Eure-et-Loir walks

Starting from Maintenon station, a green loop allows you to admire the colossal Maintenon aqueduct and follow the Louis XIV canal for several kilometres before passing through the Eure valley and returning along the river. We recommend a picnic on the banks of the Eure or at Saint-Piat station if it rains.

Depart from Maintenon, passing by the château and then the plateau overlooking the Eure valley to Nogent-le-Roi, where you can admire the church and half-timbered houses. The return journey takes you through the valley along the path on the platform of the old railway line and then along the banks of the river on a charming shaded path.

Circular loop around the Bois des Tertres and the ponds of Fontenay-sur-Eure.

Lots of paths, a few small roads, varied landscapes with the banks of the Eure, ponds and a small piece of Beauce lost on the left bank of the Eure. A pleasant little hike if it hasn't rained too much in the previous days (or if you like mud).

This is a moderately difficult and varied hike, following part ofthe GR®22 trailthrough the Vallée des Cailles.

This easy, bucolic walk allows you to discover a little of the Eure, a peaceful river.The starting point is a curiosity in itself: a town hall unlike any other.The finish invites you into the pretty little town of Nogent-le-Roi, with its old half-timbered houses.

A lovely little walk through mostly wooded areas withPR® signage (except for a curiosity at the end of the route).

Starting from Nogent-le-Roi, explore the surrounding countryside between woods and valleys before visiting the castle park. The Eure valley and its water mills can be explored at a leisurely pace. Half-timbered houses characterise the distinctive architecture of Nogent-le-Roi. Between the castle grounds and the Bois de Ruffin, walkers will pass from an urban landscape to a very varied rural landscape.

Circular starting from Berchères la Maingot. Discover the remains of Louis XIV's unfinished canal, which was intended to supply the Palace of Versailles with water from the Eure. Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash.

This is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable hikes in this wood. At the start, there is a beautiful view of Moléans Castle, followed by a lovely walk through the forest. Then there is a very pleasant crossing of the fords and a walk along the banks of the Loir. The return through the forest allows you to finish in peace and quiet.

A walk in the Eure valley, without any major difficulties but with a few slopes through fields, woods, stony and grassy paths, and then a little tarmac and a few houses too. This walk can also be done by mountain bike or hybrid bike.

During this easy hike, you will discover a charming village and its heritage and enjoy walking along beautiful country lanes and through woods, as well as the views.

This is a pleasant hike in the forest, offering a change of scenery and the charm of being in the heart of the wilderness.

This is a pleasant and easy circular route, alternating between wooded areas, forest edges and fields. Most of the route offers unobstructed views, even overlooking the Eure and Voise valleys. It is a landscape with very little traffic, allowing you to enjoy watching herons and harriers take flight, small game such as deer and hares scampering across the fields and paths, and, in season, gliders soaring through the sky.

A short walk along the Drouette river, passing most of the points of interest on the Discovery Trail This link allows you to discover the game and the information panels placed along the route.

On the outskirts of the Paris region, let yourself be surprised by the bucolic and relaxing landscape of the Drouette Valley. After strolling through the grazing meadows, don't leave without visiting the Millstones and Cobblestones Museum, a testament to Épernon's economic appeal.

Located on the natural border between Beauce and Perche formed by the Loir River, Châteaudun is built on a rocky spur. The route circles the remarkable natural site of the Bois des Gâts or Gas. Open to the public, this 23-hectare site is protected by the Natura 2000 programme.

This walk takes you through the countryside along the Vesgre, on small roads, and offers a chance to discover the local heritage.

From culture to nature, discover the natural spaces of the Dreux national forest.

Halfway between the national forest and the hillsides of the Eure, this walk will take you to some remarkable places in the shade of oak trees and the coolness of the riverbanks. You will walk past the castle and through the old village of Sorel, then follow the old railway line (greenway) to Marcilly-sur-Eure.

This circular route offers an opportunity to discover some of the structures that line the Avre Aqueduct, particularly the Tue-Cheval structure, but also to admire the castle of Escorpain. Two pretty ponds are also on the itinerary. It is an easy route with a few sections in the forest, which are welcome when it is very hot!

Route in the Châteauneuf-en-Thymerais National Forest

Located between Beauce and Perche, at the crossroads of the Loir Valley and the Route du Blé, Cloyes-sur-le-Loir is a sleeping beauty on the banks of the Loir. This pretty town combines modernity and heritage. The hike takes you through the countryside with its valleys, forests and rolling hills, which are sure to charm you.

This site has retained a very picturesque appearance and offers the chance to see some beautiful houses with thatched roofs and to explore the Conie Valley.

Saint-André Collegiate Church, the churches of Saint-Pierre and Saint-Aignan, the banks of the Eure, fountains and half-timbered houses are just some of the sights to admire as you wander through the narrow streets of Chartres... with the cathedral as the focal point! This walk within the city walls takes you through the narrow streets of Chartres’ lower town, following the banks of the Eure to discover the beautifully restored architectural heritage. In the upper town, the cathedral dominates, showcasing the richness of its style.

