Via Vaulien from Courmemin

A lovely circular route rich in numerous buildings weathered by time—houses and farms from the Sologne of yesteryear—as well as landscapes typical of this region: sheep pastures, but also marshy areas, forests, hedgerows and ponds teeming with a wide variety of wildlife.

Details

2533004
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.25 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 33 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 33 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 351 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 289 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Start at the car park along the main street, Rue François1er (D120)

Red and white markings (GR®413)

(S/E) Take Rue François1er heading north-west, with your back to the village centre, and leave Rue de Nizeron on your right.

(1) At the crossroads, take the Chemin de l’Imbertière on the right. The tarmac quickly gives way to a compacted track, then to a grassy path, the Chemin de Banguin. Ignore a turn-off to the right just before a fork in the path.

No signposting

(2) Keep to the right at the fork. The grassy track crosses Rue de Nizeron and becomes Rue du Clouseau, crosses a small stream and then meets a narrow road, ‘les Noues’, which is in poor condition.

(3) Head left onto the small road, which you will leave after 200m by turning left onto a grassy path.

(4) Keep to the right at the fork, then leave the path behind by turning right onto a new grassy path, which you follow until you reach a cross path.

(5) Turn left onto the cross-country path through the hedgerows, cross a footbridge and head west along the busiest path. Cross another footbridge. The path crosses a side road just after Vaulien Farm. Turn right at the junction, then immediately left onto the path running alongside Vaulien Pond.

(6) Continue straight on at the junction just after the pond, following the busiest path. This leads to a cross-path which you take to the left, running alongside a pond.

''Red and white markings (GR® 413)"

(7) Turn left at the crossroads just after the pond. The south-facing forest path meets a small road, which you should take, continuing in the same direction.

(8) Turn left at the four-way junction onto a hard-surfaced track signposted‘GR® 413 towards Courmemin’

(9) Once past Banguin Farm, leave the hard-packed track as it heads towards the houses and continue straight on along a grassy track

(2) At the junction, keep right towards'GR® 413 towards Courmemin'. You will rejoin the route taken on the way out. This becomes the Chemin de l'Imbertière, which is tarmac-surfaced as you approach the first houses.

(1) At the crossroads, turn left onto Rue de Chambord, which becomes Rue de François1er, leading to the car park at the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 318 ft - Car park on Rue François 1er
  2. 1 : mi 0.19 - alt. 318 ft - Common junction A/R. GR 413
  3. 2 : mi 0.63 - alt. 322 ft - Turn right at the A/R junction
  4. 3 : mi 1.56 - alt. 341 ft - Turn left onto a narrow road
  5. 4 : mi 1.8 - alt. 328 ft - Turn right at the fork
  6. 5 : mi 2.5 - alt. 325 ft - Turn left onto the tree-lined lane
  7. 6 : mi 3.23 - alt. 295 ft - Go straight on at the junction
  8. 7 : mi 4.21 - alt. 338 ft - Turn left at the crossroads. GR 413
  9. 8 : mi 5.19 - alt. 322 ft - Turn left onto the GR 413 towards Courmemin
  10. 9 : mi 5.48 - alt. 315 ft - Straight ahead along the grassy path
  11. S/E : mi 6.25 - alt. 318 ft - Car park on Rue François 1er

Notes

The route can be muddy in winter and spring, or even flooded after prolonged periods of rain.

Worth a visit

Don’t miss the village of Courmemin with its church, which stands out for the off-centre position of its bell tower, and its old houses, which are exceptionally well preserved.
During the walk, the picturesque farms of Vaulien and Banguin are impressive for their size.

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

4.2 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.7 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
marco rando
marco rando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant in spring

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you for your feedback; the lack of signposting is precisely why you need a GPS or a detailed route description.
Have a good day,
Jean-Louis

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FRJEPAuriac
FRJEPAuriac

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We combined the “En passant par Vaulien” and “Un chemin herbeux autour de Courmemin” routes. The ‘Average’ rating for ease of following the route is due to the lack of signposting on a small section of the ‘En passant par Vaulien’ route. Otherwise, both walks are lovely: very little tarmac, magnificent paths, ponds, old farmhouses… Pure enjoyment!
Thank you for these suggestions.

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Bibi.syl
Bibi.syl

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It is indeed flooded when you get near point 7.

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philippevergne
philippevergne

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello everyone,
This walk is typical of the Sologne region for its landscapes, its bocage, its paths (all the paths on the plain without forest are actually field margins – either cultivated or fallow – wide enough to allow agricultural machinery to pass; the grass is regularly mown and the hay left on the ground as mulch), its farms with their low-pitched houses, and its ponds. There were a few navigation difficulties in certain spots, but these were quickly resolved by walking and feeling our way a bit (after all, that’s what we’re here for, isn’t it?). And then Sologne is suitable for everyone and all ages (with elevation changes of at least 20 m. !!!!!) In short, it was lovely.
Thanks and see you soon
Philippe

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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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BelleSologne41
BelleSologne41

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk for couples in perfect weather. Not much tarmac, just shaded, well-maintained paths (thanks to Courmemin Council), making for a very pleasant route. Highly recommended during the hot summer months.

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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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bionat
bionat

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable

A pleasant and easy walk.
Beautiful, mostly shaded paths with very little tarmac.

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