Discover Pourrain: hiking, outdoor swimming pool and heritage

Pourrain combines seasonal outdoor activities with a cultural programme and local architectural history. The area offers the Baignade de Nantou public outdoor swimming pool, hiking and Nordic walking, events at the Domaine de l'Ocrerie, and several historic religious buildings. When planning your stay, one distinction is particularly important: swimming, tours and events depend on the season or specific dates, while the historical information offers a separate cultural focus.

Hiking, Nordic walking and the outdoor swimming pool

The Baignade de Nantou is a public outdoor swimming pool maintained each year by around 15 volunteers. Check seasonal access before visiting. Les Sentiers de l'Ocre organises hikes in Pourrain with trained guides, as well as Nordic walking; dates for these recurring activities may change. If a hike or Nordic walking is part of your itinerary, check your plans against the current schedule rather than assuming set times.

Two trailheads are specified. The Aux portes de la Puisaye trail starts at Place du Château d'Eau, where there is a large vehicle car park. The Boucle de Pourrain starts at 4 Rue de Nantou in Pourrain; check this starting point for any changes before setting out. Two kilometres after the start, the loop reaches a higher point with 360-degree views over the Auxerrois. When choosing a route, consider whether a car park at the starting point or a viewpoint along the way is more useful to you for orientation.

Art and architectural history in Pourrain

The Poussière d'Ocre association has welcomed visitors to the Domaine de l'Ocrerie since 2019. It holds art exhibitions, performances, conferences, book signings and concerts there; dates vary. If you are travelling for a particular event, check its date before making plans.

The Chapelle Saint-Baudel dates from the first half of the 16th century. Its wood-panelled vaulted ceiling features 17th-century paintings. The chapel thus brings together two periods: the date of its construction and its later artistic decoration—a distinction of interest if you are interested in the building's history or its art.

The Grotte Notre Dame de Lourdes in Pourrain has its own story: local residents built it following a vow made by Abbé Bruni in the event of his return from deportation. The grotto was inaugurated on 8 August 1954.

The Église Saint Serge Saint Bach also preserves historic furnishings: its wooden furniture dates from the 18th century. Most of the pieces come from Notre dame de la Cité, a building near Auxerre Cathedral that was demolished during the French Revolution. The furniture's origins extend the story beyond Pourrain to a building in the area around Auxerre Cathedral.

If you are looking for a hotel in Pourrain, the reason for your trip can help with planning: swimming, hiking activities and events depend on the season or specific dates, while architectural and art history offer a different focus.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Julien-du-Sault, Quarré-Les-Tombes, Escamps, Sougères-En-Puisaye, Villy, Chemilly-Sur-Serein, Beauvoir, Lindry.

For an overview of the wider region: Yonne.