Circular walk in the Orléans Forest from Chambon-la-Forêt

Start at the car park near the church in Chambon-la-Forêt

(S/E) From the car park, follow the local road, Rue du Cardinal de la Luzerne, on your left. Château de la Luzerne is visible provided you walk a short way along the gravelled path leading to it (there is no gate, a sign of the owner’s hospitality and goodwill). Continue in the same direction past the roundabout.

(1) Just before the water tower, turn right onto Rue des Tumuli towards La Sablonnière. Turn left onto Rue Transversale (there is an old house on the corner) and then, facing the dead-end street, turn immediately right. Two tumuli covered in vegetation are visible on the left-hand side along the street. To see the second tumulus, you need to walk a few dozen metres down the track on the left just before the junction.

(2) Keep to the left at the junction and continue along Route du Péage, past the lane leading to the Pont de la Prairie on the right.

(3) Leave the tarmac just before the Buisson d’Aronce and take the Chemin de l’Aulnay on the left. This path becomes tarmac and then crosses a side street.

(4) Turn right, then immediately left onto the grassy track bordered by a fence on your left. Turn right onto the cross-track, the Chemin des Ruelles.

(5) Turn left onto the small side street, Rue des Mobiles de la Charente. Cross the main road, Rue du Cardinal de la Luzerne, with care.

^PR® signposting for the Forest

(6) Keep to the right at the Fork in the road onto the Route de la Forêt. This runs alongside the campsite and is followed by a compacted track as it enters the state-owned forest. This long forest track eventually crosses the D 109, Route de Rilly. Continue straight ahead onto the forest track.

(7) Keep left at the Fork in the road onto the Route de Rodes. At the Cailloux crossroads, take the second path on the left. This runs alongside the Étang à Madame, which you can reach via the path on the right, then crosses a compacted track (with a table and benches).

No signposting

(8) When you reach a crossroads, turn left towards La Vieille Tuilerie, then right onto Route de Rilly. Turn right onto the cycle path between the departmental road and the sports facilities to return to the starting point (S/E) of the route near the church.

The paths through the state-owned forest are protected by barriers that prevent access by any motorised vehicle.

La Luzerne Castle is visible at the start of the walk. As it is privately owned, only the exterior of the castle is open to visitors.