Chapelle-Fortin loop via La Ferté-Vidame

La Chapelle-Fortin is 5 km north-west of La Ferté-Vidame via the D117.8. Parking is available alongside the church.

Yellow markings

(S/E) With your back to the church, take the D317.1 on the left towards Morvilliers for about 100 m. Leave it to follow the small Loges road on the right. Cross the Ruisseau de Roule-Crotte stream, which flows towards the Avre, and arrive at the hamlet of Les Loges.

(1) At the houses, continue along the path that goes around the property. Continue straight ahead through the woods until you reach the end. Turn right twice and you will come out onto the D 117.8 near the Étang de Prémoteux.

(2) Follow the D117.8 to the left until you reach the gatekeeper's cottage on the old abandoned La Loupe-Verneuil railway line.

No markings

(3) Turn left onto the path that runs alongside the Pipe-Souris racecourse. Follow it until you reach the D941 near the waste collection centre.

(4) Turn right and follow the footpath along the D941. Pass by the station square, which has been converted into a boules court. Continue to the junction with Avenue du Général De Gaulle, D4.

(5) At the crossroads, turn right and follow this wide avenue on the left-hand side until you reach the end.

(6) At the stop sign, cross Avenue du Général Leclerc with caution and continue straight ahead, following the parapet: superb view of the park and the castle ruins. Walk to the statue of the Virgin Mary erected in memory of Father Pasquier, parish priest.

(7) In front of the statue, cross the road carefully and follow the bank of the Mousseuse pond. Follow the water's edge, then turn right onto the path that goes around the large circular area lined with trees. Cross the D24 carefully.

(8) Continue along the bank of the northern basin. Before reaching the corner of the basin, follow the path that turns left towards Rue des Bruyères and the houses. Join the street and follow it to the left. It becomes a path. Continue to the bend

(9) At the bend, take the grassy path opposite, cross the Rond d'Alençon and follow the long line of Les Rigaudières opposite.

Yellow markings

Ignore all the side paths and continue straight ahead until you reach the edge of the woods.

(10) At the edge of the woods, follow the path on the right, which joins the D317.1. Follow the road to the right until you reach the junction with the D117.8.

(11) When you reach the D117.8, turn left and continue along the road until you reach the church at La Chapelle-Fortin (S/E).

During the hunting season, check with La Ferté-Vidame Town Hall or the Perche Forests Tourist Office for hunting days. Avoid walking this route on hunting days. Danger!

La Ferté-Vidame Town Hall, 18 Rue de Laborde
28340 La Ferté-Vidame 02 37 37 62 45

At the waypoint (4): Le Grand Jardin – Vegetable shop – Accommodation and catering in a restored 18th-century farmhouse. https://www.grandjardin.fr/

- From point (5), if you wish to reach the park entrance, go straight on along Rue de Laborde; then, after your visit, follow Rue du Temple to rejoin the route at point (6) at the end of Avenue du Général Leclerc.

- From point (7) (statue of the Virgin Mary), continuing straight on, you can reach the Camping des Abrias du Perche in about 300 metres. Accommodation in cabins – Restaurant – Swimming pool.

- From this same point (7), you can also visit the arboretum by continuing to the junction with the Route de Marchainville, then turning right onto this road and continuing for 100 metres.

La Ferté-Vidame is well worth a visit. At the entrance to the park, you will find the Maison Saint-Simon, the tourist office, toilets and the ruins of the Marquis de Laborde's château.

Small castle - Saint-Nicolas Church in classical style, where the tomb of the Duke of Saint-Simon, desecrated during the Revolution, is located.

Vlaminck's house in La Tourillière near Rueil-la Gadelière.