Pierre-Perthuis: Castle Ruins, Church and Walking Trails

If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Pierre-Perthuis, the planned focus of your stay can help guide your choice: castle and church architecture, the rocky landscape along the Cure, or one of the walks. Pierre-Perthuis lies in the Cure valley, on rocky hills, within the Parc naturel régional du Morvan and the classified Vézelay area, which is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Rocky landscape along the Cure

One striking natural landmark is the Roche Percée, a natural rock arch measuring about 6 by 8 metres. It stands approximately 20 metres above the Cure and around 500 metres from the town centre. These measurements give an idea of its size; the height also places the rock arch in relation to the river running through the valley. This combination of rock formation and Cure valley shapes the setting of the village.

Castle ruins and the history of the Château

At the Château de Pierre-Perthuis, substantial visible remains of an important castle, documented since the 11th century, stand on a rocky plateau above the Cure. Surviving features include fortified gateways and defensive gates, parts of the wall of the first fortification, the mound of the keep and a covered walkway. There is also the manor house and presbytery, flanked by two towers. Together, the defensive features, the first fortification and the other structural elements represent different aspects of the castle complex.

The Château is open to the public. It can be reached by a municipal road, and parking for all types of vehicles is available at the Château. Visiting arrangements and access and parking conditions may change. Check the current details before your visit.

Saint Léonard: Construction phases and furnishings

The Saint Léonard church is located in the former castle chapel and is believed to date from the 12th century. Parts of the church were altered in the 16th and 19th centuries. The features described also date from different periods: the apse is from the 12th century, and the vaulted nave from the 15th or 16th century. Other features include a bell tower and interior furnishings with frescoes, sculptures, a stained-glass window and a capital. To understand the church, it is therefore relevant to consider its presumed date of origin as well as later alterations and individual furnishings.

Two bridges, built at different times

The bridges are also associated with different historical dates. The Pont de Ternos, also known as the Pont Vauban, was built around 1670. The Grand Pont was built between 1872 and 1874. These dates distinguish the histories of the two bridges without requiring a particular order for visiting them.

Compare walking trails by length and difficulty

The easy PR walking trail “Le long de la Cure par le vieux pont de Pierre-Perthuis” is 9.2 kilometres long, with a stated duration of 3 hours and 15 minutes. The route is not marked, except for the red-and-white-marked GR 13 along the Cure. When planning, both the stated duration and the marking conditions are therefore important differences from a route that is marked throughout.

The Parc naturel régional du Morvan’s “Les ponts de Pierre-Perthuis” route is a moderately difficult PR loop trail covering 13.9 kilometres, with a stated duration of 3 hours and 30 minutes. It passes through Saint-Père, Foissy-lès-Vézelay and Pierre-Perthuis. Compared with the easy route, it is 4.7 kilometres longer, takes 15 minutes longer according to the stated times, and is rated moderate rather than easy. The two options can therefore be compared by length, duration and stated difficulty. Route specifications, course and markings may change; check the latest information before setting out.

Digital tour

Another option is the digital tour “Le sortilège de la Vouivre,” available through the GuidiGO app. Before your trip, check whether the tour is available in the app for your visit.

Discover more destinations: Villeblevin, Magny, Poilly-Sur-Serein, Villeneuve-Les-Genêts, Crain, Chaumot, Sarry, Venoy.

For the wider travel overview: Yonne.