Saint-Privé brings together a clearly described hiking route with water and architectural history. The Camerolle appeals to travelers who want to plan their outing based on its difficulty, length and stated duration. The Rigole, church and washhouse offer other topics to explore during your stay: water management and different chapters of the town’s history.

Hiking the Camerolle

The Camerolle hiking route is rated easy, is 9.1 km long and has an elevation change of 31 m. Its stated duration is 2 hours and 40 minutes. This gives you several specific details to consider when planning: you can take the difficulty, route length, elevation change and time required into account as you decide what part the hike should play in your stay.

The route starts at the foot of the Saint-Privat church and by the Monument du Souvenir. Bear in mind when planning that local trail markings may change. The Camerolle follows the Rigole de Saint-Privé for part of the way. A shaded stretch along the Rigole passes wild areas, gardens and the pond. So, in addition to the stated route details, the hike also has a connection to the landscape, particularly along the canal.

The Rigole and the waterside landscape

The “Rigole,” a small canal that carries water from the Loing to the Canal de Briare, begins in Saint-Privé. This makes water management a distinct feature of the town: the Rigole is not just a name along the hiking route, but a waterway with a clearly identified connection between the Loing and the Canal de Briare. Since the Camerolle follows the Rigole only for part of the way, it also includes other stretches. Along the shaded section beside the Rigole, wild areas, gardens and the pond add to the landscape.

If you are mainly looking for a hiking destination with specific planning details, the Camerolle offers a clear starting point. If you are more interested in how water management and landscape come together in Saint-Privé, the Rigole takes center stage. Both perspectives can help you choose the focus of your stay without reducing the entire route to the canal.

Art and architectural history

Along its route, the Parcours des Amis d'Harpignies features around 20 reproductions of paintings by Henri Harpignies. This approximate number makes painting a recurring theme along the route. For art lovers, it offers a different perspective on Saint-Privé than the Camerolle’s route details or the Rigole’s water management.

The Saint-Privat church also has a history of construction in several stages. After being largely destroyed during the Hundred Years’ War, it was rebuilt around 1420–1440 and completed around 1530–1540. The Saint-Privé washhouse was given a roof during the Second Empire. The two buildings’ histories thus reflect different changes: reconstruction and completion at the church, and the addition of a roof to the washhouse.

Discover more destinations: Aillant-Sur-Tholon, Passy, Nailly, Dicy, Villefargeau, Saint-Julien-du-Sault, Saint-Germain-Des-Champs, Courson-Les-Carrières.

For the broader travel overview: Yonne.