This walk combines the Beauce plain and its crops, a stretch through the forest and the ponds along the banks of the Eure, allowing you to enjoy a variety of landscapes. It is not difficult, and the elevation gain is minimal.

A walk taking you from the Beauce plateau, reputed to be the breadbasket of France, to the Conie valley, which winds its way through a marsh where it has carved out its bed, significantly influencing the vegetation. Suitable for all seasons.

Set amongst woods and rivers, this route takes walkers through the lush countryside so dear to Marcel Proust, the illustrious guest of Illiers-Combray.

The last section, from Pont sous Gallardon to Chartres, is the highlight of the route. The Beauce plain appears flat, but its many undulations reveal and conceal the spires and nave of the cathedral in turn. The Chemin Charles Péguy was created by the Amitié Charles Péguy with the cooperation of all the municipalities crossed and the support of the Eure-et-Loir Departmental Council.

In fact, here you will only find a few undulations caused by the streams flowing towards the nearby Eure. This small 637-hectare national forest is surrounded by a bridle path and criss-crossed by straight paths. The D103 crosses it from east to west and is not very busy. A high-voltage power line divides the forest. Parallel to the D103, it overlooks a large clearing and is bordered by a well-maintained path. A long north-south lane, formerly part of the GR®35 hiking trail, marks the boundary of the private woods to the west. Finally, the Merise forest road connects the D920 to the D103: closed to cars from Rond de la Félicité to Rond de Diane.This network of paths allows you to combine numerous circular paths or take shortcuts. Just make sure you don't leave the state-owned forest, which is bordered by an embankment. Private woods are located all around. These woods are rich in game, and large animals are shot there, so it is wise not to venture in on hunting days!

A forest hike starting from the Perche Water Park in Fontaine-Simon. The path leads into the Senonches State Forest after following the edge of the lake. A picturesque trail along the old railway line, a long forest line and then a path that descends into the Tourbière des Froux lead to this protected natural site, home to rare plant and animal species. Passing through hamlets and ponds, you return to La Ferrière, the site of former iron ore mining.

This hike is the fourth stage of an eight-day, 220 km circuit, the Tour des Collines du Perche. Thisfourth stage takes us along part of the northern edge of the Grand Perche with its large forests, which have changed very little since medieval times.

These circular loops will not take you into the bush in search of large predators, but along good paths through woods and fields on the outskirts of the Perche, in this transitional region known as the Thimerais. You will pass through the landscapes that inspired the painter Maurice de Vlaminck, who founded Fauvism in the early 20th century with his friends Derain and Matisse.Having settled in La Tourillère, near Rueil-la-Gadelière, 100 years ago, the artist fell in love with this region, which he tirelessly explored until his death in 1958 in search of places of inspiration.These circular loops starting from neighbouring villages aim to give you a feel for the landscapes "where the wind bends the trees and chases the clouds across a dark sky" that captivated the painter, reminding him of his paternal family's homeland of Flanders.This hike takes you from Rueil to Saint-Martin aux Portes de Verneuil, where the "Fauve" often visited.

This short route starts in the village of Belhomert and takes you to the small lake at Fontaine-Aubert, a pleasant spot for fishing and picnics. The route through the fields offers beautiful views of the Eure valley.

The name "Les Evés" refers, locally, to places where water is abundant. This water, which is everywhere, is particularly present in this "district" of the forest, south of the village. It is carried by gutters and streams from the forest to the ponds and wash houses. This short route takes you on a tour of places where water has been collected over the years, not far from the town, to be regulated and used for the activities of the Senonchois.After inspiring dreams of a spa resort in 1936-37, the water has nevertheless contributed to the town's development as a tourist destination. Successive municipal councils have worked to develop what was once a marshy area, which has now become a tourist complex with sports and leisure facilities, ideally located near the new La Loge des Bois secondary school.

The Étang des Panses lake can be seen along a path where it is not uncommon to encounter forest animals. After the forest, you will discover Percheron fruit trees at the Miermaigne conservation orchard; in mid-November, you can take part in the Apple Festival.

This short loop in the Senonches State Forest starts at the Grand Rond, a magnificent star-shaped crossroads of forest paths, and first follows a long forest path that leads to the Rond des Hussards. A path then winds its way between the national forest and private woods. After passing through the Rond de la Rachée, the circuit passes at the foot of the Chêne d'Hérissé, the only tree to survive the 1999 storm in this area. Shortly before the end, the Hêtre du Haut Cornet stands a few metres from the path.

This entirely forest-based circuit takes you past several strange trees, unexplained natural curiosities. It runs alongside the Biquet valley, a favourite walking route for the people of Senon. After reaching the Froux peat bog, a natural site of great ecological richness, it passes close to the romantic Forestiers pond nestled in the heart of the forest. This is an ideal spot for observing the animals that come here to drink in the evening.

The "Terres Douces" countryside reveals a heritage full of charm: the former Priory of Les Châtaigniers and the Manoir de la Guillerie.

