Wash houses and the Sainte-Geneviève Spring

The route starts from the car park located very close to the church in the village of Sementron.

(S/E) With your back to the church gate, head towards Rue de la Messe by turning left. Follow this small tarmac road which runs alongside the Ruisseau de Saint-Bonnet, which actually rises in the village. Pass the buildings and reception hall of L’Abîme on your left. Head towards Coulon.

(1) At the wash house, cross the D85 (take care) and follow it for 50m on the right. Head up the street on the left to the hamlet of Bise. Turn right to go round the houses. After the farm, at the end of the road, turn left onto the path that runs along the edge of the woodland (section of path not shown on the IGN map).

(2) At the crossroads, turn left to join the road (D4). Head right for 100m and turn left into Rue du Poirier au Diable, which quickly becomes a stony track.

(3) At the first corner formed by a path and this street, turn left. At the next junction, turn left again onto an uphill section.

(4) Turn right and continue straight on, leaving a path on your left. You’ll come out onto a tarmac road; turn left but leave it immediately, taking the leafy path leading down to the left. You’ll reach a tarmac section. Turn left, leave the path leading down to the right and take the next one, keeping to the right. At the end of this path, turn right. Stay on this main track, which climbs steadily, until you reach an old Roman road; as you pass, ignore the side paths.

(5) Head left. Cross a tarmac road, leaving the hamlet of Richebourg on your left. Continue uphill for about 200m.

(6) Turn left, then right at the next junction. Walk alongside a hedge on your left. At the T-junction, turn right and continue straight on to reach a partially tarmac-surfaced road. Turn left and join the D85 road.

(7) Cross this road (take care) and head straight ahead onto the tarmac road (towards Chastenay-le-Haut). Before reaching the houses in this hamlet, turn left onto the first path. At the three-way junction, take the path on the right and you’ll come to a crossroads with four paths.

(8) Turn left. Continue, ignoring the paths to the right and left, until you reach a cross-path. Turn right and walk for 100m.

(9) Turn left to head down towards the village of Sementron. You’ll arrive at the foot of the wash house and the Saint-Bonnet spring. Enter the heart of the village by turning left, then right before the house. The path follows the stone boundary wall. Head towards Rue de
l'Église, passing by the foot of the Source Sainte-Geneviève (S/E).

This route features markers bearing the number 54 in places.
It can be easily tackled by mountain bike.
The fountains and springs along this route are nice and cool but not drinkable.
In bright sunshine, bring water, a hat and sunglasses.

At the end of the route, the Sainte-Geneviève spring (small path before the church).
The village church and its decorations.
Nearby: the Moulin de Vanneau, the Fontenoy obelisk and the museum.