Following the River Juine and its tributaries

The River Juine rises on the Beauce plateau, flows through the town of Étampes and joins the River Essonne further on. This series of walks follows the course of this river. Several of the stages are linear routes running from station to station, whilst others are circular loops on the hillsides flanking the river.

Photos

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

1. S
   

   From Angerville to Saclas via Méréville

   12.47 mi 141 ft 331 ft

   A long, straight walk offering a variety of scenery. After crossing a cultivated plateau, you follow the Juine valley, dotted with numerous watercress beds. After Méréville, the route takes you through woodland and then through linear villages.

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2. 2
   

   The watercress beds of the Juine Valley

   4.21 mi 203 ft 207 ft

   Along a clear river, a short hike in the heart of the watercress capital, discovering its rich heritage.

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3. 3
   

   Dry grasslands and wetlands in the Éclimont valley

   2.89 mi 157 ft 157 ft

   A short hike with contrasting landscapes. After walking across the Beauce plateau, you will discover dry grasslands dotted with small rocks. You will then walk through the Éclimont valley and its wetlands.

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4. 4
   

   The slopes of the Éclimont

   6.93 mi 525 ft 515 ft

   A hike where the paths between the fields of the Beauceron plateau alternate with the woods that cover the slopes of the Éclimont valley.

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5. 5
   

   Between the Juine and the Marette

   5.71 mi 269 ft 243 ft

   After a course of barely 5 kilometres, the Marette flows into the Juine near the charming little lake of Saclas. This hike offers a route through the wooded valleys of these two rivers and across the cultivated plateau that overlooks them.

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6. 6

   De Saclas à Étampes via Boissy-la-Rivière

   8.76 mi 591 ft 597 ft

   Une randonnée qui alterne les chemins des champs, les chemins dans les bois et les voies goudronnées, tout en jouant à saute-mouton avec une ancienne voie ferrée désaffectée. Une église romane, un château, un vieux pont et quelques autres éléments de patrimoine sont au rendez-vous.

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7. 7
   

   From Guillerval to Étampes via the Étang de Chalou-Moulineux

   11.08 mi 203 ft 427 ft

   A walk from station to station that alternates between paths through fields, along the edge of woods and through the woods themselves. For a while, the route runs alongside two rivers, the Louette and the Chalouette, a sub-tributary and a tributary of the Juine respectively. At the end of the route, the Church of Saint-Martin d’Étampes and its leaning bell tower add a superb touch of heritage.

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8. 8
   

   The Templar Church of Moulineux and the Sainte-Apolline spring

   5.61 mi 157 ft 171 ft

   Starting from the headquarters of a former Templar commandery, this loop trail takes you to the source of the Chalouette River. The route is mostly cool and shaded, offering a glimpse of a rich heritage.

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9. 9
   

   Louette and Chalouette between Étampes and Saint-Hilaire

   9.51 mi 318 ft 315 ft

   After visiting the superb Saint-Martin Church with its leaning bell tower, you walk along the Chalouette and then along the hillsides on its right bank. Passing through the villages of Chalo-Saint-Mars and Saint-Hilaire adds some beautiful touches of heritage. The return journey is mainly along a greenway, close to the Louette.

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10. 10
    

    The Juine Hills starting from Saint-Martin-d'Étampes

    8.12 mi 472 ft 466 ft

    This hike takes place mainly on the slopes of both banks of the Juine, with most of the route between fields and through woodland. Shortly before the end, you walk leisurely in the shade along the Juine and the Juineteau.

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11. 11
    

    Medieval walk in Étampes

    2.96 mi 72 ft 52 ft

    A former fortified royal town, Étampes boasts a superb heritage that this short urban walk invites you to discover, notably featuring four magnificent Gothic churches, including the Church of Saint-Martin with its bell tower leaning like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

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12. 12
    

    From Étampes to Étréchy through fields, woods and rocks

    7.68 mi 397 ft 456 ft

    A hike that takes place on the slopes of the left bank of the Juine and on the plateau between the fields. The path through the Étréchy forest, between the boulders, is very pleasant.

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13. 13
    

    From Étréchy to Lardy via the hillsides on the left bank

    10.69 mi 433 ft 384 ft

    This walk from station to station leaves the Juine valley and climbs higher. After leaving the small town of Étréchy, the first part of the walk takes place mainly amongst cultivated fields. From the village of Mauchamps, the route becomes more varied and runs partly through woodland. There are several beautiful churches to see in Étréchy, Mauchamps and Torfou, not to mention the superb church of Saint-Sulpice-de-Favières, for which a detour is suggested.

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14. 14
    

    From Étréchy to Lardy via the Juine Valley

    6.83 mi 174 ft 164 ft

    This walk, which takes place mainly on tarmac roads, forms a transitional stage in this journey along the Juine. Passing through a few pretty villages, two old mills, a beautiful church and a geological curiosity add to the charm of this route.

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15. 15

    D'Étréchy à Lardy par les coteaux de la rive droite

    8.25 mi 279 ft 279 ft

    Une randonnée de gare à gare qui s'écarte de la vallée de la Juine. Après avoir quitté la petite ville d'Étréchy, l'itinéraire alterne les parcours dans les bois et entre les champs. En chemin, un site géologique sablonneux, un petit rocher à cavité naturelle et un dolmen.

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16. 16
    

    The Belvédère and the Château de Chamarande

    4.99 mi 269 ft 282 ft

    A short hike with a slight elevation gain and two distinct sections. The first part takes place in the Bevéldère Forest, which is dotted with rocks. The belvedere offers a sweeping view of the valley. The second part takes place in the Domaine de Chamarande, with its Louis XIII-style château and numerous canals and ponds.

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17. 17
    

    Coteaux de la Juine departing from Lardy

    7.79 mi 676 ft 666 ft

    A walk on the hillsides on both banks of the Juine, alternating between cultivated fields and undergrowth. You'll discover a rich heritage along the way, including a dolmen, castle, old mill, farm buildings and beautiful houses.

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18. 18
    

    The Rocher Mignot and the Marais d'Itteville

    8.09 mi 269 ft 285 ft

    Discover some geological and natural sites in the south of the Essonne department: a landscape of flat land, a sandpit and a vast marshland area that is home to many birds. This hike alternates between sections in the undergrowth, which are the most numerous, and sections between fields.

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19. 19

    De Lardy à Ballancourt par Cheptainville et Saint-Vrain

    10.83 mi 240 ft 358 ft

    Cette randonnée suit, globalement, le cours de la Juine jusqu'à son embouchure dans l'Essonne, mais on ne la voit jamais car, dans ce secteur, son accès est difficile. L'itinéraire, retenu ici, alterne les traversées des forêts de Cheptainville de Saint-Vrain, les chemins entre les champs et les parcours en secteur urbanisé. L'obélisque de Saint-Vrain, en lisière de forêt, constitue une curiosité.

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20. E
    

    From Lardy to Ballancourt via the Marais d’Itteville

    8.92 mi 33 ft 135 ft

    The final stretch follows the River Juine to its confluence with the River Essonne, which is, however, not accessible. The route alternates between built-up areas and paths through fields and woods. The Marais d’Itteville, with its ponds, reed beds and birdwatching hides, is the highlight of this walk.

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