Saint-Hilaire-Fontaine: Routes, the Loire and History

Saint-Hilaire-Fontaine offers several distinct themes for planning your trip: a cycling route from Champvert, a hiking trail along the right bank of the Réserve Naturelle Régionale de la Loire Bourguignonne, a canoe and kayak launch and landing point at Thareau, and architecture and the historical use of water.

Cycling and Hiking

A 20-kilometre cycling route runs from Champvert to Saint-Hilaire-Fontaine and is shared with EuroVelo 6. The named endpoints and route length give you a concrete basis for planning. How much time you allow for the ride depends on your pace. As route conditions and signage may change, check the latest information before setting off.

A hiking trail along the right bank lets you walk beside the Réserve Naturelle Régionale de la Loire Bourguignonne. This gives you two different ways to get around: the cycling route between Champvert and Saint-Hilaire-Fontaine, or a hike along the protected area. Which route you prefer depends on whether you want to focus on cycling or hiking.

The Circuit Loire nature loop offers another specific route length: at Port Thareau, it follows the GR 3® long-distance hiking trail for about 3.5 kilometres. This distance refers to the section along the GR 3®; check the latest hiking leaflet before setting off, as the route may change. Sights along the loop include Étang du Moulin au Loup, a pond created by people in the 19th and 20th centuries for water supply and timber transport. Its former function gives the body of water a practical historical context.

Water, Architecture and History

At Thareau, there is a canoe and kayak launch and landing point on the Loire. If you are considering a trip on the water, this is a specific point to include in your plans; check the local conditions for launching before setting out. The Cressonne also flows into the Loire at this location. Two distinct connections to the river can therefore be found here: its use for canoeing and kayaking, and the confluence as a geographical feature.

The Église Saint-Hilaire has a Romanesque choir. Its nave and gabled façade, with a centrally positioned bell tower, were built in the 19th century in the Neo-Romanesque style. Neo-Romanesque refers to a later revival of Romanesque forms. At the church, you can distinguish the Romanesque choir from the 19th-century Neo-Romanesque features.

Thareau was formerly a mandatory passage point for the extensive river traffic on the Loire between Roanne and Nevers. This historical role differs from the use of Étang du Moulin au Loup: the pond served water supply and timber transport. Two different historical uses of water are thus evident—river shipping on the one hand, and supply and transport at the pond on the other.

Discover more destinations: Challuy, Marzy, Corvol-D'embernard, Saint-Hilaire-En-Morvan, Saint-Seine, Dampierre-sous-Bouhy, Colméry, Anlezy

For the main travel overview: Nièvre.