Turny: Hiking Trails, Views and Architectural History

Turny combines scenic landmarks with hiking trails and buildings that tell the story of the area. When planning a stay, the trails provide specific details on distance, difficulty and approximate duration. The viewpoint, hamlet and historic sites each offer a different focus.

Landscape and Views in Turny

The viewpoint at Haut des Sorins is at an elevation of 170 m and offers views of almost all of Turny’s hamlets. From here, you can look beyond individual buildings and take in the commune’s many hamlets. The viewpoint is a prominent reference point for anyone interested in Turny’s landscape and settlement pattern.

The hamlet of Fays is also a landmark in the landscape: it lies on the edge of the Forêt d'Othe and, at 299 m, is the highest point in the Pays d'Othe. The two elevation figures refer to different locations: 170 m for the viewpoint at Haut des Sorins and 299 m for Fays. This lets you appreciate the viewpoint and the hamlet’s distinctive elevation as separate features of the area.

Two Hiking Trails, Two Timeframes

The Le Haut des Sorins circular trail in Turny is an easy 6 km hike that takes about 2 hours. At 9 km, the Circuit du Fays is longer, rated moderate and takes about 3 hours. The two routes therefore differ in distance, difficulty and approximate duration.

If you are looking for a shorter hike rated easy, Le Haut des Sorins takes less time. For a longer outing, the Circuit du Fays is the longer of the two options listed. The times are approximate and can help you work out how much of your day to set aside for the hike. The right route depends on how far you want to walk and how much time you have.

The Fays Washhouse and Pond

The Circuit du Fays starts at the Fays washhouse and pond. The washhouse and pond at Fays are a 19th-century brick structure, supplied exclusively by rainwater and surface water. One section of the pond was used as a watering place for livestock and was separated from the washing area by a wall. This layout illustrates the site’s different historic uses: the livestock watering place and the washing area were side by side, but separated by a structure.

The starting point of the hike is therefore also a historic structure in its own right. If you are planning the Circuit du Fays, you can include the washhouse as a specific point of interest along the route. Details about its construction date, building material and water supply give the site its distinctive character, without requiring any additional stops.

Saint-Mammès Church and Château des Varennes

Construction of Saint-Mammès Church in Turny began in 1518 under the aegis of Antoine de Lespinasse, the lord of the manor at the time. It has been protected as a Monument historique since 1913. The key to the church is available from Turny town hall. A quick call there before your visit will help you plan to collect it.

The main construction phases of Château des Varennes date from the 17th and 18th centuries. On 16 November 2015, the château was designated a Monument historique. The protected site includes the château, its bridge, outbuildings, platform, water-filled moats and two entrance pavilions belonging to the farm. The designation therefore covers not only the château building, but also several other parts of the estate.

Château des Varennes is privately owned. If you are considering a visit, check in advance whether visits are possible. This keeps the site’s historical significance distinct from the question of whether it can be visited.

Discover more destinations: Vignes, Piffonds, La Ferté-Loupière, Mélisey, Champigny, Avallon, L'Isle-sur-Serein, Charentenay.

For the broader travel overview: Yonne.