Ballancourt-sur-Essonne walks

A route between town, fields and forest, during which you will have the opportunity to discover some of the points of interest in the commune of Ballancourt-sur-Essonne.

This hike will allow you to discover a wide variety of landscapes on a relatively short route, as well as some historical remains along the way.

This hike is certainly the most "aquatic" of those that can be undertaken along the Essonne. Indeed, numerous ponds punctuate the route: ponds for fishing or other forms of leisure; ponds and marshes that make up a protected natural area, a source of biodiversity and a place to observe wildlife.

A lovely walk among ponds, marshes and, above all, birds, ducks, etc., lasting 4½ to 5 hours, or longer if you stop to watch the birds on the ponds.

A short but challenging hike in a small departmental forest with a diversity of landscapes worthy of its larger neighbour, Fontainebleau: varied undergrowth, rocky outcrops and climbing boulders, old sandstone quarries, flat rock formations, viewpoints, etc.

Discover some geological and natural sites in the south of the Essonne department: a landscape of flat land, a sandpit and a vast marshland area that is home to many birds. This hike alternates between sections in the undergrowth, which are the most numerous, and sections between fields.

Une longue randonnée avec le joli village de Beauvais, des sous-bois comme la forêt des Grands Avaux, les très beaux Rocher du Duc et Roches aux Dames avec leurs points de vue, qui rappellent Fontainebleau, la Tour du Buisson et les 100 marches de l'aqueduc de la Vanne et du Loing à Champcueil. Les (*) dans le descriptif renvoient à la rubrique "Pendant la randonnée ou à proximité"

A loop that starts with a steep climb between the rocks, then alternates between forest and plateau sections and shorter sections between fields. After a stretch along the edge of the woods, the hike ends on the wide grassy bank of the underground aqueduct of La Vanne and Le Loing.

A mainly forest hike during which, in an atmosphere reminiscent of the nearby Fontainebleau Forest, you pass two small peaks (the mounds) and wander through the chaos of sandstone blocks of the Rocher du Duc.

A walk on the hillsides on both banks of the Juine, alternating between cultivated fields and undergrowth. You'll discover a rich heritage along the way, including a dolmen, castle, old mill, farm buildings and beautiful houses.

This is an easy walk, meandering along the Essonne and the watercress beds, then the Pasloup marshes.

A hike from station to station with a significant forest component. In addition to a viewpoint, Rocher Bizet offers views of its plateau landscapes, with heathland, ponds and outcropping rocks.

A short hike that alternates between forest and fields, with a pleasant route on a plateau. You can see a Neolithic polishing stone and an old sandstone quarry.

An original way to get to the Château de Courances: on foot! This short hike goes around the outside of the park, with the first half rich in heritage (churches, mill, wash house, etc.) and the second half more bucolic, ending on an educational trail dedicated to fruit trees.

A varied walk through woods that will then take you along ponds and the banks of the Seine.

Visit a village in the Gâtinais Français Regional Nature Park and its surroundings: vernacular heritage, wash houses, the École river,

This hike will allow you to discover the southern part of the Rougeau Forest, which is much more rugged than the northern part. You will enjoy beautiful views of the Seine valley. You will be surprised by the bucolic Royal Pavilion estate and the Forest Guardian.

A short hike with a slight elevation gain and two distinct sections. The first part takes place in the Bevéldère Forest, which is dotted with rocks. The belvedere offers a sweeping view of the valley. The second part takes place in the Domaine de Chamarande, with its Louis XIII-style château and numerous canals and ponds.

Enjoy a country walk in the valley and on the slopes of L'École, with its mills, wash houses, castles and the town park. Be careful of muddy conditions during rainy periods.

Some of these trees have probably seen the royal hunting parties pass by! This hike is partly like a treasure hunt. The remarkable trees are usually located a few dozen metres from the forest paths and require a little effort to discover. But the beauty of these specimens quickly makes you forget the difficulties. The route is further enhanced by passing close to two 18th-century castles.

This flat hike allows you to discover the northern part of the Rougeau Forest and stroll through the beautiful and very interesting grounds of the Château de la Grange-la-Prévôté, which belonged to Marshal Bernadotte.

Circular starting from the Coudray roundabout in Etiolles. Descend the Seine to the Port aux Cerises leisure centre in Draveil, passing by the Lac des Docks and the Ris-Orangis eco-neighbourhood, the Port aux Malades, the Port aux Dames and the Fosse aux Carpes. The return journey takes you through the Paris-Jardins neighbourhood of Draveil, the Sénart Forest and the Grand Veneur park in Soisy-sur-Seine.

A varied walk, combining the rich heritage of Bruyères-le-Châtel with an original route along the paths of this commune, and a path through the forest, between the fields or along a vast stretch of water.

