Château du Marais (Val Saint-Germain) walks

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.

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.

A hilly route from station to station, mainly through farmland for the first two-thirds, then through more wooded areas. Beautiful churches and rural heritage can be found in the villages along the way. In Dourdan, the walk along the Orge river, the 12th-13th century church and the fortified castle provide a superb finishing touch.

Thirty-first stage of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France via the GR®11, linking Étréchy in the Juine Valley to Saint-Chéron in the Orge Valley, via the Renarde Valley. It winds its way through the Hurepoix and the southern edge of the Beauce, offering varied landscapes, from plateaus to valleys and fields to forests. It is notable for its numerous ascents and descents between plateaus and valleys.

This stage of the GR®1 is one of the most difficult on this GR®. It is 32 km long and has an elevation gain of over 400 m. It is also one of the most beautiful. Starting from Lardy, this hike takes you past magnificent monuments such as the Church of Saint-Sulpice, the Church of Saint-Yon, the Church of Sermaise and the Château de Dourdan. There are other monuments to visit in this town. Most of the route is in the countryside, with several ascents and descents into the valleys. The route passes through numerous villages of varying sizes.