Church art, a converted washhouse and the Circuit des Fermes give Chemin-d'Aisey several distinctive features. When planning your trip, consider whether you would like to focus on local architectural history, an agriculturally themed route or the donkey activities described here.
The church and local architectural history
The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary bears a foundation plaque dated 8 September 1895. Inside is a polychrome limestone statue of Saint Roch with his dog. Polychrome means multicoloured; the material and depiction make the statue a tangible reference point for religious art. The plaque and statue represent two different aspects of the church: its commemorative record of a dated foundation and a work of religious art inside.
Chemin-d'Aisey is also home to a 19th-century washhouse that was converted into a pumping station. This change of use is a striking aspect of its local history: the building represents both its former purpose as a washhouse and its later technical use. It therefore complements the church's history with a different subject: the conversion of a building to a new use.
Circuit des Fermes: route landscape and options
The Circuit des Fermes starts and finishes at Place du 14 juillet in Chemin-d'Aisey. The route alternates between plateaus and agricultural tracks and is regularly walked by pack donkeys. Limestone walls along the way recall the area's former pastoral use. These details shape the route's character through its landscape and traces of agricultural use.
Several farms can be seen on the Circuit des Fermes, including Ferme de la Borde, regarded as one of the more remarkable farms on the route. The Burgundy snail, “Escargot de Bourgogne,” is also among the Circuit's wildlife features. The farms, walls and wildlife each offer a different perspective: architectural features, historical use and a connection with nature.
One possible detour leads to the “Croix Percée” and is marked in blue. If you plan to take this option, check the current waymarkers on site. This gives you a specific route feature to help decide whether to take the detour.
Donkey activities and regional context
A tourism feature about the Côte-d'Or describes, under the name “Donkey Ane,” introductions to working with donkeys, half-day and full-day rides, and multi-day tours. The setting is Chemin-d'Aisey on the edge of the Châtillonnais Forest. Ask about the current arrangements before your trip. The formats differ considerably in the time required: a half-day or full day needs different planning from a multi-day tour.
The regional context is also clearly defined: Chemin-d'Aisey is one of the municipalities in the Côte-d'Or département that have joined the charter of the Forêts National Park. This was established by a decree dated 10 July 2020. This adds a connection to the charter to the specific features of the village and route, without replacing the character of the route described here.
Find hotels based on your travel interests
If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, choose Chemin-d'Aisey as your search destination and tailor your selection to your planned focus: church art and local history, the landscape of the Circuit des Fermes, or a donkey activity. For “Donkey Ane,” ask about the current arrangements before your trip; the options range from an introduction to multi-day tours and differ accordingly in how they fit your schedule.
Discover more destinations: Marey-Lès-Fussey, Francheville, Bouilland, Arnay-Le-Duc, Flagey-Échézeaux, Bessey-En-Chaume, Aisey-Sur-Seine, Meloisey.
For the broader travel guide: Cote-Dor.
