A dry-stone hut beside an enclosed orchard is a striking detail along the Le chemin des écoliers (2) hiking trail. The 11.7-kilometre route is in Montillot and starts at the Place de l’école car park. FFRandonnée marks it with a fuchsia PR® trail marker. This gives you the route length, starting point and trail marking for planning your hike. Along the way, you will also encounter a piece of rural building and land-use history.
Hiking and Rural Building Heritage
The stone hut is built entirely from flat stones laid without mortar. Beside it is an orchard enclosed by a low wall. The hut provided farmers with shelter from the rain while they worked in orchards or vineyards. Its construction can thus be linked to a specific former purpose: providing shelter while working in cultivated areas. The hut, orchard and wall add a detail of cultural history to the trail, making both the construction and its agricultural context visible.
The woods around Montillot also offer opportunities for scenic hikes. Two different approaches to walking are available here: a specifically named route with a set length and starting point, and hikes through the woodland landscape. At the geographical point of Gué Pavé, the Cure crosses the edge of the commune of Montillot. This is another precisely named landscape feature that helps locate the village.
The Church and Its Sculpted Details
The Église de Montillot on Place Saint-Laurent dates from the 16th century. At its exterior corners are six heads representing the seven deadly sins. The date of construction and the sculpted motif highlight different aspects: one places the church in time, while the other draws attention to a specific feature of its exterior design. The fact that there are six heads representing seven deadly sins also makes the motif noteworthy.
Together with the dry-stone hut, the church forms a cultural and historical focus that touches on different aspects of the village: religious imagery at the church and the practical construction of a shelter used for agricultural work. These details add themes to the hiking trail that go beyond its length and trail marking.
Horse Riding and Farming in the Past
Les Écuries de la Croix des Bois offers riding lessons from beginner to advanced level, as well as horseback rides. Lessons and rides are two different ways to include horse riding in your stay. If you plan to take part in either activity, confirm the dates and arrangements again before you arrive.
The history of red fruit is another trace of the area’s agricultural past. In the last century, Montillot was known for it; vegetable growers sold the fruit at markets and to restaurateurs. This part of the village’s history therefore encompasses both cultivation and sales. It describes an earlier economic influence and adds a culinary and agricultural perspective to the built heritage.
Highlights for Your Stay
For planning purposes, the options can be distinguished by their character: the marked 11.7-kilometre trail is a clearly defined hiking option, while the woods around Montillot offer further opportunities for walking. Riding lessons and horseback rides are separate activities. Those more interested in history can explore the church, the dry-stone hut and the former importance of red fruit. This lets you shape your stay around hiking, horse riding or local history without combining them into a fixed programme.
Discover more destinations: Nailly, Villeneuve-la-Guyard, Dicy, Bèze, Taingy, Chemilly-Sur-Serein, Appoigny, Sainte-Vertu.
For the overview of destinations in the wider area: Yonne.
