Turny offers two hikes to suit different time budgets, alongside a distinctive local history. The Le Haut des Sorins loop is 6 km long, easy and takes about two hours. The Circuit du Fays covers 9 km, is moderately difficult and takes approximately three hours. There is also a viewpoint overlooking almost all of the commune’s hamlets, as well as buildings with stories dating back to the 16th century. When planning your visit, you can decide whether to focus on a shorter or longer hike and how much time to spend at the historic sites.
Landscape between the viewpoint and Fays
The viewpoint at Haut des Sorins is at an altitude of 170 m. From there, you can see almost all of Turny’s hamlets. Fays offers a different perspective on elevation: the hamlet lies on the edge of the Forêt d’Othe, belongs to the commune of Turny and, at 299 m, is the highest point in the Pays d’Othe. These two figures describe different aspects of the landscape—the view across the commune and Fays’s distinctive position within the region.
The difference between the hikes is clear: Le Haut des Sorins is the shorter, easy option; the Circuit du Fays is longer, takes approximately an hour more and is moderately difficult. The times given are approximate.
Two hikes, one clear starting point
The Circuit du Fays starts at the washhouse and pond in Fays. This starting point connects the hike directly to one of the hamlet’s historic structures. The washhouse is a 19th-century brick building. Its pond is fed exclusively by rainwater and surface water. Part of the pond served as a watering place for livestock and was separated from the washing area by a wall. If you take a moment at the start to look at the architectural details, you can better understand how the site was once used: the washing area and watering place were side by side but kept separate.
The two trails therefore differ in more than distance. The Circuit du Fays has a named starting point at the washhouse; for Le Haut des Sorins, the information mainly gives its length, approximate duration and easy difficulty level. To choose between them, consider two simple questions: How long do you want the hike to be, and which of the two difficulty levels best suits your plans? The view at Haut des Sorins and the local history of Fays each offer a different focus.
Church and Château des Varennes
Construction of the Church of Saint-Mammès in Turny began in 1518 under the auspices of Antoine de Lespinasse, who was the local lord at the time. It has been protected as a Monument historique since 1913. The key to the church is available from Turny town hall. Ask there how to obtain it before your visit.
The Château des Varennes also has a history shaped by its construction and heritage protection. Its main construction phases date from the 17th and 18th centuries; on 16 November 2015, the château was designated a Monument historique. The protected complex includes the château, its bridge, outbuildings, a platform, water-filled moats and two entrance pavilions belonging to the farm. The château is privately owned. If you are considering a visit, make arrangements in advance.
Together, the church and château illustrate different historical periods and two specific heritage-protection stories. At the washhouse, the focus is on materials, water supply and the separation between the washing area and the livestock watering place. These sites offer different ways to explore Turny’s architectural history: from the church, whose construction began in 1518, to the complex dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, and the 19th-century washhouse.
Discover more destinations: Villy, Villiers-les-Hauts, Toucy, Villeneuve-L'archevĂŞque, Diges, Arcy-Sur-Cure, Lignorelles, Chamoux.
For the broader travel overview: Yonne.
