From La Ferté-Alais to Chamarande

(S) Start from La Ferté-Alais station. Take the narrow lane leading down opposite the station and turn left into Rue du Docteur Amodru (you are now on the^GR®11).
After 200m, turn right onto Rue Eugène Millet (D449).

(1) Cross the Essonne. At the Stop sign, turn left onto the D191 then right into Rue de la Croix du Pont for 100m.

(2) At the end of the bend, continue straight ahead along the path. After 1 km, cross the small tarmac road.

(3) Take the path on the right at the fork. After 1 km, cross a path, then after 50 m reach the junction between^{the GR®11}and^GR®1.

(4) Turn right at the fork onto the^GR®1and continue for 1.5 km.

(5) Pass under the high-voltage power line. Continue straight on for 1.2 km through the Vallée Gommier. Cross the D56, take the cul-de-sac (hamlet of Boiveau) opposite, then continue along the small path through the woods for 200 m.

(6) Turn right onto the small path leading into the woods. After 300m, turn right onto the gravel road. Walk past the reservoirs. In front of Pocancy Farm, leave the^GR® and continue left onto the path that goes round the farm.
After the three large trees, turn onto the path on the right. At the entrance to the woods, stop to admire “la Pierre Levée” (dolmen).

(7) Return to the path and enter the woods, then after 100m, turn left. After 500m, at the crossroads, turn right onto the path that descends for 150m.

(8) At the fork in the bend, take the left-hand path, which descends steeply. After 500m, continue straight ahead, ignoring a path on the right. The path is quite sandy at this point. After 150m, turn left and continue for 400m to the crossroads.

(9) Turn right and walk for 600m along the edge of the woods. Turn right towards the hamlet of Gillevoisin.
Cross the D17 and take the road opposite to the T-junction.

(10) From there, you can visit the chapel and the castle (300m round trip to the right).
Turn left onto Rue de Janville, then at the stop sign, turn right onto Rue de Chamarande. After 500m, turn left onto the D146 for 200m. Take care: the road is winding and has little hard shoulder.

(11) Turn right onto the small path (^GR®655: Chemin de Compostelle) passing through a tunnel under the railway tracks. After the tunnel, continue straight ahead uphill, then turn right onto the gravel road (the old approach road to Chamarande Castle).
Continue straight on for 450m.

(12) Turn left at the fork as you go uphill, leaving the^GR®655here. 300m after the bend, take the bridle path on the left. After another 300m, take the small path diagonally to the left and continue to the viewpoint.

(13) Take the north-west-facing path (near the shelter) for 150m, until you reach the small path on the left.

(14) Take the small path on the left which winds between the rocks for about 400m until you return to the main path.

(15) Turn left downhill, then left again. At the bottom, turn right onto the tarmac road (Rue du Couvent). At the end of the street, turn left and head towards Chamarande station (E)

Access via RER line D (towards Malsherbes).
Refreshments available at La Ferté-Alais. No shops along the route.
Return from Chamarande station (RER line C).

Pierre Levée dolmen (Janville-sur-Juigne).
Church and Château de Gillevoisin.
Chamarande viewpoint.