From Orgerus to Mantes-la-Jolie following the Vaucouleurs

Access: Orgerus-Béhoust station on the Transilien N line, Paris-Dreux branch.

Red and white markings (GR®22 then GR®11)

(S) From Orgerus-Béhoust station, join the GR®22 Rue de Moutier at the bridge over the tracks and follow it north to the church. Turn right to go around it on the left.

(1) Continue straight ahead north for 3 km, following the reverse route of the end of the previous stage, first along a residential street while crossing the Avre Aqueduct, then along a farm track that crosses two successive roads. The track becomes a footpath as it descends into the wooded valley of the Flexanville stream. Cross the stream and climb up opposite to the Poussinière farm to rejoin the GR®11 coming from the left.

(2) Continue straight ahead, veering slightly to the left. Follow the valley from the plateau. Leave the GR®22 trail to the left and continue straight ahead, walking alongside and then through a small wood. At the edge of the wood, walk along the edge to the left, re-enter the wood opposite and turn left 100 metres after leaving it again. Follow the GR® which makes a first turn right then left before descending into the valley. Cross the D42 and continue straight ahead to the bridge over the river.

(3) Continue straight ahead to take the path that climbs back up through the woods on the other side. Join the Charbonnières road on the plateau and turn right to descend into the valley towards Septeuil. Halfway down the slope, cross a road and continue downhill into the woods on the other side. You will arrive at a residential road that leads to the centre.

(4) Take the path on the left before you reach the bottom. Then walk along the bottom of the Bois de la Tourelle, skirting the edge of the plateau between the two converging valleys. As you do so, pass under the D983. You will find yourself on a residential street when you reach Courgent. Immediately turn right onto Rue de la Maison Blanche, join Rue du Moulin de la Planche and cross the Vaucouleurs.

(5) Pass in front of a mill, cross Rue Neuve coming from the left, cross the Dammartin road (D11) and continue straight ahead for about 150 m. Then take the path on the right that leads to the river and the wash house.

(6) Turn left after the wash house to continue along the river. Pass the hamlet of Les Petits Bilheux and a pumping station, walk past the ponds of the Malowe educational farm and arrive at Rosay.

(7) Continue straight ahead, crossing Rue de la Vaucouleurs, and take Rue Jean Baron on the left. Continue right onto Rue des Clochettes and continue straight ahead on the path through the fields until you reach the D983.

(8) Cross the road (watch out for traffic) and take Rue du Moulin opposite to head towards the centre of Villette along a branch of the Vaucouleurs. Turn right to cross the river, then immediately left to pass by the church.

(9) Turn left onto Rue des Chavannes in front of the town hall and continue straight ahead to the village exit. Pass under the high-voltage power lines and in front of the cemetery, then reach the hamlet of Les Marais after 2 km through the fields.

(10) Turn left, cross two branches of the river and continue straight ahead to reach the centre of Vert and its church.

(11) Turn right onto the pavements of Grande Rue (D983, very busy), until you reach Rue des Groux,^{the third street on} the left.

(12) Turn left onto Rue des Groux to climb the steep slope up to the plateau, first through the residential neighbourhood, then along a farm track. Once at the top, continue straight ahead, ignoring the paths that cross perpendicularly. Continue for a good three kilometres, passing high-voltage power lines, then an antenna and a reservoir at the top of the descent towards Mantes-la-Ville.

(13) Continue in the same direction as you descend towards Mantes-la-Ville. When you reach the residential suburbs, continue straight ahead until you cross the A13 motorway over a tunnel.

(14) Continue to Rue Jules Ferry. Turn right, cross Avenue Jean Jaurès and continue to Rue du Colonel Moll and Route de Houdan on your right. Turn left and continue straight ahead, passing a roundabout and the railway tracks. Turn left to reach Mantes-Station railway station just next door (E).

Return: Mantes-Stationtrain station , on the Transilien J line, Paris-Mantes/Vernon branch. It is possible to continue to Mantes-la-Jolie train station (better served) a good kilometre further west, following Boulevard Calmette along the railway tracks from Mantes-Station train station.

(S) Departure from Orgerus-Béhoust station on the Paris-Dreux branch of line N (Montparnasse network). One train per hour in each direction.

(E) Arrival at Mantes-Station station on the main branch of the Transilien J line. Up to 4 trains per hour to Paris-Saint-Lazare. The neighbouring station of Mantes-la-Jolie is served even more frequently, by the J line but also by the N line to Versailles and Paris Montparnasse, and by certain TER Normandie trains (which are direct to Paris).

See theÎle-de-France Mobilités website for timetables.

This is a rural stage, so make sure you have the right equipment (good shoes are essential). There are many small changes in elevation between the valley and the plateaus.

Hike completed on¹ April 2024 with the aim of covering the entire GR® 11.

• Saint-Pierre d'Orgerus Church (1)
• Centre of Septeuil (and a beautiful park along the river) (4)
• Vaucouleurs Valley from (5) to (12)
• Malowe Nature educational farm in Rosay (before (7))
• Villages of Villette and Vert between several branches of the Vaucouleurs, and their churches (9) to (12)