Simandre combines a church dating from the 12th century with an extensive network of walking trails through the municipality. This offers several points of interest for a stay focused on heritage and nature: Saint Jean Baptiste Church, the five “Balades vertes” and the La Lande des Bruyères discovery site. The trails vary in length; specific guidance on timing and preparation is also available for certain activities. This lets you decide whether you are interested in the named walking route, the five walking trails or the nature site, where you can choose how long to spend visiting.
Saint Jean Baptiste Church and heritage
Saint Jean Baptiste Church in Simandre was built in the 12th century. Its bell tower and apse have been listed as historic monuments since 27 November 1951. These are two distinct dates: the 12th century refers to the church’s construction, while the later listing applies to the bell tower and apse.
Those interested in the history of religious architecture will find a clearly dated point of reference here. The church can be considered alongside the old buildings and local heritage encountered on the trails through various hamlets. As well as the natural attractions of its trails, Simandre therefore has a specific historical point of interest.
The “Balades vertes” and a named walking route
The five “Balades vertes” are walking trails ranging from 3.8 to 10 kilometres long. Together, they comprise 44 kilometres of walking trails for exploring the municipality. The routes pass through various hamlets in Simandre and offer the chance to discover old buildings, local heritage and the municipality’s rich flora and fauna. The range of trail lengths is a practical guide when choosing a route; the total distance also shows that the offer extends beyond a single walk.
Another specific point of reference is the “Du calvaire aux Mares Joly (SI3)” walking route. It is 5.6 kilometres long, rated easy and listed as taking one hour. The distance, difficulty rating and time estimate answer different planning questions: you can consider the route’s distance, assess its difficulty and factor the stated time into your day’s plans. The 5.6-kilometre distance falls within the range of the five “Balades vertes”; the difficulty rating and duration refer specifically to the named SI3 route.
La Lande des Bruyères, ponds and washhouses
La Lande des Bruyères is a discovery site designed for tourists, school groups and walkers. Walking trails there offer the opportunity to discover the local flora and fauna. Allow about two hours for a visit; binoculars and sturdy footwear are recommended. This approximate visit time differs from the one-hour duration given for the SI3 walk. Visitors can therefore plan around two different types of outing, each with its own time frame.
Ponds and washhouses are also part of the local discovery offer. As part of a discovery trail featuring ponds and washhouses, eight ponds were enhanced. The Conservatoire des mares selected them based on their appearance, fauna or flora. In Simandre, six washhouses were also fully renovated; they are part of the local discovery offer featuring ponds and washhouses. Nature and appearance are the main points of interest at the ponds, while the renovated washhouses add an architectural feature. Simandre therefore offers a variety of ways to enjoy a stay that takes in nature, walking trails and local heritage.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Sernin-Du-Plain, Etang-Sur-Arroux, Curgy, Saint-Martin-D'auxy, Saint-Germain-Du-Bois, Saint-Symphorien-De-Marmagne, Montret, La Grande-Verrière.
View the wider travel guide: Saône-Et-Loire.
