Chevenon: Churches, Chapel and Château

Chevenon offers travellers two tangible themes to help plan a stay: architectural history and routes through the countryside. The Church of Saint-Martin, the Chapelle Saint-Etienne de Jaugenay and the Château de Chevenon represent different historical periods. There is also a route along the Canal latéral à la Loire and a longer hiking trail. If you’re looking for a hotel in Chevenon, you can first decide whether historic buildings or outdoor activities will be the main focus of your stay.

Church, Chapel and Château

The Church of Saint-Martin is built in the Nivernais Romanesque style. Its oldest section dates from the 12th century, while its bell dates from 1507. These two dates refer to different elements: the century identifies the oldest part of the church, while the year refers to the bell. This makes it possible to distinguish the history of the building from the date of a specific feature.

The Chapelle Saint-Etienne de Jaugenay dates from the second half of the 12th century. It also has two dates associated with its protected status: part of the chapel was classified as a historic monument in 1946, and the entire chapel in 1976. Its construction date and later classification should therefore be considered separately. Compared with Saint-Martin, the chapel’s date is more specific: it refers to the second half of the 12th century.

The Château de Chevenon is the surviving remains of a fortified castle from the 14th and 15th centuries. It consists of a rectangular keep with two round towers at the front and two square towers at the rear. This layout creates a clear contrast between round and square forms. The Château was classified as a historic monument by decree on 25 February 1946. Its construction date and the decree protecting it belong to different historical periods: the castle remains date from the Late Middle Ages, while the classification followed in the 20th century.

Routes and countryside

The Canal latéral à la Loire opened in 1838. The D13 runs between this canal and the bocage countryside. From Chevenon, the Chapelle de Jaugenay can be reached via EuroVelo 6 along the towpath towards Decize; the route is about 5 km long. If you plan to cycle this route, check the surface conditions and signage in advance. A 14 km hike starts at Zébulleparc, passes through woods and fields, and returns to the village via the canal. The distinction is clear for planning purposes: the shorter distance refers to the cycling route to the chapel, while the longer one is for the hike that returns to the village. Check the hiking route conditions locally.

Plan your stay

Zébulleparc has a supervised bathing area, which may only be available seasonally. If you’re planning a day of swimming, check whether the area is open during your intended visit.

For cars, you can use the truck parking area opposite the stadium or the car park opposite the bar. Parking arrangements may change, so check locally. Chevenon is also part of the Saint-Pierre Magny-Cours Tourist Office’s geocaching network. The network is designed to help visitors discover the area’s heritage and landscapes; individual caches may not always be available. If geocaching is part of your plans, check the latest information in advance.

Discover more destinations: Limanton, Sémelay, Ville-Langy, Alligny-Cosne, Saint Saulge, Marigny-l'Église, Arquian, Montambert

For the broader travel overview: Nièvre.