Circular Beauche via Boulay Saint-Clair in the footsteps of a "Fauve"

Parking on Rue Saint-Martin (D25) near the cemetery on the opposite side of the bus stop (picnic tables).

No signposts

(S/E) Follow the D25 to the right towards the church, using the pedestrian crossing. Shortly before the church, turn right into Rue de la Voie Romaine, turn left at the end and join the D117b.

(1) Follow it to the right towards Boissy-lès-Perche and pass by the agricultural silo buildings. Turn right onto a path between the fields. At the crossroads with the path coming from the right, turn left.

(2) Cross the Ruisseau de Lamblore and arrive at the Maison des Ardoises, D316.

(3) Take the D316 on the left to the calvary. Continue straight ahead on the D117b and cross it carefully at the entrance to Cuvray.

(4) At the bend, follow the path opposite to its end and join the GRP® Vallées de la Blaise et de l'Avre.

Yellow-red markings

(5) Turn right and walk alongside the Château du Boulay Saint-Clair. Follow the small road D117.5 which passes near the chapel and offers views of the château. (Private property, stay on the road). Continue to a calvary.

(6) Turn right onto the D117.b, then turn left onto the access road to Corbin.

(7) Continue straight ahead on the wide path between the fields. Cross the Bois de Corbin via a narrow path. Cross the Ruisseau de Roule-Crotte and head up towards Malabry.

(8) Take the path on the right between the fields, which joins a small road to follow on the right along the woods. Join a PR® marked in yellow. Cross the hamlet of Canada.

Yellow markings

(9) Continue along the road, leaving the GRP® trail on your left. This road crosses the Ruisseau de Roule-Crotte valley and climbs up to the Benne pond.

No markings

(10) Go around the pond on the left, taking the road on the right which rejoins the D316 at the Maison des Ardoises.

(3) Opposite, take the path in the opposite direction to the one you took on the way there, which descends towards the Ruisseau de Lamblore. Cross it and climb back up through the woods. At the crossroads, turn left onto the path that joins the D25. Follow it to the right until you reach the cemetery car park (S/E).

Boulay Saint-Clair Castle is private. Not open to visitors. Do not approach the buildings. Stay on the road. The path is sometimes overgrown in the Bois de Corbin.

Between (6) and (8): Unmarked alternative route: To avoid crossing the Bois de Corbin, follow the D117.5 and 117.6 via Les Moutardières and La Noé to rejoin the GRP® at Malabry.

Take care during the hunting season. Follow the signs or instructions given by hunters.

On the trail.

The Benne pond

Boulay Saint-Clair Castle and its chapel – private property.

Off the route.

2 km from (S/E) via the D102 La Tourillière: house where the painter Maurice de Vlaminck lived. Visits possible on certain dates. The artist depicted this house and nearby dwellings in several of his paintings. He also painted a view of Beauche from the D102.

4 km away, Rueil-la-Gadelière: bust of Vlaminck in front of the town hall – grave in the cemetery.

8 km away : Verneuil-sur-Avre: a charming little town – historic houses – the churches of La Madeleine and Notre-Dame – Saint-Nicolas Abbey – Espace Saint-Laurent; temporary exhibitions – the Grey Tower – parks – the Promenade des Fossés. At the Tourist Office, a route through the places frequented and depicted by Vlaminck –

12 km away : La Ferté-Vidame – a charming little town – Espace Saint-Simon – Park and castle ruins. Frescoes in the Chapelle de Réveillon.

16 km away: Senonches: castle museum. Small town of character.