Dun Les Places: Heritage and Hiking

Dun Les Places lies in a landscape of wooded hills and the Cure Valley, and is a stopover village for hikers. Its church, heritage protection, archaeological traces and a challenging circular hike offer different reasons to visit. The Église Sainte-Amélie is an example of Neo-Romanesque architecture; the walls of a Gallic oppidum are visible at Mont Saint-Marc, and the Chapelle Saint-Marc has medieval origins. Also on offer is the difficult Boucle de la vallée de la Cure circular hike, which starts and ends at the church and offers wide-ranging panoramic views over the Morvan.

Église Sainte-Amélie and heritage protection

The Église Sainte-Amélie is a Neo-Romanesque church and was consecrated on 9 September 1851. Neo-Romanesque refers to a later architectural style that draws on forms of Romanesque architecture. The consecration belongs to the church’s 19th-century history; heritage protection followed in two later stages: in 1988, the church was listed as a historic monument, and in 1991 it was classified. Consecration, listing and classification mark different stages in the history of the building.

The church is open on the same days and during the same opening hours as the neighboring Mémorial. This makes it possible to plan visits to both places together.

Mont Saint-Marc: oppidum and chapel

The first and second walls of the Gallic oppidum at Mont Saint-Marc are still clearly visible. The Chapelle Saint-Marc also stands on the summit and dates back to the Middle Ages. The walls and the chapel point to different historical layers on the same mountain: the Gallic oppidum and a medieval religious site.

The chapel has been restored and cleaned, and is accessible; check current conditions before your visit. It is associated with a very ancient cult and a pilgrimage to the Fontaine Saint-Marc. This tradition broadens the perspective from the history of the building to the religious heritage of the place.

Hiking along the Cure

As a stopover village for hikers, Dun Les Places offers a specific hiking itinerary with the Boucle de la vallée de la Cure. The circular hike is difficult, covers 25.5 km and takes seven hours; it starts and ends at the church. The route follows the right bank of the Cure and passes the Rocher de la Pérouse, which offers wide-ranging panoramic views over the Morvan.

Distance, difficulty rating and duration answer different questions: the number of kilometers describes the length, “difficult” indicates the level of challenge, and seven hours is the time required. Consider all three details together when estimating how much time the hike will take. As trail conditions can change, check the current route conditions before setting out.

Two time considerations are key when combining a church visit with a hike: the Église Sainte-Amélie is open on the same days and during the same opening hours as the neighboring Mémorial, while the circular hike takes seven hours. Check the latest opening information and trail conditions before planning both.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Sermoise, Marigny-l'Église, Glux-En-Glenne, Planchez, Fertrève, Ville-Langy, Lucenay-Lès-Aix, Nuars

Go to the main travel overview: Nièvre.