Chartres walks

Starting from Maintenon station, a green loop allows you to admire the colossal Maintenon aqueduct and follow the Louis XIV canal for several kilometres before passing through the Eure valley and returning along the river. We recommend a picnic on the banks of the Eure or at Saint-Piat station if it rains.

A lovely walk, between fields of wheat and barley, and through the woods. In spring, the woods are full of white anemones, yellow lesser celandines and bluebells. The walk is not difficult. From the top of the fields, you can see all the surrounding countryside. It's very beautiful, especially when the rape fields are in flower.

An easy walk in the forest, on the Rochers d'Angennes overlooking the valley, followed by a visit to the beautiful ruins of the Moulineaux Abbey. Please note! Several hikers have reported that the route is difficult to follow at the site of the former abbey, between points (1) and (2) According to the latest information, the passage near the former abbey is now closed and dangerous. The route has therefore been modified and the original route removed.

A beautiful hike, mostly in the woods around the Eure valley, starting from the Senonches State Forest and ending at the Boizard locks. Built in 1785 by Louis XIV's engineers, this structure was supposed to be the starting point of an unfinished aqueduct that would have carried water from the Eure to the fountains in the park of the Palace of Versailles. On the way back, discover the Château des Vaux and its gardens.

A forest hike starting from the Perche Water Park in Fontaine-Simon. The path leads into the Senonches State Forest after following the edge of the lake. A picturesque trail along the old railway line, a long forest line and then a path that descends into the Tourbière des Froux lead to this protected natural site, home to rare plant and animal species. Passing through hamlets and ponds, you return to La Ferrière, the site of former iron ore mining.

This last stage of our journey through the Vlaminck region takes us from Senonches to La Loupe. Initially mainly wooded, the route then crosses the Eure valley, passing close to the Fontaine-Simon water park, where you can stop for refreshments. La Loupe station provides a quick return to Paris-Montparnasse.

This first stage connects Senonches to La Ferté Vidame. Through the national forest, the route takes you to the village of La Framboisière, the Château de la Hézière, near which there was once a glassworks, and, via a long forest road, leads to La Puisaye. After skirting the Étang de Rouge, the path crosses farmland and arrives at La Ferté-Vidame, the stronghold of the Duke of Saint-Simon, famous chronicler of the court of Versailles. At the entrance to the park, in the Pavillon Saint-Dominique, home to the tourist office, the Maison Saint-Simon presents his life and work. A walk in the park allows you to contemplate the vast views, the ponds and the ruins of the castle of the Marquis de la Borde, which replaced the medieval fortress, the "favourite residence" of the memoirist, in the 18th century. Recently restored, the "little castle" once belonged to King Louis-Philippe, benefactor of the village. The classical-style Saint-Nicolas Church contains the tomb of the duke and his wife.

What if you were invited by the Duke of Saint-Simon, famous chronicler of the Court of Versailles, to celebrate his350th birthday in La Ferté-Vidame? Imagine being able to accept this unlikely invitation and spending a weekend on this two-stage loop that will take you from Senonches, through forests and farmland, to his "favourite residence". Since 1975, the Saint-Simon Prize has been awarded every September to a contemporary memoirist during the book festival. In 2025, it will be the50th edition and we will celebrate the 350th anniversary of the duke, who was born in 1675. Set off to explore his estate and the "Petites Cités de Caractère" (small towns of character) of Senonches and La Ferté-Vidame along long forest paths, ponds and country lanes. If you are unable to meet the duke and his beloved wife, the Maison Saint-Simon will tell you about his life and work. Visit the romantic ruins of the castle built by the Marquis de Laborde shortly before the Revolution in the park.

A route mainly through forest, with some remarkable trees and a beautiful pond, and a heritage detour through the hamlet of Loireux.

A loop with several faces... You start along a river and a pond. You then climb up a path to cross a section of the Rambouillet Forest where there are some remarkable trees. You finish through reeds and along a pond.

The first part of the route follows the upper reaches of the Orge river in a very bucolic setting. The second part is on a cultivated plateau with extensive views. The end of the route is in the forest, with beautiful trees here and there.

In the heart of the Forêt de Rambouillet, a walk tinged with fern and heather, to discover a Neolithic dolmen and a charming valley along a stream.

The undergrowth is dotted with flowers in March and April and there are remarkable trees all along the route.

This hike explores part of the hydraulic network built during the reign of Louis XIV to supply water to the Palace of Versailles. After a very pleasant walk along the Vieille-Eglise Aqueduct and through the Bois des Vindrins, the trail continues through cultivated plains alongside small irrigation channels.

This is an easy route, the second part of which is very pleasant in hot weather as it follows the banks of the Avre on theGR®®22. There are various places to stop and picnic by the water.

In the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Natural Park, a hike mainly through forest, with a variety of tree species and ponds hidden in the fern undergrowth. The Fontaine Sainte-Anne, which was a place of pilgrimage for many years, is a pleasant spot to stop for a rest.

A hike from station to station with a water theme! In the Parc Naturel de la Haute Vallée de Chevreuse and then in the Forêt de Rambouillet, a pleasant route, mostly shaded, along ponds, small canals and a charming river, the Drouette.

Between ponds, oak forests, pine forests and birch woods, this is a beautiful hike in the north of the Rambouillet Forest. A varied route in a peaceful setting.

No raspberries in sight: for now, but where have all the raspberry bushes from La Framboisière gone?The name of the village is more likely to come from Bois Francs, meaning woods free of rights.But patience: the new Raspberry Festival will take place in June 2024. Plantings are planned and the shrub should be given pride of place.Take a short tour to discover the crops and the edge of the Senonches State Forest and the village. Pass by the majestic Chêne de la Framboisière oak tree. Memories of an old railway line.

Hike through the woods and pretty little villages.

On the edge of the Rambouillet National Forest, the Old Road from Nogent-le-Roy to Montfort-l'Amaury is marked by boundary stones dating from the Ancien Régime and decorated with fleurs-de-lis. This short hike, which requires a good sense of direction, starts in the heart of the forest in search of these boundary stones and ends in a rural setting.

A hike from station to station that takes us to the source of the River Yvette and then up and down through the woods that frame its valley. The route crosses the Maincourt Marsh and then an area of rocky chaos. The forest trails are interspersed with villages and hamlets rich in heritage.

Near Rambouillet, the Vaux de Cernay offer many pleasant walks. The one suggested here gives a good overview of the variety of the site: ponds and wetlands, a passage through a chaos of sandstone and old quarries. This walk is pleasant in all seasons. 07/08/2023 Message from the moderator: hike modified at point 2 to avoid private property.

An easy and very pleasant circuit in the Rambouillet forest, passing by the Étangs de Hollande.

It's a very varied walk, combining nature, culture, history, tourism and curiosities. All of which means you won't miss a mile. And if you're lucky enough to do it in good weather, you'll come home feeling like you've just been on holiday.

At the heart of the Chevreuse Valley Natural Park, a hike that allows you to wander through a protected natural site with a trail laid out by the Park. In the Bois de Maincourt, one can see ancient sandstone quarries. The course of the river Yvette, which the trail follows on the way back, finally allows a patrimonial approach with old mills and old washhouses.

A very beautiful hike to discover the wonderful rural and natural landscape of the north-west of the Chevreuse Valley, offering a radical change of scenery from the urban and commercial area of Coignières.

A short hike in the Upper Chevreuse Valley, rich in heritage and offering beautiful views of the Vallon du Pommeret and the wooded hills that surround it.