In the forgotten forest of Villette

This hike aims to revive memories of a vast, partly forgotten forest that once stretched across the present-day communes of Saint-Cyr-en-Val, Marcilly-en-Villette and Ménestreau-en-Villette. It ends in a riot of colour during the rhododendron flowering season (May to June), when the undergrowth around the Château de Villette is covered with these flowers.

Details

1027801
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.79 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 7 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 7 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 126 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 113 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the church square in Ménestreau en Villette (car park).

(S/E) From the church, turn left onto Place du 11 Novembre, pass in front of the town hall, then turn left onto Route des Moynards and follow it to Courcelle.

(1) At the fork, keep left on the path marked "chemin communal autorisé" (authorised communal path), ignoring the adjacent paths.

(2) At the crossroads, turn left towards the south-east and ignore the paths on either side.

(3) As you approach the Canne Villiers property, take the path on the left which leads to a beautiful driveway that you will follow until you reach the Route de Vouzon.

(4) Continue on the D108 road to the right until you see the "Domaine de Villiers" sign and some houses on your right.

(5) Immediately turn left onto the beautiful path marked "chemin communal autorisé" (authorised communal path) running alongside the Étang de la Coudre. Pass "la Coudre".

(6) At the fork, veer slightly right towards Sennely/Vouzon. At the T-junction, turn left onto the beautiful driveway, pass Le Mont on your left, then La Poste du Mont on your right, ignoring the various side roads. As you approach Le Grand and Le Petit Bray, turn right towards the south.

(7) Turn left onto the first path, ignoring the numerous side roads.

(8) At the end of the communal road, turn left.

(9) At the crossroads, turn left, leaving a path marked Sennely, Vouzon and another marked Marcilly on your right. Ignore the adjacent grassy paths. Pass La Masure property and cross the dyke separating two ponds.

Follow the signs for "Ménestreau"

(10) Leave the beautiful lane by turning left onto Chemin de la Pucelle, which you will follow to Ménestreau. This path runs alongside a rhododendron undergrowth on the right-hand side as you approach Château de Villette. When you reach Route de Vouzon, turn right towards Ménestreau church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 120 m - Ménestreau Church
  2. 1 : km 0.52 - alt. 116 m - Authorised communal path
  3. 2 : km 1.62 - alt. 117 m - Turn left heading south-east
  4. 3 : km 2.62 - alt. 116 m - Path on the left
  5. 4 : km 3.33 - alt. 118 m - On the right, the D108
  6. 5 : km 3.87 - alt. 116 m - Authorised communal path
  7. 6 : km 4.54 - alt. 117 m - Head towards Sennely Vouzon
  8. 7 : km 6.18 - alt. 119 m - Turn left onto the first path
  9. 8 : km 7 - alt. 120 m - Turn left at the end of the communal path
  10. 9 : km 7.45 - alt. 124 m - On the left
  11. 10 : km 9.28 - alt. 122 m - Head towards Menestreau
  12. S/E : km 11.79 - alt. 120 m - Ménestreau Church

Notes

Some parts of the route may be flooded in winter.

Worth a visit

The village of Ménestreau is a delightful example of the tranquillity of the Sologne region.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
VBMB
VBMB

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Extension of another hike (2 km longer) with varied scenery. No roads, making for a very pleasant walk, mostly in the shade.

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Divadorac
Divadorac

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Disappointed. A quiet and easy walk, but nothing to see. Only trees; the lakes and "castles" are carefully hidden at the end of private paths and/or behind high fences.

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soleilbleu
soleilbleu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this beautiful hike yesterday afternoon, under the scorching sun... in the shade of this magnificent forest. The start of the route on the road out of Ménestreau is not very interesting, but it's so convenient to be able to park your car in the car park in the shade of the church. Then you'll be charmed by the undergrowth of early autumn.
We didn't see the Château de Villette, but there are plenty of beautiful, well-kept mansions along the route.
I'll be back in the spring to see the rhododendrons!

The paths are very well maintained; add point 2: follow the red arrow.
Thank you!

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cateri45
cateri45

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This time, we set off with a double-sided A4 sheet, map and description (the Visorando app had drained the battery the day before, halfway through the hike).
It was the perfect hike, both in terms of its ideal length and its forest route.
500 metres of tarmac with no traffic.
You can see beautiful houses and ponds without being able to get close to them, and magnificent rhododendrons that alone are worth the trip.
Another route (Saint Thibault) is similar to this one but shorter, so you have an alternative if you want to do less than 9 km.
Thank you Jean Louis, second attempt successful!

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you, Viviane, for these invitations to visit Sologne, which will encourage other hikers to discover it.
Have a nice day,
Jean-Louis

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Viviane03
Viviane03

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Given the heat forecast for today, we went hiking after breakfast and finished in time for lunch (incidentally, there are some very good restaurants in Ménestreau, but unfortunately they are closed due to Covid). We hiked in the shade, but it was still stiflingly hot given the current weather conditions. We made the right decision.
This hike is very pleasant. Just before arriving at "La Masure" (where there are magnificent rhododendrons), there is a beautiful avenue of oak trees.
Very pleasant to walk along.
We love the Sologne region; we lived not far from there for 21 years...
Thank you for the walk

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you for your comments, which will inspire lovers of the Sologne region to visit it themselves.
Have a nice day,
Jean-Louis

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leglode45
leglode45

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

my friend and I often go hiking in Sologne, and this hike is great because of its diversity: heather, ferns, ponds... In short, it's a hike that really reflects our beautiful Sologne region, with sandy paths that are very easy to walk on even when it rains. I highly recommend this hike.

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you for your comments. It's true that there are many ponds in Sologne, but apart from the communal ponds and the Puits pond, they are all private, as the signs insistently remind us. Fortunately, some of them can be admired from the hiking trail.
Have a nice day,
Jean-Louis

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Flag45
Flag45

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

An easy hike to discover the Sologne region and a few farms and houses in the forest. It's a shame that you don't really pass by the ponds; you have to make a detour to see them, and they are private.

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you for your encouragement
Have a nice day,
Jean-Louis

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Aurmi
Aurmi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

As it was already quite warm, choosing a walk in the Sologne region was a good idea, as the route is well shaded

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you and enjoy your future hikes,
Jean-Louis

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mcdelhoume
mcdelhoume

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very beautiful hike that we will suggest to our club. THANK YOU
Clear explanations

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you for your encouragement and welcome to the Visorandonneurs!
Jean-Louis

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