Chemin Charles Péguy: overview

Date of your route : May 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this beautiful itinerary!

Pilgrimage completed from 2 May to 5 May in four stages:
- Palaiseau (RER B) - Dourdan: 37km from approximately 6:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Dourdan - Ablis: 20km from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Ablis - Pont sous Gallardon: 15km from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Pont sous Gallardon - Ablis: 22km from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A very beautiful route with, as indicated in the descriptions, some wonderful discoveries. I didn't think I would find so much nature in the Paris region, just as you can only appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of the Beauce region by walking there! I particularly enjoyed discovering the heritage (the "small" heritage) that you encounter from village to village.

This hike is accessible for those who know their limits: I didn't prepare enough for the first stage and ended up with aching muscles for the rest of the trip!
Apart from the distance, I don't remember any particular difficulties.

Although I hiked during the school holidays, I didn't meet a single person, pilgrim or otherwise. It's a hike that lends itself to introspection . However, I don't regret my choice to go at this time of year because: no intense heat, fields of bright yellow rapeseed, no extreme cold.

As for the signposting, I never got lost! Following the advice given earlier, I equipped myself with the Hikamp guide, the Viso Rando sheet for each stage, and I followed the signposts as much as possible. I also had a GPX app just in case, but I didn't use it.

Hikamp guide: I was a little disappointed with this guide, which is rather brief in its explanations and provides a lot of information that isn't really useful about towns and villages that aren't visited. Only the maps, which are clear and well zoomed in, helped me.

Visorando information sheets: I used these sheets as a supplement to confirm what I saw in the signposts. Clear and pointing out points of interest, I found each stage sheet readable and understandable. A very good addition.

Signposting: The signposting is generally very good and seems to be regularly updated. There were a few slightly complicated sticking points (Bois de Bures, the outskirts of Chartres... Nothing insurmountable) but otherwise the stickers are clearly visible. This was my main source of direction.

In short, the three guidance solutions combined are perfect and you won't get lost.

A big thank you to the people who look after this trail. I already want to do it again!

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Date of your route : Jun 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Good evening
The route was completed in four days, plus the initial (optional) section between Notre Dame de Paris and Péguy's house in Palaiseau, which was done a week earlier, returning home to Paris on the RER B. The technical level was easy (admittedly, the weather was quite favourable).
The signposting was adequate (though sometimes erratic in rural areas and even absent in fields, but that's to be expected...); as a result, I found the guide published by Hikamp, usefully supplemented by the information provided by Visorando (which is actually more accurate, as the quality of the guide's maps could really be improved), to be indispensable.
I didn't meet any other walkers on this route, despite the season. The low number of visitors was confirmed by the locals and shopkeepers I met. They were all very friendly and spontaneously offered help and advice.
I spent three nights covering four stages of equal length in terms of kilometres travelled: night 2 at Les Sources de l'Orge in Saint-Martin-de-Bréthancourt (a very welcoming lodge, with meals available if you ask nicely in advance) and two nights camping in the forest: night 1 near the tennis courts before Saint-Cyr-sous-Dourdan (water source and picnic table) and night 3 next to the Bailleau-Armenonville aerodrome (last chance to camp in the woods for a long time... Watch out for angry wild boars!).
The landscapes are beautifully varied, from the wooded hills on the outskirts of Paris before Saint-Martin-de-Bréthancourt to the majestic, undulating cereal fields of the Beauce region with their changing colours. The views are stunning, with the village bell towers in the distance serving as focal points. Quite a lot of wildlife encountered along the way too (hares, deer, pheasants, wild boars, etc.), but the modern noises (motorways and aeroplanes approaching Orly) ultimately temper the overall impression of a country journey somewhat.
It's easy to find food and water (markets, shops, restaurants).
A wonderful experience, highly recommended if you're looking for a short 3-5 day trip from Paris (however, the introductory section between Notre Dame de Paris and Palaiseau is not particularly interesting and seems to me to be completely avoidable).
Thank you and happy walking!