A beautiful hike, mostly in the woods around the Eure valley, starting from the Senonches State Forest and ending at the Boizard locks. Built in 1785 by Louis XIV's engineers, this structure was supposed to be the starting point of an unfinished aqueduct that would have carried water from the Eure to the fountains in the park of the Palace of Versailles. On the way back, discover the Château des Vaux and its gardens.

Let's go in search of the Blaise, a mischievous little river that hides so well from its source that geographers are perplexed. According to the elders, it originates near the Rond des Louvetiers, between Tardais and the Étang de la Bénette. Recent maps show it near the Grand Rond. In fact, these are "gouttiers", episodic streams that flow towards and cross the Tardais pond. It emerges under the dyke where a mill once operated, but suddenly disappears, sinking into a "chasm". It sometimes reappears. At the edge of the forest, the Ruisseau de Saint-Cyr joins it. Together, the two waterways pass at the foot of Louvilliers-lès-Perche, flowing sometimes on the surface, sometimes underground. The Blaise reappears definitively in the Étang de Dampierre. In the past, it enabled the establishment of a very important steel complex. It then flows towards Dreux, which it crosses, before joining the Eure at Fermaincourt.

In the 6th century, Saint Laumer, or Lhomer, was a shepherd before becoming a canon and then bursar of Chartres Cathedral; he retired to the forests of the Perche where he founded two hermitages: he first settled in 558 in these places, later named Beatus Launomarus, then, 12 years later, moved to the banks of the Corbionne near Moutiers-au-Perche.This circular walk takes you around the Belhomert area in the footsteps of the holy man. Passing first by the entrance to the abbey that succeeded the original priory, the route follows the banks of the Eure. It reaches the edge of the Forest of Senonches, where trees were until recently the subject of strange rituals.After overlooking the valley at the edge of the forest, the route passes by the charming Étang de Fontaine-Aubert, a place name which, like Fontaine-Simon or Les Ressuintes, reminds us that many pagan places of worship were established near springs before being Christianised by devout hermits.

This circular walk starting from Chappe takes you on a journey of discovery through the Châteauneuf Forest. This hamlet has a pond that has just been restored and a magnificent oak tree. The route follows a section of the GRP® Vallées de la Blaise et de l'Avre from the Châteauneuf water tower to the Rond du Roi, then part of the bridle path that circles this vast national forest.

Starting from the public garden created by the local council around the Torçay pond on Rue de la Blaise, this short circular route takes you through the beautiful Blaise Valley, passing the recently restored Church of Saint-Ange. It then follows the pond created from a former gravel pit dug in the 1960s, near the Torçay mill. Although highly controversial at the time due to the risk of groundwater pollution, these bodies of water now add to the charm of the valleys in the Drouais region. The numerous mills that line the valley, bearing witness to a very early industrialisation, have now become beautiful private residences, such as the Torçay Mill. The scenic value of the area justified retaining the detour required by the new GRP® route, which has replaced the former GR®351, before heading towards the Châteauneuf forest.

Beneath the seemingly peaceful surface of the Baine (or Benne) pond, there is a whole world of plants and animals. The route, which starts in this hamlet in the commune of Rueil-la-Gadelière, takes you around the Bois de la Noë, passing by the farms of Bois Normand and Rueil. It is located south of Verneuil d'Avre et d'Iton, at the gateway to Normandy. Return via the hamlets of Les Bruyères and Le Canada.

A circular route starting from Saint-Sauveur-Marville, heading towards Châteauneuf-en-Thymerais through the fields, then returning via the forest past the Château du Jaglu. This route, situated on the border of the Thimerais and the great Beauce plain, will be particularly appreciated by lovers of wide open spaces and sweeping horizons.

Between Beauce and the Eure Valley, this circular walk invites you to stroll along the Drouette in the footsteps of millers, lords and cathedral builders. The walk follows the GR®655 West, one of the Grande Randonnée trails leading to Santiago de Compostela.

Starting from Saint-Fraise, a hamlet in the commune of Digny with an enigmatic name, this circular route first takes us across fields in the plain that stretches between the Senonches and Châteauneuf-en-Thymerais state forests. After crossing La Fizilière, it enters the forest, continues to Rond Fortin along a wide avenue and then crosses the somewhat wild Bois des Hauts Cornets forest before returning to the fields via Buisson-Elouis, La Frette and Les Mésangères.

Walk starting from the car park at Douy church to explore Courgain Mill, situated at the bridge over the Loir. The route then passes near a castle at La Boulidière, descends along the road between the ponds and then follows a path towards the Vouvray footbridge to the old wash house and Saint-Pierre Chapel. The return journey follows the same route for part of the way, then veers off to skirt the ponds of the Basse Plaine, where you can spot coots and grey herons. The end of the walk leads to another bridge over the Loir, then past the Château du Prieuré before returning to Douy church.

Dreux, the old town with its medieval castle fortifications, narrow streets, belfry, Royal Chapel of Saint Louis, half-timbered houses, ramparts, not to mention its vineyards, etc. Everything you need for a wonderful day out with the family.