Antully: Hiking, Forest and Heritage

Antully combines a connection to the forest with a rich local history. When planning your stay, you can choose between practical details about a circular hike and religious and historical topics. This can help you decide whether to spend more time on an outdoor trail during your trip or explore the town’s heritage.

Hiking in Antully: Forest and Ponds

The Forêt domaniale de Planoise, a state-owned forest, is located partly in Antully. The village lies on a plateau that rises to 579 metres. One specific hiking option is the “Forêt de Planoise et Étang du Martinet” route: it is 7.64 kilometres long, designated as an easy circular trail and linked to Antully.

The loop starts and ends at the car park by the Étang du Martinet. It follows the pond’s shore, crosses its dam and then leads to the Réservoir du Haut Rançon. Forest scenery and two ponds shape the route. Its length, circular format and described course give you several practical points to consider if you would like to include this hike in your travel plans.

There is no drinking water on the hiking trail. Sturdy footwear and a supply of water are recommended. GPX and KML tracks for Antully are available to download to help you prepare for the route. The route information lists Monday and Thursday as hunting days during the hunting season, from September to February. Before setting out, check whether this information applies to your planned date.

Another walking option is Antully’s several-kilometre-long Way of the Cross, which is suitable for an exploratory stroll. Its described focus differs from that of the 7.64-kilometre loop: here, the walk along the Way of the Cross takes centre stage, while the other option is a set circular route with information about its starting point and course.

Heritage and Local History

At least nine crosses in Antully were erected by the residents of the village and its hamlets over several centuries as an expression of their faith. The village’s religious heritage also includes the Église Saint-Benoît, with its medieval choir. The crosses and the church each offer a distinct historical connection to the area’s religious heritage.

Another historical connection leads to Prodhun. The medieval Grange de Prodhun, now called Ferme de la Chapelle, was dependent on Maizières Abbey.

The Verrerie de Prodhun is also part of the history of the forest area. Founded in 1730, the forest glassworks stood in the forests of the commune of Antully, on the site of a former barn belonging to Maizières Abbey. It is no longer in operation. Its main product was window glass; it is considered likely that ordinary blown glass was also produced alongside it. Thus, Antully’s religious local history and historic glassmaking stand side by side as distinct points of interest.

If you are considering a stay in Antully, you can weigh these interests separately: the hiking information focuses on the route and practical preparation, while the historical connections range from crosses and medieval history to an 18th-century glassworks.

Discover more destinations: Ciel, Bruailles, Saint-Didier-en-Brionnais, Sens-Sur-Seille, Montret, Mâcon, Sarry, Anost.

For the wider travel overview: Saône-Et-Loire.