Valpuiseaux circular

Depart from Valpuiseaux church (park in the adjacent car park). In the village, follow the signs for "Église-Mairie-École" (church-town hall-school), which will take you to Rue de la Mairie. Follow this road even when it becomes a dead end: the car park is at the end of the street, on the right.
See the practical information section for an alternative starting point.

Red and white + yellow markings

(S/E) Leave the car park through the gate you entered by car and go up the^second street on the right. At the fork, follow the^GR®111to the right. Ignore a path on the left and turn right at the next crossroads. At the corner of a small football field, turn right again. Facing a metal gate, turn left and walk along a fence on your right.

N.B. Between points (1) and (2), there are parallel or intersecting paths, several of which are not shown on the IGN map.

(1) The path gives way to a trail through the woods. At a fork, there are two options that meet further on:
- Marked option: continue straight ahead on the narrow path, which is congested in places, ignoring a turn-off to the left and then a steep descent to the right; finally join a wider path coming from the left (the path of the second option) and follow it to the right.
- Unmarked but easier option: take the path on the left, which immediately joins a wider path, and follow it to the right; further on, you will join the marked path.

Continue on the marked path and ignore any vague paths branching off to the sides. At a fork (not shown on the map), go left (ignore the steep descent to the right). At the next crossroads, turn right and descend. You will come to a road (sandstone rocks on the left) and follow it to the left.

Yellow markings

(2) At the crossroads by a pond, turn right and follow the D12 towards Mespuits (let the^GR® continue straight ahead). Take the^first right, Rue de Beauvais, and walk alongside a pond on your right.

(3) When the street turns right, take a wide path on the left that climbs up to the plateau. Shortly before the top of the hill, ignore a path on the left and head towards an electricity pole. Walk along a copse on your right, then a hedge.

Red and white markings

(4) At the intersection at the end of the hedge, continue straight ahead (ignore the yellow markings on the right). Cross the cultivated plateau, keeping west-northwest, with a power line running parallel to the path at first and then veering to the right, and ignore all turnings on either side. The path runs alongside a few hedges and copses, turns north-west and ends at a fork at the first houses.

(5) Then turn right and go down a tarmac road lined with houses on the left. Note the bell tower of the church of Puiselet-le-Marais on the right, which gradually emerges from behind an embankment.

(6) At the T-junction, turn right (there is no arrow or signpost here). Pass the church on your right, then a calvary. At the junction with the D145, turn right onto Rue de Vaupaillard and wind your way between some beautiful houses. When you reach the Ferme du Grand Clos, turn left.

(7) Cross the D145 and take Route de la Montagne opposite. After about 100 metres, at a crossroads, go straight ahead onto a track. At the fork that appears immediately, continue to the right along the track. Go uphill, ignore a path on the left and you will come to a crossroads (wooden and metal shelters).

(8) Then turn left. After about 100 metres, at a fork (not shown on the map), turn right onto a path that leads into the undergrowth. When you reach the edge of the field, continue along the path, which veers slightly to the left before turning right.

(9) At the next intersection, ignore Allée de l'Amitié on your left and continue along a narrow path at the edge of the field. Enter Bois de la Vigne and wind your way through the undergrowth. Further on, ignore the access to a field on your right and continue along the edge of the woods on your right. At the crossroads (elevation 81), go straight ahead between the fields towards the Château de Farcheville, which is clearly visible.

No markings

(10) Cross the D837 (caution, busy road) and follow the D145 to the gate offering a beautiful view of the château. Retrace your steps.

Red and white markings

(10) Turn left, staying on the narrow pavement (caution: limited visibility to the left at the junction of the D145 and D837). Immediately turn left and cross the car park (note the dovecote). Continue along the wall of the castle grounds.

Yellow markings

(11) At the crossroads at the corner of the wall (old stone marker), turn right (leaving the^GR® trail to your left). After about 50 metres, turn left and follow a sandy path into the woods. Alternate between walking along the edge of the woods on your left and between the fields. At a crossroads (forest barrier on the left), go straight ahead onto a grassy path at the edge of the woods and join the D837.

(12) Cross the road (with caution) and continue along a grassy path between the fields. Cross a small road and you will come to a crossroads at a curtain of trees.

(13) Take the^first path on the left, before the line of trees (the^second path, after the line of trees, is a dead end). Cross a small road and continue straight ahead. At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead and walk alongside horse pastures and then the facilities of an equestrian centre. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead on the path.

(14) You will come to a small road; follow it to the right. When it turns left at the corner of No. 2, leave it and continue straight ahead on a wide dirt track, ignoring a turn-off on the right. Walk alongside a farm shed and you will come to a crossroads.

Red and white markings

(15) Cross Rue Chaude and follow Rue des Tilleuls opposite. At the three-way junction, turn left into Rue de la Mairie.

No markings

Take the^first street on the right, which climbs towards the church (let the^GR® continue straight ahead). At the foot of the church, climb the steps on the left, walk along the church on your right and you will immediately find the starting car park (S/E).

Hiking boots recommended.

No water sources identified along the route. No bars or shops identified along the route.
Farm produce is sold in Puiselet-le-Marais, shortly before (7), at the Ferme du Grand Clos (duck farm) and at the GAEC des Gaudrons (poultry farm). Open on Fridays and Saturdays, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

This hike follows the entire PR® "Château de Farcheville" trail, designed and marked by the Essonne departmental committee of the FFRP (French Federation of Hiking). Marker posts are located at major intersections. There are no markings between the points (4) and (5) due to a lack of support. A 1:25,000 map is recommended (at least the one accompanying this description).

Alternative starting point:
Park in the car park at Château de Farcheville, between (10) and (11).

Hike completed by the author on 17 February 2019.

- Valpuiseaux Church (12th-15th century) (S/E), under renovation in February 2019.
- Puiselet-le-Marais Church (11th-12th century) (6), Romanesque style.
- Calvary shortly after the church.
- Farcheville Castle (13th-14th century) (10). From the gate, you can see the fortress, and from the car park, you can see the dovecote very clearly.