A 7.64-kilometer circular trail brings together forest and pond landscapes in Antully; crosses, a church, and a former glassworks also tell the story of the area. If you are choosing a destination for both walking and cultural history, you will find two distinct highlights here that can also be explored independently.
Circular Trail, Forest, and Ponds
Antully lies on a plateau that rises to 579 meters and is one of the municipalities that includes the Forêt domaniale de Planoise state forest. The “Forêt de Planoise et Étang du Martinet” route passes through a forest landscape and takes in two ponds. It is designated an easy circular trail, starting and ending at the parking area by the Étang du Martinet.
The route first follows the shore of the Étang du Martinet, then crosses its dam and continues to the Réservoir du Haut Rançon. The pond shore, dam, and reservoir are therefore specific landmarks along the loop. At 7.64 kilometers and rated easy, the trail gives you a clear basis for deciding whether it fits your plans.
There is no drinking water along the trail; sturdy footwear and a supply of water are recommended. Be sure to plan your own water supply before setting out. GPX and KML tracks for Antully are available to download. The route description lists Monday and Thursday as hunting days during the hunting season from September to February. Check local notices before setting out.
Crosses, Church, and Local History
The several-kilometer-long Way of the Cross in Antully is suitable for an exploratory walk. Separately, at least nine crosses in the village and hamlets tell of the area’s religious history: residents erected them over several centuries as an expression of their faith. Together with the Église Saint-Benoît, whose medieval choir is part of Antully’s religious heritage, they offer several distinct ways to discover the area’s sacred history.
Another historical trace leads to the Verrerie de Prodhun. Founded in 1730, the forest glassworks was located in the forests of the municipality of Antully, on the site of a former barn belonging to Maizières Abbey. It mainly produced window glass; the production of ordinary blown glass is also considered likely. The glassworks is no longer in operation. Its history adds an account of a former craft practiced at a woodland site to the walking experience.
The medieval Grange de Prodhun is also connected with Maizières Abbey: today it is called Ferme de la Chapelle; historically, it depended on the abbey and was located in the municipality of Saint-Loup-de-la-Salle. For the Prodhun area, records mention a total of 600 hectares of forest and three ponds in 1726: La Noue, Le Maupas, and La Fallourde. These details give the area’s history its own time frame, alongside the glassworks’ founding in 1730.
The walking loop and the Way of the Cross offer different ways to discover Antully: the loop has a specific length and a designated difficulty, while the Way of the Cross is described as an exploratory walk several kilometers long. Those primarily interested in cultural heritage can also explore the crosses, the church’s medieval choir, and the history of the glassworks as distinct aspects of the area.
Discover more destinations: Gergy, La Tagnière, Uxeau, La Guiche, Saint-Loup-Géanges, Étrigny, Saint-Bonnet-De-Joux, Frangy-en-Bresse
For the regional travel overview: Saône-Et-Loire.
