The Church of Saint-Laurent stands in the centre of Charentenay; the commune is also part of a large ZNIEFF natural area that is important for bats. Two hiking trails differ considerably in their starting points, lengths and walking times: “de l’Ardille” begins in front of Charentenay’s sports ground, while “du bois Joly” starts at the town hall in Migé. Architecture, nature conservation and hiking each offer a distinct focus for planning your stay.
Church of Saint-Laurent in the village centre
In the centre of the village stands the Church of Saint-Laurent de Charentenay, with a tall, fortified square tower. Sturdy buttresses flank the tower, and small turrets crown it. Its appearance is shaped by the contrast between the clean square form, the side supports and the smaller forms above. Buttresses are supports built onto the sides of a wall; they help make the tower’s structure easy to read. Together with its central location, the church provides a clear architectural and spatial landmark from which to explore the village.
A ZNIEFF area important for bats
The ZNIEFF area “Ensemble de carrières à Merry-le-Sec, Thury, Aubigny, Molesmes, Charentenay, Courson-les-Carrières, Champoux” includes Charentenay and covers 874.13 hectares. It contains seven underground networks associated with characteristic woodland of the limestone plateaus and islands of dry grassland.
The underground quarry complex plays an important functional role in the overwintering of bats in Burgundy. The combined populations of all bat species exceed 5,500 individuals. In Charentenay, the site is the region’s largest for the greater mouse-eared bat and is also important for the greater horseshoe bat. It is part of the Natura 2000 network under the Habitats Directive and is named “CAVITES A CHAUVES SOURIS EN BOURGOGNE”.
Two hiking trails, different time commitments
The “de l’Ardille” hiking trail begins in front of Charentenay’s sports ground. The stated walking time for its six-kilometre route is one and a half hours. It passes through the Vau de Givry towards the pine forests and also enters the Bois de Couarde, a woodland with oaks, birches and other tree species. The stated time provides a practical starting point for your planning; check current trail conditions before setting out.
The “du bois Joly” hiking trail starts at the town hall in Migé and is 13.3 kilometres long; the walking time is about three hours. The route passes fields, cherry orchards and vineyards. It is more than twice as long as the Ardille trail, and the stated walking time is approximately twice as long. The starting points also differ: one trail begins in Charentenay, the other in Migé.
Nature enthusiasts will find two distinct focuses: woodland sections along the Ardille trail on the one hand, and underground habitats and bat overwintering in the ZNIEFF area on the other.
Discover more destinations: Escolives-Sainte-Camille, Pontaubert, Lainsecq, Crain, Toucy, Villeneuve-L'archevĂŞque, Dissangis, Sennevoy-Le-Bas
For the overview of the wider area: Yonne.
