Semi-urban circular loop around Lisieux

A walk that takes you around the town, passing through as many green spaces as possible and following its main waterways. A few steep hills for the fitter walkers!

Details

8383601
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.21 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 109 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 110 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 137 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 42 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Lisieux (14100)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 49.144194° / E 0.228831°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1712SB, 1713SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the Espace Victor Hugo car park.

(S/E) Head south towards the Jean-Paul II roundabout.

(1) At the roundabout, cross Boulevard Jeanne d'Arc and then head left up this boulevard. Quickly take the path and the steps leading up on the right. Continue along this path, which bends to the right, pass in front of the Collège Saint-Jean-Baptiste de la Salle and continue to the crossroads.

(2) Take Rue du Canada opposite. Before reaching the end of this street, take the first path on the right and cross the arboretum almost in a straight line. The basilica is on your right.

(3) Leave the arboretum and rejoin the cycle path along Avenue Jean XXIII. Follow this path to the left for about 200 metres until you reach the first pedestrian crossing, which you should cross carefully to reach the cemetery.

Walk along the cemetery on the small road to the left and rejoin Avenue Jean XXIII. Walk carefully on the grass alongside this busy road and take the first road on the right (marked as ‘no entry except for residents’). Follow it until you find a path on your right.

(4) Be careful not to miss this path, which is behind a farm gate with just a pedestrian opening. Walk down the steep slope to the busy Route d’Orbec.

(5) Cross this road with care (no pedestrian crossing) and follow it to the right.Walk very carefully along this road until you reach a sort of wasteland.

(6) Turn left into this wasteland through an old, rusty gate that is always open. Follow the path on the left until you reach a junction with the end of a cycle path on your right. Take this cycle path, following the course of the Orbiquet, which you cross via a small bridge, and continue along the left bank until you reach a road.

(7) Turn left, carefully cross the railway line and continue left until you reach the railway station. Enter the station (remember your mask!), walk through it, and go up the footbridge to cross the tracks on the right. Exit the platform via a pedestrian gate leading to a large car park. Cross it to reach the new courthouse on the left.

(8) Turn left onto Rue d’Orival and follow it upwards. Cross a junction with traffic lights and you will soon reach Chemin du Sap, which climbs to the right. Cross at the pedestrian crossing at the foot of a flight of steps just before Chemin du Sap. Climb these steps and continue straight on along Rue Théodule Peulevey, which bends to the right further on.

(9) At the end of this bend, take a grassy path on the left which descends steeply alongside the houses. Follow it all the way down to a roundabout leading to a supermarket. Cross the roundabout on the left to reach the car park entrance. Continue left onto Avenue George Pompidou until you reach Chemin Wicart, which you should follow to the left.

(10) Just before a bridge over the Touques, turn right onto a path marked by a large stone.
Follow the Touques on the right bank along this path. Cross it to the left via a small bridge and continue straight on to the EDF site.

Walk alongside the site along a small path that goes round it to reach the Gaz car park. Turn right onto Rue Harou and cross the Touques again. Cross Boulevard Sainte-Anne, turn right and almost immediately cross a small square near the Tour Sainte-Anne. You will then reach Place de la République. Walk straight up, past a school, and continue straight on along Rue Marie de Besneray and then Rue du 11 Novembre.
You will arrive at the Espace Victor Hugo car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 54 m - Espace Victor Hugo - Église Saint-Jacques (Lisieux)
  2. 1 : km 0.07 - alt. 53 m - Jean-Paul II roundabout
  3. 2 : km 0.56 - alt. 96 m - Route du Canada
  4. 3 : km 1.44 - alt. 113 m - Cemetery
  5. 4 : km 2.81 - alt. 133 m - Road closed to traffic
  6. 5 : km 3.55 - alt. 69 m - Route d'Orbec
  7. 6 : km 4.53 - alt. 52 m - Old rusty gate. Towards the - Orbiquet (rivière) - Affluent de la Tonques
  8. 7 : km 5.5 - alt. 49 m - Level crossing - Gare de Lisieux
  9. 8 : km 6 - alt. 47 m - Court
  10. 9 : km 6.81 - alt. 66 m - Grassy path
  11. 10 : km 7.38 - alt. 47 m - Large stone - Touques (fleuve)
  12. S/E : km 9.21 - alt. 54 m - Espace Victor Hugo - Église Saint-Jacques (Lisieux)

Notes

When crossing the station, remember to wear a mask. Take great care along Route d’Orbec, which is not very pleasant and very busy.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
User 5880170

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route isn't clearly marked in some places; for example, we didn't realise we had to go through Lisieux station.
Otherwise, it’s a pleasant route along small paths and roads.

Machine-translated

SOFIA MARMOTON
SOFIA MARMOTON

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short, pleasant and varied route that follows the course of the Orbiquet and Touques rivers, including a stop at their confluence, with a visit to the station along the way... You can start and finish the route at point 3, where there is parking at the cemetery car park (plenty of space and free of charge).

Machine-translated

sergio1476
sergio1476

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

there is no longer any need for masks

Machine-translated

Ophelia de la huniere
Ophelia de la huniere

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

🙏🤩

Machine-translated

benoitrando
benoitrando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route, though it’s a shame it doesn’t go past the Basilica (it’s well worth the detour).

I parked in the car park on Rue du Gaz, as the previous hiker mentioned. There is indeed plenty of space, it’s free, and the route passes this spot at point 10.

Thank you, Carole Gremont, for this route, which allowed me to discover part of Lisieux, a town I knew only by name.

Machine-translated

lehallier
lehallier

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This route, which is shorter than the Tour de Lisieux, offers a slightly more intimate view of the town – 9km instead of 13.5km.
It’s hard to judge the reliability of the route, living in Lisieux and having already explored the town far and wide, especially during lockdown.
It would be best to start from the Gaz car park; it’s free and less crowded than the Espace Victor Hugo car park, which charges after two hours’ use during the day.
In point 3, a detour to the basilica is recommended, even if you don’t go inside, so you can exit at the back and join Avenue Jean XXIII, then follow the small road alongside the cemetery.
The walk along the banks of the Touques provides a fitting end to this urban route, which is another reason to start from the Gaz car park.
Bernard

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.