Chambon-la-Forêt walks

Starting from the village of Chambon-la-Forêt, known for Château de la Luzerne, the route will take you deep into the vast Orléans Forest. The undergrowth, filled with ferns and heather, is home to large wild animals in the tranquillity of the state-owned forest.

A hike between the Nibelloise countryside and the Forest of Orléans, passing by the 16th-century Château du Hallier and the Fontaine de Sainte Radegonde. According to legend, the Queen of the Franks struck the ground with her heel and caused a spring with miraculous properties to gush forth.

In the heart of the Orléans Forest, the route will take you near the 16th-century Château du Hallier, then to the viewpoint on the Caillettes hill at the highest point of the Orléans Forest: an opportunity to admire the surrounding mountains as far as the eye can see.

In the heart of the Forest of Orléans, with its fern-filled undergrowth ideal for spotting wildlife, this short, shaded walk passes numerous ponds.

A must-see route in the Forest of Orléans due to the diversity of its landscapes, ranging from ponds to dense or sparse forests, which are prime habitats for wildlife. The vast Vallée pond, which was originally created to feed the Orléans Canal, has become a leisure destination with its water sports centre, banks ideal for fishing, and paths perfect for a stroll.

From the Combreux lock, discover the Canal d'Orléans and its ponds in a forest where a rich and varied fauna will accompany you and allow you to observe them as you walk along the path. Be early, discreet and attentive to enjoy it. Don't rely on the photos showing the towpath. It has been replaced by a cycle path. The walk loses some of its charm but is still very pleasant.

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.

This route is called "West of Chilleurs-aux-Bois - Route No. 5". This circuit takes you on a tour of the western part of the commune and its main hamlets, starting from the centre of the village and the Lavau district: La Noue Glaçon, Le Coudray, Le Charme, L'Etang, Marcilly, Olivet, Ronville, Le Moulin de Pierre, La Fosse Aux Morts and Les Sapins. Return to the centre of the village via La Grande Gervaise. You will pass close to the sites of two of the five grain mills that once stood in Chilleur-aux-Bois. In Ronville, you will pass the boundary of the commune of Neuville-aux-Bois. You will walk along the "fosse aux morts" (dead man's ditch), which reminds us that the 1870 war was very deadly in our region. You will then reach the village and Saint-Pierre Church, a historic monument built between the13th and14th centuries. The route is not particularly difficult and is mainly on roads.

A very bucolic trail between the banks of the Rimarde with a few private mills, woods on the heights of Les Vaux, valleys on La Couture and Vautaupin (alternative route). Many varied landscapes. Pass by the mysterious fountain of Saint-Amand in the village of La Neuville-sur-Essonne.

This route offers magnificent and varied landscapes between Beauce and Gâtinais, with hills and beautiful panoramas, the green Essonne valley, woods, cereal and beet fields, imposing farms and mills. This is a long route that requires a good level of fitness.

Starting from Traînou, with its distinctive bell tower, this idyllic walk through countryside and woodland is home to a particularly rich variety of flora and fauna.

The hike first follows the towpath of the Canal d'Orléans and then returns to Fay-aux-Loges via the Orléans National Forest. You will enjoy the still waters of the canal and its many reflections, its locks, its wildlife, then the wide forest paths, and finally the stone bell tower of the church as you approach the village. Please note that on 19 February 2023, I was informed that part of the route along the canal is closed for works for an indefinite period (no end date displayed).

The route starts at the church in Bromeilles, nicknamed the Mont Saint-Michel of the Gatinais as it is perched on a hilltop and its bell tower can be seen from a great distance. The route passes through fields and woods, offering a beautiful view of the village of Puiseaux from the Butte Jaune.

The route follows, for the most part, farm tracks situated below the Butte Jaune, offering a constant view of Bromeilles church, nicknamed the Mont Saint-Michel of the Gatinais as its bell tower can be seen from a great distance. The route passes through the outskirts of Puiseaux and the magnificent Parc Dumesnil. A route with no particular difficulties.

This urban route is exclusively intramural, exploring all the existing squares in the town of Puiseaux, in northern Loiret. It is a route without any particular difficulty.

The Gatinais trail leads through woods and fields, heading first to the hamlet of Le Pont. In the second half, the passage through the Chatillon valley offers pleasant views of Puiseaux.

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.

A pleasant trail through woods and fields that climbs to the heights of Briarres-sur-Essonne, where the sheep pastures offer a magnificent panorama of the Essonne valley. A bucolic passage along the banks of the Essonne.

Discover how the Canal d’Orléans draws its water supply from the forest. From forest ditches to channels and from channels to ponds, the water flows imperceptibly through the hydrographic network skilfully created by human hands to ensure its proper functioning.

The route follows the course of the waterways of Vieilles-Maisons-sur-Joudry near the Forest of Orléans, running sometimes alongside the Orléans Canal and sometimes alongside the ‘rigoles’, tributaries of the Orléans Canal which they feed. These still waters are a source of coolness and tranquillity.

Route through the Gâtinais countryside in Dimancheville (45), the smallest municipality in the canton of Puiseaux. The route runs alongside several properties (Orville mill, Augerville-la-Rivière castle park) and returns, across fields, to the municipality of Dimancheville along the Malesherbes - Puiseaux railway line. This route presents no particular difficulties.

A pleasant and easy hike offering varied landscapes. We walk along the Loire for over a kilometre before turning away from it to enter the forest, admire the beautiful Château de Chenailles, then return to Saint-Denis-de-l'Hôtel via the ponds.

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

A bucolic trail through woods, bordering the large estate of Augerville-la-Rivière, with its château and golf course. A footpath is accessible in the park. This hike takes you through the picturesque village of Orville with its wash house and mill.

This circular will take you along the left bank of the Loire to Châteauneuf-sur-Loire. You will cross the castle grounds and its arboretum. The return to Jargeau is via the right bank. This circular route is known as thePR® des deux ponts (Two BridgesPR® ), modified to include access to the Loire Marine Museum and a stroll through the arboretum and the pretty Rhododendron Avenue.