ROUTE DE L'OCRE
The natural presence of ochre in the soil is the source of the mural paintings that adorn the walls of certain churches and chapels in Pourrain, La Ferté Loupière, Bléneau, Saints en Puisaye, Moutiers, Parly, Lindry, Villiers St Benoît, St Fargeau... Numerous walks, bike rides, horse-drawn carriage rides and horse-drawn carriage rides are available to discover the heritage of Puisaye!
Pourrain
In our village, the 16th-century chapelle St Baudel contains 17th-century paintings on the panelled vault. It was built to enable services to continue in Pourrain during the rebuilding of its church around 1540. The paintings on the vault depict floral and architectural motifs, birds and faces. The motto'Bien faire et laisser dire' ('Do well and let it be said' ) is inscribed on the ceiling. The vault is listed as a Historic Monument. For Domaine de l'Ocrerie customers, I'd be delighted to show you around!
The old Pourrain ochre quarry is on our property. Now covered by hundred-year-old trees, it's a haven for deer and squirrels. If you're staying in one of our guest rooms, you'll want to take a stroll!
The old Pourrain ochre quarry is on our property. Now covered by hundred-year-old trees, it's a haven for deer and squirrels. If you're staying in one of our guest rooms, you'll want to take a stroll!
La Ferté-Loupière
Arriving from Paris at exit 18, you'll pass through La Ferté Loupière. Stop off at the Saint-Germain church, which has been equipped with an innovative technology called LI-FI. It enables data to be transmitted using light waves. The 12th-century Romanesque church is home to one of the most prestigious Danse Macabre. It depicts a procession in which the dead alternate with the living to lead them to their graves: 42 characters representing the entire social hierarchy. All the murals at La Ferté-Loupière were painted dry on lime plaster: they are not frescoes. Thanks to the natural pigments used - the famous Puisaye ochres - the murals at La Ferté-Loupière offer an exceptional palette of hues!
Lindry church
The 12th-century church of Sainte-Geneviève features a unique wooden vault. A 16th-century sacristy completes this barlong edifice. The choir, with its flat chevet, features an early 18th-century altarpiece. Wall paintings are visible or under whitewash, with rubble stone, fairly sandy yellow ochre sand-lime mortar, very thin whitewash, preparatory plaster, very thin base coat, red ochre, yellow ochre and black layers.
On entering the church, on the north wall, we discover a mural fresco 3.79 m long by 2.73 m wide, painted around 1515 with Puisaye ochre. This work, known as the Tale of the Three Dead and the Three Alive , symbolizes the inevitability of death in the face of life.
On entering the church, on the north wall, we discover a mural fresco 3.79 m long by 2.73 m wide, painted around 1515 with Puisaye ochre. This work, known as the Tale of the Three Dead and the Three Alive , symbolizes the inevitability of death in the face of life.
Ochre paint
From 2 nights, the course will be given the day after your arrival at Domaine de l'Ocrerie at 11am or 2pm. Request this 'Extra' when booking online.
Workshop for 2 to 6 people max: Learn how to make your own ochre paint to protect your woodwork, doors and shutters! An ecological and inexpensive technique!
2 pers 100€ /3 pers 120€ + 10€/additional person in the same group
Ochre trails
On foot or by bike, discover the surrounding area along country lanes and hilly paths through wheat fields, forests and castles. At the bend of a small shady road, visit an ochre-painted chapel, viewpoints and sunsets.
There are a number of circuits from 1h30 to 1 day. Discover the ochre mine trail in Diges! Take our picnic basket and explore the Poyaudine countryside
Confidential visit
The Sauilly ochre factory is the best preserved in France, and is just 5 km from ours! A listed site with ochre manufacturing circuits, production, storage warehouses, processing plant, dryers, settling basin, drying kilns and loading docks. The ochre factory is also an evolving landscape installation named GHARLON L.60. Tours of the ochre factory are organized by the artist-plastician for 10 visitors > admission charged