Baubigny: Limestone Cliffs, Nature and Hiking Trails

Baubigny brings together nature, hiking and architectural history in different ways: the protected area consists of two separate sections, the hiking routes differ in their layout, and historical details can be found at the parish church of Saint-Léger and at the Fontaine au Chêne in Orches.

A Natural Area Between Cliffs and Limestone Grasslands

The Pelouses et Falaise de Baubigny et de Saint-Romain protected area covers 117.5 hectares in the municipalities of Baubigny and Saint-Romain. It consists of two separate sections. Its landscape features include dry limestone grasslands, a forest at the foot of the cliffs, scree slopes and limestone blocks. The total area therefore does not describe one continuous area, but a protected site with two separate sections.

The species found there are also associated with specific habitats: alpine mezereon, peregrine falcons, eagle owls and wildcats live in the cliffs, scree slopes and forests at the foot of the cliffs. For nature enthusiasts, both the diverse landscape and the species that inhabit it are highlights. Limestone grasslands add to the protected area's character alongside its rocky areas and forest.

Hiking Trails and Time Required

The GR 7 long-distance trail crosses the entire Baubigny area. Circuit 18, also known as the Circuit des Roches, is a loop and is included in the PDIPR. The different route layouts offer a useful first point of reference: the GR 7 runs through the area, while the Circuit des Roches forms a loop.

The lengths and approximate durations of the two options can also be compared. The northern loop between Évelle and Orches is about 10 km long and takes approximately three hours. The full Circuit des Roches is about 15 km long and takes approximately five hours. The northern loop therefore offers the shorter time commitment; the duration and distance figures are approximate.

There is parking by the church in Baubigny for Circuit 18. Check the route information again before setting out to make sure your plans match the route details.

Architectural History and Local Details

The Parish Church of Saint-Léger

The bell tower and possibly the choir of the parish church of Saint-Léger were built in the 12th century. The porch and portal were added at the end of the 15th century, when the choir was also altered. The choir thus links a possible early construction phase with a later change; its 12th-century dating remains uncertain.

Another detail can be seen at the portal: corbels there bear smoothed coats of arms. Corbels are projecting architectural elements; at the church, this architectural feature and the smoothed coats of arms form a distinctive detail of the portal.

The Fontaine au Chêne in Orches

In Orches, Baubigny, the Fontaine au Chêne consists of four Gallo-Roman steles above a spring. The spring feeds a drinking trough dating from the 19th century. The site thus brings together the steles and a later basin supplied by the spring: a different example of architectural heritage from the multi-phase parish church of Saint-Léger.

Discover more destinations: Bligny-Le-Sec, Flammerans, Volnay, Auxey-Duresses, Corsaint, Val-Suzon, Blaisy-Bas, Boncourt-le-Bois

For the broader travel overview: Cote-Dor.