Château du Marais (Val Saint-Germain) walks

A walk from station to station in the Orge Valley, exploring two large ponds home to numerous birds. A picturesque route in the first half, which then sees the proportion of urban sections increase. Heritage sites along the way: a well-restored old mill, a few churches, a small menhir, a wash house...

This route is the second of four sections of the Charles Péguy Trail: Lozère (Palaiseau) - Chartres via Dourdan. It follows in the footsteps of the poet Charles Péguy, who celebrated his two pilgrimages (made in 1912 and 1913, each lasting four days there and back) in a poem that remains famous to this day. This is the transition stage: from the valleys and rolling hills of Hurepoix to the Beauce plateau.

A hike from station to station in the upper Orge valley, following the river. Discover the rich heritage of Dourdan town centre (fortified castle, 12th-13th century church, wash houses, etc.) as well as beautiful churches along the way.

The Orge river flows through the Essonne department, first from west to east and then diagonally from south-west to north-east. This route follows the valley as closely as possible, where it is accessible by train. The route alternates between paths along the river, including a promenade in the downstream section, passages through the undergrowth, residential areas and urban routes.

A hike from station to station, crossing the Dourdan Forest, the Bois de Saint-Benoît, the Bois de Pinceloup and the southern part of the Rambouillet Forest. Several lakes adorn the route and the church of Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines adds a superb touch of heritage.

This stage is the last of the GR®1 and is over 30 km long. It crosses the western part of the Rambouillet Forest. The entire stage is through forest, except for the crossing of Saint-Léger-en-Yvelines. The route connects two towns with a rich history: Dourdan and Rambouillet. There are many straight lines on this route, which is mainly flat. There are a few notable ponds at the end of the route, such as the Étang de la Tour and the Étang d'Or.

The main aim of this walk is to reach La Roche Turpin from a station (RER C). La Roche Turpin is a magnificent natural area consisting of a sandstone plateau and its slopes, covered by a beautiful forest mainly populated by oaks (including some superb specimens), chestnut trees and Scots pines.At the start, you can enjoy the path around the Bassin de Trévoix (Retenue de l'Orge). You then make a pleasant walk through the village of Bruyères-le-Châtel via a dense network of well-maintained footpaths. Next comes the beautiful forest of Bruyères-le-Châtel (although there are long straight stretches due to fences enclosing large areas).

An alternative route to the first section of the Chemin Charles Péguy. It bypasses Limours and instead showcases the Hurepoix region. Discover the beautiful village of Forges-les-Bains and a route through stunning countryside.

A hike from station to station, along the Orge and its tributary, the Rémarde, as well as the Bassin de Trêvois. A small menhir and a Louis XIII-style castle add a nice touch of heritage.

A hike from station to station, mostly following the Orge river or its secondary branch, the Grande Boële, and along a few large reservoirs. There is a rich heritage to discover, in Arpajon at the start of the hike and, as a highlight, at the Basilica of Longpont.