodland and valley landscapes, as well as a historic Roman road. This makes it possible to distinguish between Igornay’s own features and a complementary excursion to Cordesse when planning your trip.

Château d’Igornay and Église Saint-Symphorien

The remains of the Château d’Igornay can be seen north of the D26, on the left bank of the Arroux in a bend in the river. The northern towers retain remains from the 13th and 14th centuries, including loopholes. The residential buildings were fitted with ogee-arched openings in the 15th and 16th centuries. These details reveal distinct building periods: the towers retain older elements, while the openings belong to a later phase of alterations. The buildings currently house an agricultural business.

The Église Saint-Symphorien reflects a different period: it was built between 1840 and 1844 and houses religious sculptures. Igornay therefore brings together medieval architectural remains and a 19th-century church as distinct aspects of its cultural history.

Woodland, stream and granite valley

The northern half of Igornay includes the Bois du Grand-Bessay. This hilly woodland slopes steeply down to the Arroux and the narrow valley of the Ruisseau de Velleneuve. A different landscape can be found in the ZNIEFF “Ruisseaux de Villeneuve et du Breuil”: there, the Ruisseau du Breuil flows through a small granite valley surrounded by bocage pastureland.

The European-interest species Cottus gobio and Lampetra planeri are found in the area. When choosing nature themes, woodland, stream and pastureland can therefore be considered separately, rather than grouped together as a single landscape type.

Roman road, directions and an excursion to Cordesse

A Roman road from Autun to Langres forms Igornay’s southeastern boundary; today, it is a farm track. If you plan to include this route in your trip, check the conditions on site beforehand. To reach Igornay from Autun, take the N81 towards Arnay-le-Duc. After Cordesse and the railway crossing on the Autun–Saulieu line, the D26 leads to the centre of Igornay.

For a complementary excursion nearby, consider the Vélorail du Morvan. The ride starts at Gare de Cordesse–Igornay station in Cordesse and lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes. It follows a former railway line that connected Autun, Saulieu and Avallon with Paris until 2011. Check the timetable in advance. This makes it easy to plan the ride as a separate block of time alongside Igornay’s cultural and landscape attractions.

Discover more destinations: Laizy, Bourg-le-Comte, Épinac, Rully, Saint-Léger-Lès-Paray, Sologny, Brandon, Trambly.

For the broader travel overview: Saône-Et-Loire.