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Date of your route : May 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We completed the entire route over four days, sleeping in tents (bivouacs). Basically, with the map, signposts and instructions, it's easy to find your way (even if the signposts aren't always there and the instructions are sometimes a bit brief). Very few people were out and about, even on Pentecost weekend! In 4 days, I must have had a total of no more than 15 minutes of conversation with people! I will post specific comments for each section. But overall, it was great, there are some very beautiful passages, and I sincerely thank the volunteers for their work.

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Hello

Congratulations on your performance the day before yesterday.
I can only agree with all your comments except one
1 on campus, where we do have to be a bit careful, as the university maintenance team hunts down all kinds of notices (parties, etc.) without always distinguishing between what is allowed (the Péguy markers) and what is not. Very recently, we decided on a slight variation, a little to the south, because the GR 655 is also closed for works, and this means we only have to cross one bridge instead of two. This is also why we haven't re-marked the route yet.
In Bures, we had a town council that was very sensitive about its environment, going so far as to prescribe stencils instead of self-adhesive signs: a solution that did not work (we can still see them after the station) and they ended up accepting our markers, but in very limited numbers. Added to this is the lack of street signs. As for the underpass, whose markers often disappear, it is perhaps the RATP that is to blame.
3 To get up to the viaduct, I changed the route, abandoning a slightly longer version (60 m) opposite the Optometry Centre. It was very reassuring with the "Viaduc des Fauvettes" sign. I did this to follow the yellow markings that enter the forest earlier... but which are quickly lost with the felling of trees. I regret this choice, but I will soon remedy it by placing plastic signs directly on a few trees: drastic measures.
4 At the top, you may not have noticed an arrow on the left that follows the GR;...but you must have followed the first route, which did indeed pass near the stadium... the markings were regularly missing at the railway bridge, so I followed the GR to keep everyone happy... without removing the old markings, which remain in particular at the Media Library; it's also a more direct route... I will reinforce this too (and return to the old route if possible).

Thank you for your comments, which are very encouraging. Please note that we have just published a guidebook that provides the entire route and information about Péguy and his entire Chartrain poem. It also lists the accommodation closest to the Way. If you are interested, I can post it to you for €6 + postage (€4.20, I think). We are very pleased to have achieved this small accomplishment. I will need your postal address.

Keep me posted on the rest of your journey, and bon voyage!

Best regards
François Haye L'Amitié Charles Péguy.

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Date of your route : Sep 02, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

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Living near the starting point, I was looking for a hike lasting no more than three to four days, as I didn't have much time available. By happy coincidence, I came across the Charles Péguy Trail.
Thanks to the descriptions and maps provided on this website and also thanks to your website for the Amitié Charles Péguy association, I was able to prepare for my trip, particularly with the list of accommodation along the route, which is very useful.
As for the signposting, I found the trail to be fairly well marked, with the exception of a few tricky spots, such as point 8 on the first stage.
I recommend this hike and will be doing it again very soon, this time with friends so they can discover it too.
Thank you very much for restoring this trail and maintaining the signposting.

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Thank you for your comment.
I just did the route again with a group of 20, then 30 people at the beginning of July.
The last half-day, also in blazing sunshine, was tough.
We noted a few areas for improvement in terms of signposting: on the plains and in the undergrowth, and where the path does not merge with a GR (long-distance footpath), which is well signposted. We will remedy this as best we can in September or October with more effective signposts in the undergrowth.
On the plains, the ground markers had been stuck into the ground, but they disappeared under the vegetation and/or the mud brought in by the wheels of the vehicles.
I welcome any suggestions you may have.
The good news since this Way was created five years ago is that it is now possible to stay at the Manoir du Pont; without this, the last lodge in Gourville was really far from Chartres.
What brought you to walk this Way?
Best regards
François Haye; l'Amitié Charles Péguy.

