Briarres-sur-Essonne walks

Before motorisation, milling was highly developed along the banks of the Essonne. This hike sets out to discover no fewer than five old water mills, whose presence has been documented since the 18th century. The route along the river is full of charm and the numerous reed beds add a touch of natural heritage to this very diverse hike.

Mainly a country trail that passes through the hills of Bardilly and offers a panoramic view of the Gâtinais. No particular difficulty.

Welcome to the Buthiers Leisure Island. This discovery hike was specially created for a Year7 integration trip. Relatively easy and easily adaptable, it will allow you to have a great time. It allows you to discover all the landscapes of the Fontainebleau forest around the base and, of course, to observe the many activities on offer there.

Taking place almost entirely in the Gâtinais Français Regional Nature Park, this stage follows the course of the Essonne river for quite a long time, sometimes on the right bank, sometimes on the left bank. The only section through fields is when leaving Buno-Bonnevaux. The rest of the route is unique in that it runs through woodland, with some parts reminiscent of the Forest of Fontainebleau with pine trees, sandstone outcrops and sandy areas. This hike can be divided into four sections as it passes not far from the stations of Boigneville, Buno-Gironville and Maisse.

On the edge of the Ile-de-France region, this hike from station to station follows the Essonne Valley from south to north. It takes forest paths, small roads with little traffic and paths between fields. This route allows you to discover an interesting heritage: mills, churches and castles, as well as a menhir and a polisher that attest to the ancient human occupation of the area.

Around Malesherbes, a 29 km route along paths and lanes. Numerous small ponds dot the route.

The fortress of Yèvre-le-Châtel overlooks the Œuf and Rimarde valleys, rivers that originate in the Forest of Orléans. From Yèvre-le-Châtel, the hike follows paths through the wide green belt that runs alongside each of the three rivers.

We pass on either side of a valley where the beautiful village of Boissy-aux-Cailles is located, following paths wide enough to walk two abreast while chatting, or trails in single file. The variety of tree species is surprising: oak, chestnut, birch, beech, pine, etc. And also on the edges of agricultural fields where lavender grows alongside beetroot and cereals.The best times to enjoy it to the full are late spring (May-June), when the flora dazzles us with its colours and scents, and autumn (mid-September-October), when the leaves of the trees are adorned with their yellow, ochre and red colours and accompanied by the rich and subtle smells of mushrooms and sometimes game.

A hike starting from Boigneville station, on the border between Loiret and Île-de-France. A route that crosses the Gatinais Regional Nature Park, passing through Malesherbes, in the heart of the Upper Essonne Valley, with pretty footbridges. A short stop at the13th-century Church of Notre-Dame de l'Assomption with its crypt.

Beautiful walk in the Dame Jouanne massif with magnificent views and a few curiosities.

Tour of the Commanderie Forest, with numerous viewpoints over the village of Larchant and its basilica. Nine kilometres with some steep climbs and a few rocky sections on a very shady route. If you don't make any noise, you may be surprised by the passing of a deer or a roe deer.

The very enjoyable scent of pine is everywhere. And the small sand dune that I would the "Little Dune of Pyla" is lovely.

A pleasant walk, mainly through forest for the first two-thirds, taking in two superb Romanesque churches and the remains of the chapel of a former Templar commandery.

After crossing the Rambouillet Forest in the previous stage, this section is a restful one. It takes you to Malesherbes station. This is one of the easiest stages of the GR®1. The start is at Le Vaudoué. It is the only stage of the GR®1 that does not start at a station. The hike alternates between sections in the woods and more rural sections. The first interesting sight on the route is the church in Le Vaudoué. The path then leads to the former Templar Commandery before crossing woods and fields towards the Essonne and Saint-Martin Church in Malesherbes.

A hike from Gironville-sur-Essonne station to Boigneville station via Malesherbes, following the Essonne river on a route with very little elevation gain. Malesherbes is located on the border of Seine-et-Marne and is crossed by the Essonne river. On the agenda: castle, wash house, river, narrow streets, ponds and mills, passing through the pretty villages of Buno-Bonnevaux and Rouville, following the GR®1.

A short, easy themed route showcasing rock art discovered in the Forest of Fontainebleau and in the south of the Île-de-France region. Seven chronological information panels, with representations of the landscape at the time, photos and casts of engravings, take us on a journey from the Palaeolithic era to the present day. The route was designed, developed and is maintained by the ONF.

As the name suggests, is this route ascends 25 mounds that form a circuit of the of the Trois Pignons forest. A hike amid the rocks that makes an excellent training run before mountain hikes in the summer. N.B. The elevation is underestimated: between 800 and 900 metres total cumulative change in altitude. It’s difficult to find a larger change in altitude in the Ile-de-France, unless you want to take the steps up and down the Eiffel Tower three times on the trot. Expect to be walking for 6 to 7 hours.

A pretty hike in the Massif des Trois Pignons, on the edge of Fontainebleau forest.