From Vernou-sur-Seine to Fontainebleau via Saint-Mamès and Thomery

Starting point and access: Vernou-sur-Seine railway station.
- Transilien - Line R, on the section between Melun and Montereau via Héricy.
Take the only exit, on the side of track 1, in the direction from Melun to Montereau (if arriving in the opposite direction, track 2, cross the tracks carefully using the passageway at the end of the train).

No signposts

(S) With your back to the station, follow the road to the left, which slopes slightly upwards. Ignore the red and white arrow immediately inviting you to take the^first street on the right and, at the next crossroads, go straight on into Chemin de Nanchon (marked "Rue" on the IGN map; dead end). At the end, go past a metal barrier and continue along a path between the railway fence and an unfenced field. Turn right along the path and you will come to a crossroads.

Red and white + yellow markings

(1) Turn left and follow the^GR®2on a farm track. Ignore a turn-off on the right (not shown on the map), walk past a small house on your left, rejoin the tarmac road and walk past the cemetery on your right. Note an old tuff quarry on the right and continue along the small road alongside the railway line. After about 400 m, take the bridge over the railway line and descend slightly. At the stop sign, turn right at an acute angle and descend more gently.

(2) At the traffic lights (church opposite on the left), follow the D40 to the right towards Pamfou. Pass under the railway bridge and immediately turn left onto Rue du Panorama. After a few dozen metres, climb a steep staircase on the left. At the top, rejoin the road, follow it to the left and climb steadily (viewpoint over the Seine).

(3) When the road turns sharply to the right, continue straight ahead along Chemin des Herces and go through a metal barrier. Stay on this shaded path, keep heading west and ignore any side paths. Note the beautiful views of the Seine below on the left.

(4) At the foot of an electricity pylon, turn left and descend a short distance. Then turn right (railing, panoramic view) and continue west on a path. Cross a bamboo grove and continue between two fences (view of Saint-Mammès). Go through a metal gate, turn right and rejoin the tarmac road. Pass under a power line and go around a chapel with a blue dome on the right.

Yellow markings

(5) At the three-way junction, turn left downhill (leaving the^GR® trail to the right). At the crossroads that immediately follows, first turn right then left, pass under the power line again and leave the small buildings on your right. At the stop sign, turn left and take the bridge over the railway line. Cross Rue Frédéric Mistral on the left and leave a modern church on your right.

No markings

At the traffic lights, go down Côte de Saint-Mammès on the left, preferably on the right-hand pavement. At the bottom, follow the D40E2 to the right and take the bridge over the Seine.

Yellow markings

(6) On the opposite bank (Romanesque church of Saint-Mammès opposite), turn right and go down to the riverbank. Then climb a staircase and go around the river stop on the left. Continue straight ahead on the quay. At the end, cross a car park (cedar tree).

No markings

(7) Cross the Loing on the footbridge. On the other side, follow the path to the right. After a moored barge, the path gives way to a trail that winds close to the river (wet passages; in case of flooding, see an alternative route in the practical information). Return to a wide path and, when it turns left, continue straight ahead on a trail close to the river. Cross a stream on a footbridge without a railing and arrive at a sort of grassy quay on the banks of the Seine.

(8) Ignore the track that goes up to the left and continue straight ahead on a path (not shown on the IGN map) that enters the undergrowth. Come out onto a very small tarmac road and follow it to the right. Pass the Thomery Well on the left and go under the Voulzie aqueduct footbridge. Continue along the Seine on the small tarmac road. At the stop sign, turn left. At the three-way junction that appears immediately, turn left up Rue de Bellevue. When you reach the "Le Lavoir" hall, don't hesitate to take a short detour into the square on the left for a beautiful view.

Yellow markings

(9) Then turn right at an acute angle onto Chemin du Lavoir (Chemin des Grands Clots, which continues on from here, is also signposted here). Go straight ahead on a gravel path between two garden walls (the old grape walls). Ignore a path on the left, where the gravel gives way to a grassy path. Still between two walls, first turn right then left to reach an intersection.

(10) Then turn left and go slightly uphill. You will come out onto a street; follow it straight ahead. At the end, first turn left then right to head towards the fitness trail and walk along a wide grassy path. At a sort of crossroads, turn right. Follow a long grassy path that winds between two grape walls.

(11) At the end, cross the street at the pedestrian crossing and follow it to the right downhill. At the crossroads, go straight ahead and pass in front of the town hall. At the bottom of the hill, turn left towards the church.

