The Forest of Orléans, the Canal d’Orléans and the town’s history give Sury-aux-Bois several different facets. You can focus your trip on walking and cycling in the forest, or make the canal’s distinctive features and the town’s historic traces the main focus. Which aspect you emphasise more depends on whether you prefer spending time in the forest or exploring historical themes.

Forest, Nature and Trails

Sury-aux-Bois lies in the heart of the state-owned Forest of Orléans. The municipality is part of the Natura 2000 network; several ZNIEFF sites are natural areas of ecological, faunal and floral interest. These designations add an ecological perspective to the landscape.

For an outdoor outing, you could take a walk in the forest or explore on foot or by bicycle. One named route is the Canal et Brin d’Amour circular trail: this hike is rated very easy and takes about two and a half hours. This makes it possible to plan the circular walk as a separate activity, while a stroll or a bicycle outing focuses more on being active in the forest. The Scandibérique cycle route also passes near Sury-aux-Bois. For cycling travellers, this brings a named cycle route into view alongside the forest.

The Canal d’Orléans

The Canal d’Orléans runs through Sury-aux-Bois. Its opening at the end of the 17th century benefited the municipality and links the waterway with the history of the town. A distinctive engineering feature can be found at the canal’s summit reach on its Loire side, near Sury-aux-Bois. The summit reach is the highest section of a canal. Together with the “Montagne” built there, it enables a lock-free stretch of more than 18 kilometres between the Seine and the Loire, in the heart of the Forest of the Carnutes. The story of the canal’s opening is thus linked to a concrete view of the engineering structure and its course between the two rivers.

History in the Town

The first recorded mention of Suriacus appears in a charter of King Lothair dating from 956. The Church of Saint-Georges dates from the 15th century and was altered several times over the centuries. During the French Revolution, it was temporarily used as a salt storehouse. Its construction, later alterations and this temporary use tell different chapters of the town’s history.

The Porte des seigneurs also points to former residents: thirteen noble landowning families lived in Sury-aux-Bois between 1600 and 1800. Another tradition concerns the Saint-Georges well. It was apparently believed to have powers that cured eye diseases. The church, the gate and the well thus open up different historical themes, without all belonging to the same period.

Plan Your Journey

Sury-aux-Bois can be reached by Cars REMI from the bus stations in Orléans and Beaune-la-Rolande. Check the timetables before travelling if you plan to use these bus connections to get there. This lets you connect your travel arrangements with the themes of your stay: time in the forest, the Canal et Brin d’Amour hike, or the history of the canal and the town.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Bellegarde, Germigny-Des-Prés, Baule, Olivet, Épieds-En-Beauce, Pannes, Châteauneuf-Sur-Loire, Château-Renard

Go to the main travel overview: Loiret.