Nicolas Pinson - France Vélo Tourisme
Vignoble du côté de Santenay
Nicolas Pinson - France Vélo Tourisme
Cycliste sur le chemin de halage du canal du Centre
Nicolas Pinson - France Vélo Tourisme
Château de Santenay ou de Philippe Le Hardi
Nicolas Pinson - France Vélo Tourisme
Tandem sur voie verte autunoise
Nicolas Pinson - France Vélo Tourisme
Vue du clocher de Santenay
Nicolas Pinson - France Vélo Tourisme
Santenay : vignes
Nicolas Pinson - France Vélo Tourisme
Maison à pans de bois à Nolay
Nicolas Pinson - France Vélo Tourisme
Vue sur Nolay depuis le viaduc
Nicolas Pinson - France Vélo Tourisme
Halles en bois de Nolay
25 km
1 h 40 min
I cycle often
Santenay
Epinac
Old railway

Welcome to the Itinérance Verte en Autunois-Morvan! Before heading off, make sure you visit Santenay’s vineyards. A short way from the charming wine village of Santenay, a splendid greenway takes you along a former railway track, rising gently up the slopes to Nolay, with its attractive medieval heart and streets. Beyond Nolay, and especially from the viaducts of Rochabec and Cormet, enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding countryside and villages. To reach Epinac, after Châtillon Wood, you’ll need to push hard on your pedals before you rediscover the peace of the greenway at the La Farge Stream.

The Route

The greenway is signposted and well laid out along 13.5km between Santenay and Epertully (Bois de Châtillon).
The route is well surfaced along the former railway track between Santenay and Epinac. There are kilometre markers along the way.
Stretches take you along slope-side tracks offering views of valley and vineyards. The viaducts of Cormot and Rochabec are each c.200m in length.

Link

From Nolay, don’t miss the detour, along a road shared with motorized traffic, up to the Cirque du Bout du Monde (a dramatic steephead valley ‘at the end of the world’) and its waterfall, going via the D111E road on a 5km detour, heading in the direction of Vauchignon. 

Gradients and elevation

Ascents: 256m
Descents: 135m
Lowest point: 216m
Highest point: 457m

Road types

6km (22%) By road
20km (78%) Cycle path

Surface

20km (79%) Smooth
5km (21%) Rough

Don't miss

  • Santenay: the spa town; the casino; Sorine Mill (a restored windmill with views); the Church of St John; the 19th-century Manoir de la Crée; the Château de Philippe le Hardi, dating back to the 14th century.
  • Nolay: the medieval village; the 16th-century covered market; the medieval shop fronts; timber-frame houses; nearby, the Cirque du Bout du Monde (a dramatic steephead valley ‘at the end of the world’)
  • Épinac: the Hottinguer Mine; the Musée de la Mine, de la Verrerie et du Chemin de Fer, a museum on mining, railways and glass-blowing, open by appointment on +33 (0)7 82 03 21 17.

Find your accommodation on this stage

Le Tilleul

Le Tilleul

Lodgings and furnished rentals
Accueil Vélo
Cormot-Vauchignon

Trains et transport sur Santenay / Épinac

SNCF train stations

French national SNCF stations at Santenay (on the line Chalon - Autun) and at Chagny.
If coming from Lyon or Dijon, it is easy to reach this cycle route by train, arriving at Chagny station, then following the EV6 - Canal du Centre cycle route along 5.4km, as far as Santenay.

Details