Loop around the ponds of Fontaines-en-Sologne

In the heart of the "wine-growing" region of Sologne, this route is mainly through forest, dotted with numerous ponds and offering some beautiful heritage sites.

Details

n°377755
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.67 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 79 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 105 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 384 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 295 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the church in Fontaines-en-Sologne, at the junction of the D119 and D120 departmental roads. Parking spaces are available all around the church. If there are no spaces, use the car park behind the school, at the northern entrance to the village (marked ‘P’ on the IGN map).

Signposted with a yellow dash and a Yellow Triangle

(S/E) Facing the main entrance to the church, go round it on the right towards Romorantin. After a half-timbered house on the right-hand side, turn right into the Traite des Dîmes. At the end of the street, make a zigzag turn to join the Rue de la Haute Jourdaine. The tarmac soon gives way to a good, compacted track that runs alongside the embankment of a pond on the left (you’ll need to walk up onto the grassy embankment to get a good view of the pond). The track becomes grassy and shaded.

(1) Walk alongside the Étang de la Jourdaine on your left. Enter a wood and follow a straight path (south-south-east).

(2) At a junction (with a ‘CR36’ signpost on the left), turn left. Walk north-east, ignoring several side paths. Leave the woodland and continue in the same direction, following a hedge on your left. Cross a road and follow the small Jaugeny road opposite (signposted). Pass a farmstead on the left and continue north-east along a hard-packed track between a hedge on the left and fenced meadows on the right.

(3) At the crossroads, turn left onto a small road (this is the only tarmac road here). You’ll catch a glimpse of the Château de la Ravinière on your right, beyond the trees. Cross a road and continue straight ahead along a wide, compacted track through the woodland, which curves to the right and leads to the boundary between forest plots nos. 57 and 58 (forest gate on the right).

(4) Follow a wide gravel path to the left. Walk north-north-west, ignoring the side paths (signs reading ‘Private property’). Take a right-hand bend followed by a left-hand bend to go round the Étang de la Borde, and stay on the gravel path.

Yellow dash markings

(5) At the junction, ignore the Yellow Triangle markings heading left and turn right onto a grassy path running alongside a fenced-off plot on your left. At the end of the plot, enter the woodland again.

Yellow, red and white dash markings

(6) At the next junction, turn left (GR®®413signpost). Follow (north-west) a wide path through the forest for approximately 900 metres.

Markings: yellow dashes

(7) At a junction, turn left onto a narrower path and let theGR®® continue straight ahead. Stay on the main path, which winds through the forest, and ignore any side tracks. You’ll come out onto a small road; follow it to the left. Pass a shed on the right, then an isolated house on the left, and reach a crossroads (with a view in the distance of the bell tower of the church at Fontaines-en-Sologne).

(8) Continue straight ahead along a small tarmac road that descends towards the Étang des Roulets. In the woodland, walk along the edge of the pond on your left. Turn right then left with the road and walk along the edge of another pond on your left.

Markings: yellow dash + Yellow Triangle

(9) After the pond, note a path marked with a Yellow Triangle coming from the left and continue along the road. After a few metres and before a ‘Stop 150m’ sign, leave the road as it bends to the right and turn left onto a grassy path running alongside a hedge on the right-hand side. Pass a farm shed on your left, followed by a vineyard. Walk slightly uphill with the church clearly in view. When the path gives way to tarmac, carry on straight ahead. After a few metres, turn left onto the D120 and head up to the church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 374 ft - Église Notre-Dame (Fontaines-en-Sologne)
  2. 1 : mi 0.59 - alt. 338 ft - Étang de la Jourdaine
  3. 2 : mi 1.03 - alt. 331 ft - Junction – Signpost
  4. 3 : mi 2 - alt. 351 ft - Crossroads - Château de la Ravinière
  5. 4 : mi 2.5 - alt. 374 ft - T-junction – Plots nos. 57 and 58
  6. 5 : mi 3.05 - alt. 338 ft - Crossroads – Start of the shorter route - Étang de la Borde
  7. 6 : mi 3.33 - alt. 331 ft - Junction with the GR413
  8. 7 : mi 3.87 - alt. 308 ft - Junction - Étang des Clous
  9. 8 : mi 4.59 - alt. 354 ft - Crossroads - Étang des Roulets
  10. 9 : mi 5.16 - alt. 305 ft - Crossroads – Junction with the shorter route
  11. S/E : mi 5.67 - alt. 374 ft - Église Notre-Dame (Fontaines-en-Sologne)

Notes

The walk follows paths in very good condition and quiet country lanes: walking boots or good trainers are suitable for this route.

