Champigny: Culture and Hiking

Champigny offers travellers several distinct points of interest: the architecture of the Église Saint-Martin, historic buildings, memorial sites and a longer hiking trail. Each theme brings its own focus to travel planning—from church architecture and remembrance to a hike with an average walking time of three hours.

The Église Saint-Martin and its architectural history

The Église Saint-Martin has a nave with side aisles, a transept and a five-sided chancel. The oldest surviving part of the church today is on its west side: the façade with a round-arched portal dating from the 12th century. Inside, the church houses an altarpiece depicting the Triumph of the Holy Cross, dating from the early 16th century. The portal and altarpiece therefore point to different historical periods and show two distinct aspects of the church: its architectural form and a religious work of art.

Historic buildings and memorial sites

Near the church, the “petit château” was built by the Esmangard de Bournonville family. A château in Champigny was very likely built by the De Bernard family, who were the lords of Champigny from the late 15th century until the French Revolution. The chapel ruins at the Cour-Notre-Dame priory are also part of the area’s architectural history. The ruins date from the 11th century and retain Romanesque window features. In Champigny, you can therefore encounter different architectural remnants, from the older chapel ruins to châteaux associated with local families.

Another focus is the remembrance of airmen who lost their lives during the Second World War. The remains of five airmen from the Karnezis crew are buried in the Champigny-sur-Yonne/La Chapelle Champigny cemetery. They died on 6 September 1943 during a mission against Stuttgart. A stele in Champigny commemorates five American airmen who died there. The cemetery is associated with the Karnezis crew and the date; the stele commemorates the five airmen.

Woodlands and hiking

The “Pierre qui sent l’huile” and a polissoir are still visible in the woodlands of Champigny. A rock bearing a clearly legible religious inscription from 1776 is also in the woods, but away from the paths. If you plan to visit these woodland features, check local access conditions.

Les Brissets is a hiking trail in Champigny measuring about 11.5 kilometres. The average walking time is three hours. This estimate can help you plan your day; also check local conditions before setting out. The hike therefore offers a distinct time commitment alongside the architectural and memorial sites.

Getting there and finding accommodation

Champigny-sur-Yonne railway stop is located at Place de la gare. There is no ticket office there, but a TER ticket machine is available. As rail services can change, check the current timetable before travelling.

When looking for a hotel in Champigny, you can first decide whether architectural history and remembrance or the roughly three-hour hike should be the focus of your stay. This turns the different themes into a practical starting point for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Chassignelles, Saint-Georges-Sur-Baulche, Escolives-Sainte-Camille, Saint-Cyr-Les-Colons, Paroy-Sur-Tholon, Pacy-sur-Armançon, Chemilly-Sur-Serein, Joigny

For the broader travel overview: Yonne.