Bonnée: Hiking, heritage and cycling along the Loire

Bonnée combines two hiking trails with Gallo-Roman history, the Fontaine Saint-Antoine and cycling along the Loire. For your stay, you can compare route lengths and nature-focused highlights, or explore the historic sites in more detail.

Hiking: two different time commitments

The PR de la Saint-Antoine hiking trail is 6 km long and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. The PR de la Champagne covers 9 km and takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes. By comparison, the Champagne route is around 3 km and approximately 45 minutes longer. Treat both time estimates as approximate and allow accordingly more time for the longer hike.

The PR de la Saint-Antoine passes by the Fontaine Saint-Antoine. The PR de la Champagne, by contrast, focuses on the landscape around nearby waterways: the trail passes through a bird area where osprey, among other species, can be found. Sightings are not guaranteed. The routes therefore differ not only in length and duration, but also in their respective stated focus.

Trail conditions and markings can change, so check them before setting out. The approximate walking times, the named site at the Fontaine and the bird area offer different points of reference for planning, without requiring you to infer a difficulty level.

Church and Gallo-Roman history

The Église Saint-Martin is a Neo-Gothic church dating from 1865. It can be visited in the centre of Bonnée and is one of the few churches in the surrounding area that is still open to the public. It is a specific cultural highlight for a stay that also takes in local history.

The former ancient town of Bonnée included Gallo-Roman dwellings. The town’s medieval church was surrounded by burials. The Gallo-Roman settlement also included a theatre southwest of the present-day church; baths lay between the town and the river. Together, these sites reveal different layers of Bonnée’s history. The 19th-century Neo-Gothic Église Saint-Martin should be distinguished from the medieval church and the Gallo-Roman settlement features.

Fontaine Saint-Antoine and festival tradition

The Fontaine Saint-Antoine is dedicated to Saint Anthony and his pig. Until the 1950s, it was a pilgrimage site; the pilgrimage took place every year on 17 January. This date is part of the site’s historical tradition.

In 2015, the Fête de la Saint-Antoine was celebrated again in January. If you want to plan your trip around this festival, check the specific event date in advance.

Cycling along the Loire

Cycling along the Loire on the La Loire à Vélo route is also associated with Bonnée as a weekend activity. This adds a cycling theme to the two hikes described and the town’s cultural history.

Discover more destinations: Faverelles, Cléry-Saint-André, Montoire, Beaugency, Cravant, Artenay, Ouzouer-sur-Loire, Pannes.

For the broader travel overview: Loiret.