Mézilles: Circular Route, Church and Jardin Ribaudin

For a stay in Mézilles, there are three distinct points of interest: the “Le Moulin Rouge et le Château du Fort” circular route, the local church and the historic Jardin Ribaudin. They differ in nature: a walking route, ecclesiastical architectural history and a garden with canals and built features. You can therefore explore the town on a walk or through specific historical and architectural details.

Walking the marked circular route

The marked circular route is numbered 69 and designated as a cultural and natural walking route for pedestrians. It starts at the car park by the village hall on the D965 and crosses the Branlin. Its number, markings and character identify it as a specific walking option. For planning, the car park is a named starting point and the Branlin a notable point along the route; the cultural element refers to the Château du Fort.

Château du Fort and the history of defence

The route leads to a point in front of the chapel of the Château du Fort. Le Fort is one of the surviving fortified houses associated with the defence of Saint-Fargeau. The chapel is a specific landmark along the route, while Le Fort brings in the history of the fortified houses and their role in defence. A particular place along the way and a historical context thus go hand in hand.

Mézilles Church: building history and restoration

Mézilles Church is dedicated to Saint Mary and was rebuilt during the Renaissance. The side aisle and seigneurial chapel were added during this rebuilding. These additions refer to different parts of the church: the side aisle extends the church interior, while the seigneurial chapel is a distinct architectural feature. A wall painting depicting the martyrdom of Saint Blaise has been restored; the church also has a recently restored wooden vault. The wall painting and vault add two different restored features to the building’s history: a religious image and a wooden structure. Both a historical building phase and specific architectural features are therefore in focus.

Jardin Ribaudin and its water system

Jardin Ribaudin is a 19th-century garden. Its features include canals, an orchard, a vegetable garden, a dovecote and an icehouse on the island. These elements relate to different aspects: the orchard and vegetable garden to cultivation, the canals to water management, and the dovecote and icehouse to built features. The canal system is fed by the Branlin and supplies water to private washhouses. In Mézilles, the river thus serves two distinct roles: it is crossed on the circular route and feeds the canals in Jardin Ribaudin.

To choose what to focus on, it helps to distinguish the route from the individual sites: Route 69 is a marked walk that crosses a river and is linked to the Château du Fort. The church and Jardin Ribaudin offer their own highlights, including architectural history, restored features and the garden’s water system. You can plan your visit around a specific walking route or the historical and architectural details of Mézilles.

Discover more destinations: Poilly-sur-Tholon, Chemilly-Sur-Serein, Montigny-La-Resle, Villeneuve-Sur-Yonne, Cézy, La Ferté-Loupière, Périgny, Crain.

See the overview of destinations in the region: Yonne.