A few kilometres from Paris, this refreshing hike takes you through the village of Leuville-sur-Orge, along a path that runs alongside the Orge river, and to the Carouge basin in Brétigny-sur-Orge.

A short, varied and easy hike. Streams, meadows, forests, housing estates and fields, and of course the basilica of Longpont, are the ingredients of this walk just a few kilometres from Paris.

In 1465, Louis XI and Charles the Bold clashed at Montlhéry. This hike takes you to some of the historic sites in Essonne that witnessed this confrontation (Leuville, Montlhéry Castle, the battlefield, etc.). The return route takes you via Longpont Basilica.

This route goes around the Coquibus Massif, in a little-known and little-used area that is generally shaded. There are some beautiful views of the Courance Plain to the north and the forest to the south. The Vanne Aqueduct and the Cent Marches are the main points of interest.

This mountain bike ride takes you through part of the Gâtinais region, with oak and pine forests to the north and rolling farmland typical of the Beauce region to the south. You will pass through several villages typical of the region and follow the Essonne valley, which is fairly unobtrusive but whose hillsides will give your calves a good workout.

A hike from station to station in the Essonne Valley. After climbing up through the Bois de Saint-Médard and crossing a cultivated plateau, you pass through the charming hamlets of Courdimanche. You walk alongside the river several times, cross a small island, and the Marais de Jarcy may be of interest to nature lovers. Several churches and a few wash houses are also along the way.

The route is mainly through forest, with a few small sandstone rocks in places, starting from the centre of Milly-la-Forêt with its rich heritage (church, wash houses, castle).

A hike that alternates between villages rich in heritage (old market hall, churches, wash houses, castle) and a trail through the Forêt des Trois Pignons dotted with sandstone rocks.

An easy hike that alternates between the Forest of Sénart, the banks of the Seine and some beautiful estates such as the Ermitage de Sénart, where Nadar lived, and the Parc du Grand Veneur in Soisy-sur-Seine. Please note the opening hours of the public garden. In addition, the park is closed during storms.

Tigery, a large agricultural village, is gradually becoming urbanised and encroaching on the rich farmland of Brie. This walk allows you to discover both sides of the village, then crosses fields and forest to reach the Ru des Hauldres, which you follow upstream to a wetland area with ponds, fauna and flora. The return journey takes you through a reed bed, then down the stream that winds through the Sénart National Forest to Lake Tigery.

Hike around Epinay sur Orge (a small town south of Paris) from the train station of the RER C.It follows paths and quiet streets, heads through Bois des Templiers and follows the courses of three rivers: the Orge, the Rouillon and the Yvette. A trail through the Bois des Templiers with views of an old stone bridge with three arches of the ancient Templar Commandery of the eleventh century.

From the village of Arbonne, take a tour of the various plateaus to see some of the curiosities of the Fontainebleau forest, such as a small mausoleum, an engraved canopy, a cave, a quarryman's shelter, etc.

Une randonnée qui passe du plateau du Coquibus à celui des Belvédères afin de varier les paysages et les points de vue. Cette randonnée se fait à la demi-journée. Le détour par le "Chapeau de Napoléon" est supprimé: passage trop délicat pour un intérêt limité.

This long hike takes you on a fairly comprehensive tour of the magnificent Coquibus massif: heather-covered plateaus and water holes, deciduous woods, rocks, viewpoints, the Vanne aqueduct (sandstone steps), etc.

A hike in a little-visited part of the Forêt des Trois Pignons, through several biological reserves. This varied route alternates between forest paths, trails that wind between rocks and open stretches on flat rock outcrops. This hike requires a good sense of direction.

A beautiful hike with some elevation gain in the wildest and most beautiful areas of the Trois Pignons massif. It combines the beautiful Dénécourt trail no. 16 (the Sentier des Belvédères via the Laris Qui Parle) with a more athletic section of the Circuit des 25 Bosses. Actual elevation gain (altimeter measurement): 580m.

The Massif des Trois Pignons is situated on the edge of Fontainebleau forest. The walk takes you past the Rocher des Guetteurs, the Sables du Cul du Chien, the Diplodocus, and the Rocher de la Tortue.

A course over hills, with beautiful views of the Massif des Trois Pignons. Passages on platières in the middle of the moor with an unobstructed view, interspersed with passages in undergrowth and amid boulders. A varied, rather sporty hike. N.B. The drop is probably underestimated: expect something more in the order of 300 metres.

A simple and varied circuit in the forest of Fontainebleau, with views above the trees and rocks, and different landscapes every kilometre. Please note that weather conditions and the use of certain paths by mountain bikes can make this hike muddy and very slippery in places. Therefore, please be very careful.