Discover Brandon: Walking Trails and Local History

Brandon is set in green surroundings between the Grosne and the Noue. If you are looking for a destination with walking trails and historic buildings, the village offers two distinct perspectives: the landscape around the trails and the architectural history of the village centre.

Trails and landscape

The Circuit de la Montagne starts and ends at the Pont de la Ferdière car park. It follows a ridge path shared with the GR76, the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela and the Way of Assisi. Notable natural features along the Circuit include the bocage landscape and the forest. From Croix Berthier, hikers can look out over Saint-Point and the Valouzin Valley. The route thus includes both a shared high-altitude path and a named viewpoint.

The official departmental tourism information, updated on 7 February 2024, rates the “Balade des Hauts de Brandon” as easy. One route passes through the village centre of Brandon, where walkers can see the drinking trough dating from 1870. Near the cemetery, a Christianised megalith marks a crossroads along one route. The route also takes you through the village centre to see a carved head in a reused stone.

Local history and buildings

The parish church of Saint Pancrace in Brandon has been documented since the 10th century, when it was dedicated to Saint Martin. The present church is predominantly Gothic and was extensively remodelled in the 19th century on the foundations of a 12th-century building. Its formally designed neo-Romanesque west portal creates a distinctive architectural accent within the church’s Gothic character.

The village centre consists largely of very old, typical Burgundian houses. The lanes run between dry-stone walls. Together, the houses and walls give the village centre tangible architectural features through which its history can be read.

Washhouses are also among Brandon’s historic buildings. The washhouse at Les Cours was built in 1893 using stones provided by local residents. The fountain and washhouse in the Bourg date from 1870. The two dates refer to buildings in different locations and add public utility structures to the picture of the village’s history.

La Tour d’Avout

The ruins of a large square tower stand on the summit of the hill of Avout. They can now be reached via a small private path. It is advisable to check access conditions on site before visiting.

If you are looking for hotels in Brandon, distinguishing between the area’s highlights can help you choose your destination: some visitors focus on the ridge path, landscape and views, while others are drawn to the church, village centre and historic buildings.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Martin-La-Patrouille, Sagy, Baudemont, La Roche-Vineuse, Étrigny, Saint-Nizier-sur-Arroux, Montret, Montpont-En-Bresse.

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