Memorial loop for those shot in Morvilliers

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Starting from Morvilliers, this loop takes you to the sites where a tragic episode unfolded during the final days of the Maquis de La Ferté-Vidame in August 1944.
It first leads to the farm of Mary Thibault, the instigator of the Maquis. It then crosses the Bois de Malassis, where the Maquisards hid after machine-gunning a German car, killing the driver and the secretary of the Kommandantur of La Ferté-Vidame This action triggered the fury of the SS, who, after searching the neighbouring farms in vain, arrested three young members of the Maquis in the hamlet of Les Rayers. They were taken to the nearby Château du Gland, where they were tortured. The first man was shot on 11 August in front of his comrades. The next day, the other two were also executed. They had to dig their own graves.

A commemoration takes place every year in the clearing and at the cemetery in Morvilliers, where the bodies were returned after the Liberation.

Details

n°78715484
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.37 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 22 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 20 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 227 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 197 m
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Photos

The three graves
The Fromentin Oak Tree
Mary Thibault's farm
Clairière des fusillés (clearing where people were shot) at Château du Gland

Description of the walk

Parking in front of the Morvilliers cemetery on Route de la Brosse.

No signposts

(S/E) With your back to the cemetery, turn left and walk down towards the village (no signposts). Cross the crossroads in front of the church and follow the D318 towards La Puisaye. At the cross, leave the road and take the grassy path opposite, which leads to the junction with a small road at Haut Chevrier.

(1) Turn left along the Route des Pleins. At the crossroads, turn right onto the D155. After a hundred metres or so, note the wrought iron initials MT on the chimney of Mary Thibault's farm on the right. You will come to the D4.

(2) Leave the road and take the path on the left that enters the Bois de Malassis. Follow this path straight ahead through the woods. At the exit, continue straight ahead on a path that becomes a small road and leads to a crossroads in the hamlet of Les Rayers.

Yellow and red markings for the GRP® Blaise and Avre Valleys

(3) Turn left onto the D155.2 (Rue du Nicochet) and follow the yellow and red markings of the GRP® Vallées de la Blaise et de l'Avre. After a left turn, turn right onto Rue de la Brèche aux Loups. Pass in front of the property of the same name and then cross the hamlet of Chêne Fromentin. Walk along the Chênes Baudry woods and arrive at the T-junction with the D102.

(4) Turn left and follow the road for about 200 metres. Take the first path on the right, which descends gently towards the Ruisseau de Lamblore. Cross this stream and head uphill towards a large farm before Bertin. Reach the first farm buildings, then a crossroads.

No signposts

(5) Leave the GRP®, turn right and then left towards Verneuil. Continue along the small road opposite Impasse Bertin (no signposts) and arrive at a crossroads at a place called Bertin.

(6) Turn right, then after about 100 metres, turn left onto Impasse de la Tanière. The road becomes a path. In the copse on the left, note Mariette (small oratory - please respect the private property). Continue straight on until you reach Route de la Brosse. Turn left and return to Lamblore cemetery (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 211 m - Morvilliers Cemetery
  2. 1 : km 1.19 - alt. 227 m - Le Haut Chevrier
  3. 2 : km 2.06 - alt. 220 m - The Malassis woods
  4. 3 : km 3.52 - alt. 212 m - Les Rayers
  5. 4 : km 5.45 - alt. 210 m - D102
  6. 5 : km 6.76 - alt. 214 m - Farm before Bertin
  7. 6 : km 7.09 - alt. 217 m - Place known as Bertin
  8. S/E : km 8.37 - alt. 212 m - Morvilliers Cemetery

Notes

Good walking shoes recommended.

On the path leading up to the large farm before Bertin, watch out for ruts hidden under the grass, which can be tall in summer. A walking stick may be useful.

To learn about the history of the Maquis de La Ferté-Vidame.

Worth a visit

La Ferté-Vidame Castle Park and Maison Saint-Simon.

Senonches Castle Museum.

Verneuil-sur-Avre, a town of art and history.

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