Circular route through vineyards and orchards around Mareau-aux-Prés

Park in the market square in Mareau-aux-Prés.

(S/E) Cross at the pedestrian crossing, then follow Rue Saint-Fiacre (the main street) to the right, heading south-west (towards Cléry-Saint-André) for 200m. You will reach the junction of Rue de la Plaine Saint-Fiacre and the path running parallel to the main street, bordering the market garden.

(1) Follow the path running parallel to the main street, then go round the market garden by taking the first path on the left, before the junction with Route de Mareau-aux-Prés. Continue along this path heading south-east past the market garden. At the T-junction, take the path on the right. Cross the Route de Mareau-aux-Prés and continue straight ahead.

(2) Take the second path on the left, heading south-east, after the hamlet known as ‘le Bréau’. Cross Rue de l’Aubier, then Rue de la Rondelle. At the T-junction, take the path on the left until you reach Route de Mareau-aux-Prés (D215).

(3) Cross Route de Mareau-aux-Prés at Croix Glaneuse, and take the dirt track opposite heading north-east (Rue aux Cochons). This track leads to a right-angle bend in Rue des Sourderies.

(4) Take Rue des Sourderies, which continues from Rue aux Cochons, heading north-east, ignoring the paths on either side. This street, which becomes Rue de Bracieux, leads to a crossroads in the hamlet of Le Buisson. At the junction with Rue du Buisson, turn right

(5) Turn onto the path on the left opposite the cellar, then take the path immediately on the right which runs alongside the shed on the right-hand side, heading south-east. Follow the first path on the left at the end of the vineyard plot, until you reach the junction with Rue du Trambleau in the hamlet of Les Charennes.

(6) Take Rue du Trambleau on the left towards Les Charennes, then immediately take the path on the right. This runs alongside the Bois de Folleville on your right. At the T-junction, take Chemin des Grandes Charennes on the left, which again runs alongside the Bois de Folleville on your right. As you leave the small wood, follow Chemin des Maisons Brûlées on the right until you reach a junction.

(7) Turn onto the track on the left, which heads north to a further junction. Leave the dirt track and take Rue aux Cochons northwards. Turn into the first dirt track on the left which runs alongside an orchard, the Chemin de la Voie aux Loups. Ignore the turnings on either side, cross the Route des Muids and continue to the Rue des 4 chemins, just past the two houses. Take a sharp left-hand bend to a crossroads.

(8) Turn right onto Rue de la Fourrière, then take the first dirt track on the left, until you reach a T-junction. Take the track on the left, then the first track on the right until you reach another T-junction. Follow the track on the left until you reach the junction of Rue des Écluses and Rue des Cornilleaux. Take Rue des Cornilleaux on the right, in line with the water tower. Ignore the path on the left. Continue to a crossroads.

(9) Turn right onto Rue des Muids, ignore the turn-off on the left and continue to the Croix Baleine. Take the second street on the left, Rue de la Plaine Saint-Fiacre, to return to the starting point (S/E).

As there are no signposts, this walk requires careful attention as some local paths have no names, which, on flat terrain, makes it difficult to describe the route.

The Mareau-aux-Prés wine region produces white, rosé and red wines made mainly from the Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir (AOC Orléans) and Cabernet Franc (AOC Orléans-Cléry) grape varieties. The best time of year for hiking is autumn, when you can enjoy the colours of the different vineyards, which range from golden yellow to orange-green and bright red depending on the grape variety.