(12) Go around the church on the left and cross its paved forecourt. At the corner of a pharmacy, turn left onto Rue de Seine.

No signposts

At the end, go straight ahead to the banks of the Seine (ignore a yellow arrow pointing to a street on the left).

(13) Then turn left and follow a footpath as close to the river as possible (passing through private property, follow the signs). Go through several gates (close them behind you). Take a footbridge over a branch of the river (the metal mesh seems flimsy, so groups should take care to space out their crossings).

Yellow markings

At an intersection (forest barrier on the left), find the markings and continue straight ahead on the footpath. Stay on the banks of the Seine, ignoring a turn-off on the left. You will come to a paved area; cross it, heading diagonally to the left (Port d'Effondré, information board).

(14) Continue along Rue du Général Ségur. Cross Rue Thiers on the left and continue along the street marked as a dead end. At the entrance to a private property, turn left onto Allée du Pavé du Prince. Ignore a turn-off on the left and, after No. 7, continue along a paved path uphill. Go through a forest gate and continue along the paved path called Route du Prince (typical sign for the Fontainebleau National Forest). Keep going straight ahead, uphill, and ignore all the turnings on either side.

No signposts

(15) Cross the D137 (caution, busy road) then take the^first path on the right, still on Route du Prince. After passing a large cross, cross another road (caution, limited visibility on the right) and continue straight ahead between plots nos. 19 and 17. For nearly 2 km, stay on the Route du Prince, following the slopes of Mont Andart on your right, and go straight ahead (west) at each intersection.

(16) At the T-junction at the bottom of a descent, turn right. Stay on the edge of the forest on your right and follow the railway line below on your left. At the railway bridge, cross the D137 and continue straight ahead, keeping to the right (forest barrier). Follow the Chemin rural de Nemours, bordered by a fence on the left. Ignore a turn-off on the right, pass through a forest barrier and continue down a sloping street.

(17) At the roundabout, turn left and pass under the railway viaduct (caution: poor visibility, it is preferable to use the cycle path). Then turn right and follow the viaduct on your right.

Green and white markings

At the next roundabout, take the^second street on the left towards the station. Go uphill and ignore all turnings on the left. At the top, at a roundabout, turn right to reach Fontainebleau-Avon station (E).

To return home:
- Transilien - Line R, towards Paris-Lyon, Montargis or Montereau.

Train timetables: consult the Transilien website.

For motorists:
The two stations are on different sections of the same line. There are two options:
With a single vehicle - Park in the car park of one of the two stations and make a return trip by train, with a connection at Montereau or Melun.
With at least two vehicles - Leave one vehicle in each of the two car parks.

Hiking boots are required.

No water sources identified along the route. Bars and shops in Saint-Mammès, between (6) and (7), Thomery (12) and near Fontainebleau-Avon station (E).

A 1:25,000 map is required (at least the one accompanying this description).

Recommendation:
Between points (12) and (14), the route crosses private property under right of way. Please follow the instructions: stay on the path, keep your dog on a leash, do not picnic on site.

Alternatives in case of flooding of the Seine:
After Saint-Mammès - After the footbridge over the Loing (7), follow the marked path on the left (cycle signs). At the crossroads (elevation 46), turn right following the yellow signs. Return to the main route at (8).
After Thomery - At the end of Rue de Seine, just before (13), turn left onto Rue des Bains du Roy (yellow signs). Ignore the yellow arrow pointing to the right towards the banks of the Seine. At the T-junction, turn right onto Rue Sadi Carnot. You will rejoin the main route at Port d'Effondré (14). If you have already taken the footpath (13) and find that it is flooded along the way (which may happen shortly before (14)), two paths on the left (or on the right if you have been forced to turn back) will take you back to either Rue des Bains du Roy or Rue Sadi Carnot.

Hike completed by the author on 21 January 2021.

- Former tuff quarry.
- Church of La Celle-sur-Seine (12th-15th century) (2).
- Beautiful panoramic views of the Seine valley between (3) and (5).
- Former Orthodox chapel (5).
- Romanesque church of Saint-Mamès (11th-12th century) (7), one of the oldest churches in the Île-de-France region.
- Beautiful view from Square de Bellevue (9).
- Old vine walls between (9) and (11).
- Beautiful houses in Thomery, between (11) and (14).
- Thomery Church (13th century) (12).
- Pleasant forest walk between (15) and (16).