Near the church (S/E), when facing its main entrance:
- on the left, a map of walking routes and a drinking water point.
- on the right, a bakery and grocery shop.

A 1:25,000 map is useful (at the very least, the one accompanying this description).

Shorter alternative route:
At the crossroads (5), turn left and follow the Yellow Triangle markings to the point (9). Allow around 7.5 km for this shorter route.

Hike completed by the author on1 October 2016.

Worth a visit

Along the way:
- Fortified church at Fontaines-en-Sologne (12th–15th centuries) (S/E).
- Historic half-timbered houses near the church (S/E).
- Château de la Ravinière (16th century) near (3).
- Numerous ponds.

Nearby:
- Cheverny Castle, about ten km to the west.
- Château de Chambord, about fifteen km to the north.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 51 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 29934002

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk – we even spotted a stag. The woodland was beautiful in the autumn weather.

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FD RANDO
FD RANDO

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It was a very hot day, verging on stormy. The start of the walk went well.
But because of numerous horsefly bites (I was absolutely furious – I’d never experienced anything like it before) whilst walking through the forest, we left the route at point 5 and headed back to the village along a very busy county road.
Disappointing

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pierre1er
pierre1er

Very nice
There are no fences along this route, which is not often the case in the rest of the Sologne, which is overrun by animal killers.

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balalud jean-michel
balalud jean-michel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It was a lovely walk – I saw a hare, a roe deer and, I think, a doe.

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Natacha91
Natacha91

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very easy walk for nature lovers. Very enjoyable, thank you

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Asfalis
Asfalis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in Sologne. A few patches of mud here and there, but still passable

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pierre1er
pierre1er

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk
A picnic area just outside the village, about 500 metres away by a pond, with a few tables.
The path is dry and there’s no fencing. Nice. Along the way, a small castle and a lovely farm with sheep
Of course, as is the case everywhere in the countryside and in Sologne, there are hunting shooting ranges, but if you close your eyes, you can manage not to see them and even convince yourself that they’re only used for wild boar
A truly lovely walk

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JUSSY
JUSSY

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful encounters with the bellowing of the stag.

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bionat
bionat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

In response to the question asked on 04/08, the condition of the path does not allow motorised vehicles to pass, but it is entirely possible to walk between points 8 and 9.
This part of the circuit (1 km) is actually very pleasant.

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User 2691864

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Good signage

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User 13299954

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

When we arrived at Mongenet, the route was closed due to a dyke? No bikes allowed, but we didn't risk going to check it out on foot. We took a detour and returned to the pond at La Borde.
Do you have any information on how to get there on foot?
Please let me know
Many thanks in advance

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pascal 2
pascal 2

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, part of the trail in the woods is not very easy to navigate during rainy weather.

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catbranger
catbranger

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a short, very easy and pleasant walk to discover the ponds. It's definitely worth doing early in the morning or late in the evening to see the birds, egrets, herons, ducks, etc. For us, it was a very hot day and we didn't see many at this time of year.

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mimijulien
mimijulien

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Easy hike, very pleasant and ideal for a relaxing time. Thank you to the person who posted it.

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fanfan
fanfan

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike to follow, but personally I never use the north-northeast directions... because they require the use of a compass, and can still be confusing when the trails are very close together and appear to be heading in the same direction.
A pretty castle that can be seen from afar. In summer, the Borde and Clous ponds are not visible from the path. It's a shame there are no benches to rest on in the cool forest.
We parked near the cemetery, where we found a nice place to park
Thanks to the author of this route.

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