In the Forest of Boulogne

The walk leads into the heart of the Boulogne Forest. Separated from the Chambord estate in 1523 by order of François I, its main purpose is the production of high-quality oak. It is the perfect habitat for does, stags and wild boars, which can be spotted from the long, straight avenues. Best enjoyed in summer to make the most of the forest’s coolness.

Details

1043760
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.62 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 131 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 138 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 364 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 246 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the church square or on the other side of Rue René Masson.

(S/E) With your back to the church, take Rue René Masson to the Goland roundabout after crossing the Beuvron.

Signposting: White/Red (GR®3C) or Yellow/Red (GRP® de Sologne).

(1) Turn left onto the Route de Blois (D923, take care) and ignore the various adjacent turn-offs. Pass the cemetery on your left.

(2) Turn right onto the hard-packed track at the bend in the D923 near the sign indicating the village exit. Once on the straight track, continue to the junction with the Allée du Prieur.

(3) Turn right onto Allée du Prieur, a straight road, until you reach the star junction, Carrefour de Boulogne, in the coniferous forest.

(4) Take Allée Marie Leczinska, ignoring Allée du Roi de Pologne, which branches off at a right angle to the right. This path, partly open, leads to another star-shaped crossroads.

(5) Continue along Allée Marie Leczinska to another junction, this time with the D112.

(6) At the crossroads, cross the D112 and continue straight ahead into the woodland, along the Allée du Prince de Wagram, which you should keep to at the Louis XIV crossroads. Continue straight ahead along the grassy path at the star-shaped junction known as the “Carrefour de Wagram”, ignoring the Allée du Maréchal de Saxe and the Allée du Roi de Pologne, until you reach the four-way grassy crossroads.

(7) Turn right at the crossroads onto the grassy path. Ignore the side paths until you come to a metal gate, which you should close behind you, just before crossing a cross-path.

(8) Keep left onto the cross-path, leaving the hard-surfaced track to your left, cross the next junction and continue in the same direction. TheGR®3Ccurves slightly to the right before skirting the “Le Verger” estate on your left, then meets Rue René Masson – which you took on the way out – at the Goland roundabout.

(1) Turn left onto Rue René Masson to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 253 ft - Parking at the church square. Cross the > - Beuvron (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 0.2 - alt. 262 ft - Circular junction
  3. 2 : mi 0.53 - alt. 272 ft - Turn right onto the hard-packed track
  4. 3 : mi 1.75 - alt. 312 ft - Turn right onto the Allée du Prieur
  5. 4 : mi 2.32 - alt. 344 ft - Boulogne junction
  6. 5 : mi 3.05 - alt. 315 ft - Stay on Allée Marie Leczinska
  7. 6 : mi 3.67 - alt. 335 ft - Opposite the crossroads
  8. 7 : mi 5.55 - alt. 308 ft - Turn right at the junction
  9. 8 : mi 6.73 - alt. 279 ft - Turn left onto the tarmac path
  10. S/E : mi 7.62 - alt. 253 ft - Car park at the church square

Notes

All paths accessible from the road are closed off by a barrier to regulate traffic. Use the passage that goes round the barrier. If there is a gate, remember to close it before continuing.

The grassy path between (7) and (8) may be slightly flooded after heavy rain; waterproof walking shoes are recommended.

An alternative route shortens the walk (9.78 km instead of 12.26 km). At (5), take the Allée de François 1er on the right, which crosses the high forest. Pass the Chambord crossroads. This lane features a wetland area on the left, which is a haven for large wild animals, then crosses a small stream. Pass the François Ier roundabout until you reach the SologneGRP®, which you should join on the right.

Worth a visit

The main attraction of the walk is the chance to relax amidst magnificent forests and observe nature far from built-up areas.

In Bracieux, the old market hall (16th century) is well worth a visit. It hosts the Solognot market on Sunday mornings. The first floor has been converted into an exhibition hall.

Built by the architects of Chambord, the Château de Villesavin retains some fine features, such as the Carrara marble basin in the main courtyard.

Nearby, the Château de Chambord

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
3.3 / 5
Alain Revello
Alain Revello

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk, though a bit too straight for our liking.

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grandin
grandin ★
Brigitte91Y
Brigitte91Y

Hello, I’m planning to go on this route this summer. I saw the wonderful film *The Oak* at the cinema, which is set in the Bracieux Forest. Can anyone tell me how to find this 210-year-old oak tree?

Thanks in advance

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tortissier
tortissier

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in the woods. It’s a bit lacking in interest, particularly with all those straight paths, but they do have the advantage of being accessible all year round. Very welcome in this particularly rainy season, when the undergrowth is often very, very damp...

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you very much for your comments,
Have a nice day,
Jean-Louis

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visionrandonnées
visionrandonnées

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It was very hot on Sunday 7 July 2019; although the start of the route is in the forest, some sections are sunny. I spotted a doe and her fawn just 10 metres away. Magnificent!
Point 7: turn right onto the grassy path. OK. You then come out onto a tarmac section; take the left-hand side of this for about 15 metres and head straight on along a grassy path for about 500 metres until you reach the metal gate mentioned. There, a ‘cycle’ sign indicates 1.7 km to the centre of Bracieux.
I thought it might be useful to add these little details.
Thank you for suggesting this route; it’s a real treat to have these magnificent forests at our disposal to relax in.

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you, I understand your point of view, which was, incidentally, shared by some of the 25 hikers I’ve just guided on this route, but I thought that the Boulogne National Forest, with its exceptional trees, some grassy paths that have remained wild (even straight ones) off the ‘Loire à vélo’ route, and the understated beauty of the undergrowth (wild orchids, etc.), might pique the hiker’s curiosity, especially during a heatwave.
Kind regards,
Jean-Louis

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Patrice51
Patrice51

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

A lovely cycle ride, but not at all interesting on foot. Very long paths, half of which are tarmac.

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Corentin C
Corentin C

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing

I only found the last quarter of the walk enjoyable. The rest is just wide, straight, flat roads. Not very exciting...

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Naudin Patrice
Naudin Patrice

Trying to add some more photos

Successful or not???

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you for all this additional information.
Have a good day,
Jean-Louis

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Naudin Patrice
Naudin Patrice

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The first part is a bit monotonous, with a long, rocky stretch, but there are some lovely surprises further on. Wild orchids, a pond full of frogs, and a little-used woodland path that’s not very well marked, with a wide variety of habitats.

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