Discover Aillant-Sur-Tholon

Aillant-sur-Tholon can be explored through a range of themes: prehistoric remains, a woodland area of recognized ecological interest, and places with a history of their own. There is also a sundial that visitors can read themselves. For planning, the discovery trail through the Bois des Ferriers provides a particularly specific timeframe; at the cultural sites, the focus is instead on archaeological and historical context.

Nature and a walk in the Bois des Ferriers

The Bois des Ferriers has a network of ponds whose ecological interest is recognized. A four-kilometer discovery trail runs through the woods. The route is almost flat, and the walk is estimated to take around one to two hours. These details answer different planning questions: the length describes the distance to be covered, the approximate duration provides a timeframe, and the route profile offers an indication of the terrain. If you plan to take the walk, check local conditions and access on site. This lets you include the nature trail as a separate activity without treating the estimated duration as a fixed walking time.

The menhirs of Pierrefitte

The two Menhirs de Pierrefitte are located on Route du Puits Avril in Aillant-sur-Tholon. As megaliths, they attest to settlement during the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. Their history therefore reaches far back into prehistory. A later milestone in their history is their classification: at the initiative of Paul Bert, the menhirs were classified in the 1860s. Two distinct historical periods are therefore connected with this visit—the prehistoric settlement and an event in the 19th century. If you are interested in archaeological remains, they offer a glimpse into the site's long history without conflating these two periods.

Chapel and local tradition

The Chapelle Sainte-Anne is a small sanctuary measuring 20 meters in length. It lies west of the center of Aillant-sur-Tholon, near La Motte. Local tradition preserves the memory of hermits who stayed in the chapel until the Second Empire. This is passed down as local tradition and adds its own historical narrative to the more precisely dated subjects of the menhirs and the Église Saint-Martin.

Sundial and Église Saint-Martin

Since 2021, a permanent analemmatic sundial has stood on the grounds of the Chapelle-Ermitage Sainte Anne. Visitors can read the time from their shadow when they stand on the central slab. This makes reading the time a direct interaction: take the designated position and use your own shadow to read the time.

The Église Saint-Martin also offers a glimpse into architectural history. The project for the new church was entrusted to Viollet-le-Duc in 1862. This date provides a distinct historical reference alongside the prehistoric context of the menhirs and the local tradition surrounding the Chapelle Sainte-Anne. Together, these places offer a range of points of interest for a stay, from a walk in the woods to archaeological and historical themes.

Discover more destinations: Voutenay-Sur-Cure, Sarry, Brosses, Saint-Fargeau, Appoigny, Chemilly-Sur-Yonne, Andryes, Sauvigny-Le-Bois.

See the broader travel guide: Yonne.