The Chemin des lavoirs connects five washhouses along a circular route that starts and ends in Lournand. Along the way, it offers views of the Clunisois and its hills covered with scrub. A visit brings the landscape and built heritage equally into focus: the route leads to small structures dating from the early 19th century, while the religious buildings offer other historical perspectives.

Hilly landscape and stone murgers

Lournand has a hilly landscape with slopes facing east. These slopes were once suitable for growing grapes. Stone murgers still mark the boundaries of plots and paths. Their former suitability for vineyards and the murgers that remain today reveal two distinct layers in the landscape’s history. Lournand can thus be characterized both by the shape of its terrain and by its stone boundaries.

The Chemin des lavoirs: a defined circular route

The Chemin des lavoirs is an easy, seven-kilometre circular walk with 120 metres of elevation gain. It starts and ends in Lournand and is part of the Balades vertes initiative, created and supported by the Département de Saône-et-Loire. The route is also designated for horseback riding, walking and mountain biking. These details complement each other when assessing the route: the rating describes its difficulty, while the distance and elevation gain provide further concrete measures to help you choose.

Five washhouses lie along the route. Each is a small structure dating from the early 19th century and consists of a washhouse, a well and livestock troughs. Each building is therefore more than just a place to wash: the well and troughs are also part of the ensemble. This combination makes the small buildings a tangible example of historic everyday architecture and gives the circular route a clearly defined theme.

Religious buildings and their historical contexts

The Chapelle Saint Laurent de Collonges is on the GR 76, at the crossroads of the routes to Santiago de Compostela and the Way of St Francis of Assisi. The chapel is a historic monument; its origins probably predate the year 900. Its architectural history is thus linked to two explicitly named pilgrimage routes, while the Chemin des lavoirs is defined by its washhouses.

The Eglise de l'Assomption, also known as Église Sainte Marie, is mentioned as early as the 950s. Originally Romanesque, it was completely rebuilt in 1846, with the exception of the bell-tower bay. These details mark different aspects of its history: its early mention, Romanesque origins and an extensive rebuilding that left the bell-tower bay intact. The church is intended to retain its religious function while also serving as a venue for cultural events organized by the municipality of Lournand.

In terms of chronology, the chapel and the church offer different historical reference points: the chapel is believed to date from before 900, while the church is associated with its mention in the 950s, its Romanesque origins and its rebuilding in 1846. For those interested in religious buildings, the comparison offers two distinct historical perspectives.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Émiland, Lucenay-L'évêque, Chardonnay, Marcigny, Lacrost, Le Tartre, Sarry, Saint-Maurice-De-Satonnay

For the broader travel overview: Saône-Et-Loire.