During a stay in Courgis, you can combine culture, wine and walking by visiting specific places and taking part in available activities. The present-day washhouse and the Church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption reflect different historical periods; the reliquary containing a thorn from the Holy Crown of Thorns adds an annual religious occasion. Outdoors, there are two named walking trails to choose from, and Domaine George offers wine tastings and vineyard tours. You can therefore decide whether to focus on architectural history, wine or a longer route.
Architectural history across different periods
Courgis’s present-day washhouse was inaugurated in 1874. It is an impluvium-style washhouse, designed by the architect Dumont from Chablis. The Church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption, by contrast, dates largely from the 13th century. These dates refer to different aspects: for the washhouse, the date marks the inauguration of the present-day building; for the church, it refers to its predominantly medieval origins. Together, these buildings provide two distinct historical reference points in Courgis.
An annual religious occasion
The reliquary containing a thorn from the Holy Crown of Thorns is part of Courgis’s religious heritage. It is venerated every year on the last Sunday before the Assumption of Mary in August. Unlike the washhouse and the church, this observance is tied to a recurring date. If you would like to include it in your trip, check the date for the relevant year in advance. This will let you plan your visit around the specified Sunday in August rather than treating the occasion as independent of the calendar.
Walking trails and wine country
The Sentier de la Croix Duché runs through Courgis and offers expansive views across the Chablis vineyards. The trail has 12 km and 19 km options, a difference of seven kilometres. You can compare the two distances directly and choose the length that suits your walking plans. The views connect the trail with Chablis wine country, without requiring a visit to another place or taking a different route.
Another route option is the Sentier « Retif de la Bretonne », which runs for 23 km between Sacy and Courgis. That makes it four kilometres longer than the 19-km option and eleven kilometres longer than the 12-km option on the Sentier de la Croix Duché. The routes also differ in how they are described: the Croix Duché passes through Courgis, while the Retif route is specified as running between Sacy and Courgis. The orientation board in Courgis also offers a viewpoint over the vineyards. This means you can enjoy vineyard views from the walking trail and from another named viewpoint in the area.
Wine tastings and tours
Domaine George offers wine tastings in its 18th-century wine cellar, as well as tours of its vineyards. The activities have different focuses: the wine tasting centres on the historic cellar, while the tour takes in the vineyards. You can choose whether to connect your experience of the wine more with the cellar or with the vineyards. Tour arrangements may change, so check the current options in advance.
Discover more destinations: Yrouerre, Villy, Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye, Nitry, Quenne, Bèze, Dicy, Molinons
For the wider travel overview: Yonne.
