Pouillenay: Routes and Architectural History

If you are considering Pouillenay as a travel destination, you can make your choice based on a range of themes: routes along the Canal de Bourgogne, lock locations, and historic architecture. When looking for a hotel, this distinction can help you match the character of the place to your travel interests.

Routes along the Canal de Bourgogne

To the west, the Canal de Bourgogne runs through the meadows of the commune of Pouillenay, where the Véloroute offers pleasant cycling and walking routes. The Camino de Santiago crosses Pouillenay, passes Place Pion, and reaches the Canal de Bourgogne at Lock 4. It then continues towards Semur-en-Auxois. For your travel planning, these route connections differ in emphasis: the Véloroute focuses on cycling and walking, while the Camino de Santiago follows a sequence of stopping points and continues in a particular direction. Place Pion, Lock 4, and Semur-en-Auxois provide concrete landmarks in sequence along the route described. Check the route details before setting off.

Lock locations and architectural history

Two named lock locations can be distinguished by their numbers. The location of Lock 41 on the Yonne lateral canal, called Pouillenay 5ème, is on reach 41 of the Canal de Bourgogne in Pouillenay. The location of Lock 49 on the Yonne lateral canal, called Pouillenay 13ème, is on reach 49 of the same canal in Pouillenay. The numbers 41 and 49 each designate a lock and its corresponding reach; 5ème and 13ème are the names of the respective locations. This makes it possible to distinguish between the two references in the architectural history.

The Pouillenay 5ème lock was built for the stretch of the Canal de Bourgogne that was opened to traffic from Pont-de-Pany to Tonnerre in 1832. The Pouillenay 13ème location includes a Foucherot-type lock keeper’s house. It has a rectangular floor plan and a roof with long slopes. The floor plan describes the shape of the building as seen from above; the roof slopes add a description of the shape of its upper part. Together, these two features provide a concrete guide to the house’s architectural form.

Church and historic buildings

The parish church of Saint-Symphorien dates from the 12th century. The church contains a 16th-century statue of Saint Symphorian or a holy deacon; it is classified as a protected object. The church and the statue therefore represent different historical periods: the church dates back several centuries earlier than the individual work of art. The age of the building and the dating of the statue can thus be considered as two separate points of reference.

The Château de Villiers on the banks of the Brenne was built in the 15th to 16th centuries and retains a defensive tower and two round towers. Its date therefore places it in a later period than the parish church and partially overlaps with the dating of the statue. This creates a chronological arc in the architectural history, from the 12th-century church to the buildings and works of art of the 15th and 16th centuries.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Aubin, Marigny-lès-Reullée, Daix, Magny-lès-Aubigny, Agencourt, Flagey-Échézeaux, Argilly, Manlay

For the broader travel overview: Cote-Dor.