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Date of your route : May 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This is a very pleasant hike. The descriptions and maps provided on the website are more than sufficient.
It can be completed in three days, with the first stage in Dourdan, then Pont sous Gallardon and finally Chartres.
The first part is wooded until Saint Martin de Bréthencourt, after which it is very exposed to the sun.

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Date of your route : Jun 06, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

very pleasant 4-day hike

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Date of your route : Jul 14, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The first advantage of the Chemin Charles Péguy (CCP) is its easy accessibility from Paris. All you have to do is take the RER B, get off at Lozère station, and you're ready for a few days of walking!

I covered the entire CCP in four stages: this moderate pace allowed me to discover and "savour" it, stopping as often as necessary to fully enjoy the landscapes I passed through, the places I visited and the people I met. You can find my comments on each section and on the Forges-les-Bains variant on Visorando.

I chose to make the pilgrimage from 14 to 17 July 2016, at the beginning of summer when nature is at its best: the fields of grain (rapeseed, wheat) are ripening and the harvest is beginning, the flowers in the towns and fields are varied and in full bloom, and there are many wild animals to be seen.

The markings (white on a blue background), the route and the CCP description, available on Visorando, are extremely useful and reliable for walking safely. The route has been made as pleasant as possible for walkers. For accommodation, you can find information on the Amitié Charles Péguy website, under the heading "L'Ecrivain" (The Writer), section "Chemin Péguy vers Chartres" (Péguy's Way to Chartres). All the information available on the CCP is of high quality and allows you to prepare effectively and calmly before setting off.

A book entitled "En route vers Chartres, dans les pas de Charles Péguy" (On the way to Chartres, in the footsteps of Charles Péguy), published in March 2016 by Le Passeur Editeur, is the perfect complement to your preparations and will make you want to find out more about the man himself, his life, his ideas and his work.

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Hello

Thank you for your feedback.

I often hear that the markings should be more visible: we intend to improve them.
The poor condition of some paths: yes, this has been highlighted this year, as the weather has caused ruts (from agricultural machinery but also from bicycles) - rainfall is the main factor in this area.

We have received very positive feedback about our route via Visorando and charlespeguy.fr, which greatly encourages us to maintain and improve it. The town of Dourdan has just organised a 12 km "discovery hike" through the municipality and inaugurated two superb markers with quatrains by Péguy at km 35 (entrance) and 39 (exit), which look great.

Best regards,

François André

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Date of your route : Apr 11, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Pilgrimage from Paris to Chartres in March 2016.
Well done for this route, which allows you to get to Chartres by footpaths in a reasonable time, unlike the GR, which zigzags a lot.

I joined the route from Paris via the Coulée Verte, which almost reaches Lozère.

A few comments:

• In dry weather, many paths are damaged by tractor wheels, which puts a lot of strain on your ankles.
• The signposting is not sufficient, but it is very useful in towns.
• You are often close to motorways, which you can hear in good weather.

Thank you for your work!

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Hello

Thank you for your comment.
Good to hear about the pleasant surprises.
I'm surprised by the comment about the quality of the signposting: I checked it again at the beginning of the summer and a friend walked almost the entire length of it in August without making any comments (but he had already done it before).
Of course, if you have any further details, I'd love to hear them.

François André (author of the hike)

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Date of your route : Sep 30, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The route description is out of date, very vague or even incorrect (e.g. "take the path on the right" when you actually need to take the one on the left).
IGN maps and research prior to the hike are necessary to get a more accurate view of the route to follow, especially since there are virtually no markings. This avoids many detours.

On the other hand, the path is very pleasant and the numerous historical sites along the way make this hike special.

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I opted for lodges, which are more comfortable but more expensive.

I don't have any particular tips for camping.
For two nights at roughly equal distances, you should aim for locations near
1 St Cyr sous Dourdan or Dourdan
2 Ablis or Gourville or Bleury or Ymeray-Gallardon

On www.charlespeguy.fr you can find the contact details for lodges: booking is essential!
Keep me posted!

François

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