Loiret walks

Before motorisation, milling was highly developed along the banks of the Essonne. This hike sets out to discover no fewer than five old water mills, whose presence has been documented since the 18th century. The route along the river is full of charm and the numerous reed beds add a touch of natural heritage to this very diverse hike.

A very pleasant getaway in the Sologne region, with a peaceful route through woods dotted with ponds. Avoid days when hunting is in season!

The route goes from pond to pond around the village of Champoulet. There is wildlife to discover.

Ranked among the most beautiful sites in France, explore Montargis through its streets on the water with 131 bridges and footbridges. A gastronomic and lakeside town nicknamed the Venice of Gâtinais.

A very pleasant route, mostly along the banks of the Loire. Good view of the Château de Sully and the Basilica of Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire.

This hike aims to revive memories of a vast, partly forgotten forest that once stretched across the present-day communes of Saint-Cyr-en-Val, Marcilly-en-Villette and Ménestreau-en-Villette. It ends in a riot of colour during the rhododendron flowering season (May to June), when the undergrowth around the Château de Villette is covered with these flowers.

Located in the Saint-Mesmin nature reserve, at the confluence of the Loire and Loiret rivers, the Pointe de Courpain is known for its cool climate and exceptionally diverse wildlife. You will never tire of admiring the mills on the Loiret river as they change with the seasons.

The commune of Ligny-le-Ribault, which has preserved many communal paths, offers this magnificent hike in the Sologne region of ponds, home to deer, roe deer and wild boar.

A circular leading from the Basilica of Cléry-Saint-André, known for its architecture and history, to the enigmatic Butte des Élus, a burial mound dating back to the Iron Age. It is ideal for a family walk in the Val d'Ardoux.

From the Combreux lock, discover the Canal d'Orléans and its ponds in a forest where a rich and varied fauna will accompany you and allow you to observe them as you walk along the path. Be early, discreet and attentive to enjoy it. Don't rely on the photos showing the towpath. It has been replaced by a cycle path. The walk loses some of its charm but is still very pleasant.

Alternating between meadows, forests, ponds and farmland, this route presents no difficulties. It begins and ends majestically on the banks of the Loire. This is a shortened version of the former "PR® des Rauches" with 76% of the route on unpaved paths.

A hike offering great contrasts between the open fields of the first part and the wild banks of the Loire in the second part, with its unspoilt natural site known as "Entre les levées". Proposed by the tourist office as part of the Randonnée des Châtaignes (Chestnut Hike), this route was very popular with hikers.

On the edge of the Sologne, this circuit brings together the typical landscapes that make up the charm of this natural region near the Loire: meadows, ponds, forests, interspersed with crops and pretty brick houses. The little river Sange brings it to life and gives it a little relief. Marked in yellow, this route is also signposted in places as "PR® de la Vallée de la Sange - P 11". Despite two sections on the road, 70% of this circuit is on unpaved paths.

Mainly on dirt, sand or gravel paths, this fairly easy circuit takes you through the peaceful and varied landscapes of the Sologne: ponds, forests, hedgerow-enclosed pastures and interspersed crops. At the start and finish, the pretty village of Villemurlin offers a typical Sologne charm with its brick houses and blue ladders, reminders of a time when the attic was accessed from outside. Initially shared with the family path of Villemurlin (the "chouette promenade" or "owl walk"), this route then takes a shortened version of the former "PR® des domaines de chasse et cultures" (hunting grounds and farmland), of which a few signs remain.

This route is called "West of Chilleurs-aux-Bois - Route No. 5". This circuit takes you on a tour of the western part of the commune and its main hamlets, starting from the centre of the village and the Lavau district: La Noue Glaçon, Le Coudray, Le Charme, L'Etang, Marcilly, Olivet, Ronville, Le Moulin de Pierre, La Fosse Aux Morts and Les Sapins. Return to the centre of the village via La Grande Gervaise. You will pass close to the sites of two of the five grain mills that once stood in Chilleur-aux-Bois. In Ronville, you will pass the boundary of the commune of Neuville-aux-Bois. You will walk along the "fosse aux morts" (dead man's ditch), which reminds us that the 1870 war was very deadly in our region. You will then reach the village and Saint-Pierre Church, a historic monument built between the13th and14th centuries. The route is not particularly difficult and is mainly on roads.