From Épône to Mantes-la-Ville through the countryside

Start: Epône-Mézières station (Transilien, line J). Exit via Place de la Gare/Boulevard Renard Benoit

(S) With your back to the station, turn right to follow the^GR®®, Avenue de la Gare, to the D113. Cross at the traffic lights and turn left then right onto Boulevard Renard Benoit. Cross two junctions.

(1) Continue straight ahead along Rue Édouard Jumantier, then follow Rue de la Brèche to the church, ignoring the side streets. Turn right up Rue du Pavé to the entrance of the castle grounds on your right (sign for the Cultural Centre).
Alternative route: see During the walk or nearby

(2) Continue straight on the^GR®®, pass the Résidence du Château and, at a right-hand bend, continue straight ahead onto Chemin aux Étoiles (red and white markings on a no-entry sign). Continue to the D130, ignoring the side paths.

(3) Cross the road carefully and head straight ahead onto Rue de la Villeneuve (red and white markings). Walk past a school and continue straight on. Carry on along a dirt track and, further on, ignore a path branching off to the left until you reach the Fork in the road shortly afterwards.

(4) Take the path on the left to enter a wood. A little further on, at a crossroads, continue straight ahead on the^GR®®26Guerville (sign on a tree). Pass under a high-voltage power line. Cross the wood, staying on the very well-marked^GR®®. Then walk across a meadow and turn right, still following the^GR®®. You’ll reach the tarmac road at a fork in the road in the hamlet of Senneville; head left uphill to a wash house.

(5) Let the^GR®® head off to the left and take Rue des Fillancourts. Ignore Route de Boinville (signposted) to the left. At the next Fork in the road immediately ahead, veer right and then immediately left onto Rue Saint-Jean, pass a chapel and arrive at the next Fork in the road.

(6) Head up to the left onto Rue Maurice Donnay. Continue along the path that runs from it and ignore a turn-off to the right. At the next crossroads, turn right until you reach the next junction (where there are houses).

(7) Head downhill to the right and you’ll come to Rue des Vernes. Carry on to a Stop sign and turn right for a few metres to cross the D158 at the pedestrian crossing. Continue to the right for about 150 m.

(8) Turn left onto a path. Ignore the side paths to reach a T-junction and turn right until you reach another junction 200 m further on.

(9) Turn right, then left twice to walk through a wood to its edge.

(10) First turn right then left, ignoring a path branching off to the right. At the T-junction that comes up shortly, head right. Pass under a high-voltage power line. Carry straight on along the^{PR®® path}, ignoring all side paths and, a little further on, passing houses on your left. Turn left with the^{PR®® path} just before you reach the tarmac road on your left.

(11) Head down the road opposite, Rue de Rosay. Cross Avenue du Mantois and continue to a roundabout opposite a school. Cross the roundabout and turn right for a few metres.

(12) Take a small path on the left at number 103, cross a street and continue straight ahead until you reach Avenue du Breuil. Turn right for a few metres to cross this road at the pedestrian crossing. Turn right and use the pedestrian crossing to cross Avenue du Vexin. Turn left and then immediately right onto Rue des Prés for a few metres. Cross the street.

(13) Head down a small path. At the bottom, turn right, cross Rue des Prés and enter Parc de la Vallée (signposted). Head left and cross a footbridge on your left. Turn right and walk alongside the Vaucouleurs. Further on, take another footbridge on the right to come out immediately opposite a dovecote.

(14) Continue to the left and cross a footbridge over the Vaucouleurs. Carry on to exit the park a little further on to the left. Turn immediately right and cross Rue du 8 Mai 1945 at the pedestrian crossing.

(15) Turn left, walk past a school, then turn right onto Route de Houdan to cross the bridge over the A13. Walk past the town hall and carry straight on, ignoring all the side streets. Cross the road bridge over the railway lines and turn left to reach Mantes Station (Transilien, line J) straight away. (E)

The Suricate portal
You, as users of the trails and natural environments, can play an active role in this scheme from today by reporting any issues you encounter during your walks: Sentinelles sports de nature.

Signposting: a quick reminder.

Picnic
Épône
Castle Park
Mantes-la-Ville
Parc de la Vallée

Épône
Pub near the station and mini-market on the D113
Mantes-la-Ville
Small shops and fast food outlets

Epône Historical trail
War memorial
Saint Beat Church
Route (1) approx. 800m Enter the park and take the path on the right to reach the Temple of David. Walk a few metres to the left of the temple to climb a small flight of steps and turn immediately left, so as to return to the park entrance after passing the Bergerie on your left
The Path of the Stars
Saint Aubin Cross (on the right before crossing the D130)
Mézières-sur-Seine
La Villeneuve
Washhouse (3)
Guerville
Senneville
between (5) and (6)
2 wash houses
Chapel of Saint John the Baptist: Parts of it date back to the 12th century. It is surrounded by four springs, one of which is beneath the church: the Saint-Jean spring.
Mantes-la-Ville
The Vallée Park
Opening hours:
1 April to 31 October: 8.00 am–9.00 pm
1 November to 31 March: 9.00 am–5.00 pm
owned for decades by the Brochant de Villiers family
Château de Villiers (information boards)
Only the dovecote and part of the outbuildings of the old château, situated along Avenue du Breuil, are still visible.
“Les Alliers de Chavannes” estate to the left of the Alliers de Chavannes school.