Boulon in the Middle Ages - Heritage Trail

This heritage trail immerses you in medieval society alongside knights, monks and peasants.

In the 11th century, in the Cinglais region, Boulon was part of the powerful seigneury of RaoulI Taisson, who built the Château de Thuit there, the seat of seigneurial power. Between forest and heritage, the Boulon discovery trail reveals traces of this medieval past.

This trail is marked in blue with signs reading "Heritage Trail - Boulon in the Middle Ages".

Details

4565515
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.87 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 74 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 78 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 136 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 71 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Boulon (14220)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 49.048101° / W 0.394869°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1513SB, 1613SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking is available in the car park behind the Salle des Fêtes, Rue Nelson Mandela in Boulon.

Blue markers: signs for the "Heritage Trail - Boulon in the Middle Ages".

(S/E) From the Salle des Fêtes car park, opposite the building, walk along the right-hand side towards Rue Nelson Mandela. Pass between the hedge and the Salle des Fêtes, then head towards the crossroads, passing in front of the wash house and then the church. Cross the D238 carefully and take Rue Godet opposite, continuing to the end of the street.

(1) At the intersection, follow the marked trail and take the path on the right. Continue straight ahead, cross the hamlet of Les Scelleries and continue to the intersection.

(2) At the crossroads, turn left onto Rue du Thuis and follow it to the end. At the metal gate of the property, turn left onto the path that descends towards the Ruisseau du Tourtout stream, cross the stream and then the small ditch, and climb up the short, steep, wooded path.

(3) At the crossroads, turn left into the Forêt du Cinglais, which covers 640 hectares of Boulon, just over half of the municipal area. All along the forest path you have taken, you will find the markings for plots C1 to C5 on the trees.

(4) After about 1.7 km, turn left. Go down the hill, cross the Ruisseau du Tourtout stream again and go up the dirt track lined with embankments. Depending on the weather conditions, this path may be wet or even waterlogged.

(5) At the top, at the crossroads, after the house known as "de la mère Pageot", take the path opposite to the D238.

(6) At the crossroads, carefully cross the D238 (Rue de la République) and turn left towards the church. Pass in front of the Rochette farm and the town hall, then turn right into Rue Nelson Mandela to return to the car park, passing to the left of the Salle des Fêtes (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 110 m - Parking lot at the Salle des Fêtes - Église Saint-Pierre (Boulon)
  2. 1 : km 0.8 - alt. 114 m - Intersection, on the right
  3. 2 : km 1.76 - alt. 124 m - Crossroads, on the left
  4. 3 : km 2.94 - alt. 136 m - Summit of the Raidillon, on the left
  5. 4 : km 4.61 - alt. 104 m - Crossroads, on the left
  6. 5 : km 5.34 - alt. 104 m - House known as "Maison de la Mère Pageot"
  7. 6 : km 6.23 - alt. 96 m - Route D238
  8. S/E : km 6.87 - alt. 110 m - Parking lot at the Salle des Fêtes - Église Saint-Pierre (Boulon)

Notes

ZNIEFF: Natural Areas of Ecological, Faunistic and Floristic Interest.

Worth a visit

The Cinglais Forest

A beautiful walk awaits you. It will introduce you to a forest world far removed from the outside world. Then, as you wander along the little paths, you will find traces of its history in the old stones, admiring its wash houses, houses, castle, chapel and church. Boulon invites you to savour the history of its rural heritage.
Located on the edge of the dry plains and the irrigated bocage, the Cinglais Forest, covering 1,475 hectares, is an example of a ZNIEFF-classified forest.
Belonging to the seigneury of Thuit in the 9th century, the first known owner was Raoul d'Anjou. His descendant, his eldest son, Raoul Tesson de Cinglais, was said to own a third of the land in Normandy. During the Battle of Val-Es-Dunes, he and his hundred knights joined the ranks of Duke William and led him to victory. The Tesson family played a major role in William the Conqueror's conquest of England, for which they received numerous rewards from him.
Declared national property in 1793, the forest was returned to its former owners in 1814. During the 19th century, it underwent a wave of deforestation (less than 320 hectares). In addition to the lily of the valley it supplied to the Caen area, the forest produced a great deal of wood, including that which fuelled the boiler of the slow train connecting Caen to Falaise via Bretteville-sur-Laize.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 17 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
JPLNorm
JPLNorm

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little circuit with no significant difficulties. Pleasant shade in the forest.

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Nork
Nork

A very beautiful hike that I now do regularly
Well shaded in good weather. May be less easy in rainy weather
Very varied
Boulon is a very beautiful town
Great for families
I highly recommend it

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Fairbanks
Fairbanks

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route is pleasant, alternating between fields and forests. We didn't see any medieval buildings or ruins, but there were enough signs to know that our ancestors had travelled the same paths.

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Nork
Nork

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Very beautiful hike
Fields and forest
I walk this route regularly but I think I'll avoid it during rainy periods
Thank you

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jeangazon
jeangazon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike that starts in the village, then goes through fields and forest.
I completed it in 1 hour 30 minutes.
I highly recommend it!

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Azimut71
Azimut71

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The paths in the Cinglais forest are a bit muddy. The climb between the stream and (5) is very pretty, although quite steep.
I cut across between (5) and (1) to avoid the road.

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Vickie
Vickie

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The signs indicating the direction are very small and not very visible.
You therefore need to be vigilant.
The route is pleasant.

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Jean-Pierre DAVY
Jean-Pierre DAVY

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very satisfied with the journey

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Jean-Paul BUTEAU
Jean-Paul BUTEAU

Hello Zako,
Thank you for taking the time to post your feedback.
Following the GPS route of the circuit is an excellent idea because it does not necessarily follow a marked trail and, despite efforts to maintain and repair them, the markings are sometimes damaged.

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zako14
zako14

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant route, no particular difficulties. The information displayed provides a little extra insight into the history of this village.
Using the GPX map, I didn't notice whether the signposting had been updated.
thank you for this route

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Jean-Paul BUTEAU
Jean-Paul BUTEAU

Hello Marie-Laure,
Thank you for your comment and for taking the time to write it.
I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed the route so much that you are considering doing it again in July.
Everyone has their own way of hiking, but it's true that trail markings sometimes suffer from the ravages of time and other hazards.
That's why I try to provide as much detail as possible about the routes I publish. The more information and landmarks there are, the less chance there is of getting lost.

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Mlaure-Thierry
Mlaure-Thierry

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike, thankfully described in detail by you, as there aren't many blue markers to be seen. Small roads through the countryside, paths through the forest. Very varied. I'll be doing this hike again in July to see the sunflowers in bloom. It's going to be magnificent!

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Jean-Paul BUTEAU
Jean-Paul BUTEAU

Hello Randjide,
It's nice of you to take the time to post your comment, and your compliments are encouraging. Thank you very much.

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randjide14
randjide14

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

In autumnal but sunny weather, we retraced history by following this very pleasant route.
The information boards installed at points of interest are easy to read and well documented.
Jean Paul Buteau's step-by-step guidance makes it easy to follow, even for novice hikers.
Well done and thank you.

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Jean-Paul BUTEAU
Jean-Paul BUTEAU

Hello Norarie,
Thank you for taking the time to add your comment, it is much appreciated.

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