Escorpain walks

This circular route offers an opportunity to discover some of the structures that line the Avre Aqueduct, particularly the Tue-Cheval structure, but also to admire the castle of Escorpain. Two pretty ponds are also on the itinerary. It is an easy route with a few sections in the forest, which are welcome when it is very hot!

These circulars will not take you into the bush in search of large predators, but along good paths through woods and fields on the outskirts of the Perche, in this transitional region known as the Thimerais. You will pass through the landscapes that inspired the painter Maurice de Vlaminck, who founded Fauvism at the beginning of the 20th century with his friends Derain and Matisse.Having settled in La Tourillère, near Rueil-la-Gadelière, 100 years ago, the artist fell in love with this region, which he tirelessly explored until his death in 1958 in search of places of inspiration.These circular loops take you through the landscapes "where the wind bends the trees and chases the clouds across a dark sky" that captivated the painter.This route starts in Saint-Lubin de Cravant, where the church inspired the painter. It follows the Meuvette valley, which was once canalised. The Avre Aqueduct crosses the valley on imposing arches. It supplies Paris with drinking water.

Starting from the public garden created by the local council around the Torçay pond on Rue de la Blaise, this short circular route takes you through the beautiful Blaise Valley, passing the recently restored Church of Saint-Ange. It then follows the pond created from a former gravel pit dug in the 1960s, near the Torçay mill. Although highly controversial at the time due to the risk of groundwater pollution, these bodies of water now add to the charm of the valleys in the Drouais region. The numerous mills that line the valley, bearing witness to a very early industrialisation, have now become beautiful private residences, such as the Torçay Mill. The scenic value of the area justified retaining the detour required by the new GRP® route, which has replaced the former GR®351, before heading towards the Châteauneuf forest.

Starting from the charming church of Acon, on the border between Normandy and Île-de-France, the route first takes you through the Avre valley and follows the river for a good distance. Then, higher up, it passes through a forest of oak and birch trees with fern undergrowth. This is a relatively short hike, but it can be extended by following another route that starts and ends at the same point.

Starting from a charming church, this is a short hike focused on water in the Avre Valley, on the border between Normandy and Île-de-France.

Dreux, the old town with its medieval castle fortifications, narrow streets, belfry, Royal Chapel of Saint Louis, half-timbered houses, ramparts, not to mention its vineyards, etc. Everything you need for a wonderful day out with the family.

This is an easy route, the second part of which is very pleasant in hot weather as it follows the banks of the Avre on theGR®®22. There are various places to stop and picnic by the water.

A circular route starting from Saint-Jean-de-Rebervilliers. Largely through woodland, it leads to Châteauneuf-en-Thymerais. After setting off through the forest, the route crosses the Rond de France, where a beautiful stone column stands, locally known as the ‘pyramid’. After passing through the town centre, the return route takes you back through the forest, past the Château du Jaglu and then the Église Saint-Jean, ending near the pretty pond with its pleasantly landscaped surroundings.

This walk, in the Dreux Forest, offers a beautiful view of the village of Montreuil, the Eure Valley and the arches of the Eure siphon, the Avre aqueduct that supplies drinking water to the city of Paris. Come and discover a walking route in the Dreux National Forest; after a bit of exercise, you’ll climb the hillside along a very pleasant path, having crossed the bridge over the Eure.

Let's go in search of the Blaise, a mischievous little river that hides so well from its source that geographers are perplexed. According to the elders, it originates near the Rond des Louvetiers, between Tardais and the Étang de la Bénette. Recent maps show it near the Grand Rond. In fact, these are "gouttiers", episodic streams that flow towards and cross the Tardais pond. It emerges under the dyke where a mill once operated, but suddenly disappears, sinking into a "chasm". It sometimes reappears. At the edge of the forest, the Ruisseau de Saint-Cyr joins it. Together, the two waterways pass at the foot of Louvilliers-lès-Perche, flowing sometimes on the surface, sometimes underground. The Blaise reappears definitively in the Étang de Dampierre. In the past, it enabled the establishment of a very important steel complex. It then flows towards Dreux, which it crosses, before joining the Eure at Fermaincourt.

A circular route starting from Saint-Sauveur-Marville, heading towards Châteauneuf-en-Thymerais through the fields, then returning via the forest past the Château du Jaglu. This route, situated on the border of the Thimerais and the great Beauce plain, will be particularly appreciated by lovers of wide open spaces and sweeping horizons.

This circular walk starting from Chappe takes you on a journey of discovery through the Châteauneuf Forest. This hamlet has a pond that has just been restored and a magnificent oak tree. The route follows a section of the GRP® Vallées de la Blaise et de l'Avre from the Châteauneuf water tower to the Rond du Roi, then part of the bridle path that circles this vast national forest.

Route in the Châteauneuf-en-Thymerais National Forest

A circular loop between the village and the Senonches National Forest, passing through fields and copses. It goes through small hamlets with pretty farmhouses decorated with flowers in summer. After La Motte and La Petite Motte, places reminiscent of the ancient line of defence established between France and Normandy, the route becomes more romantic, crossing the Bois du Rouvray via a path which, it is said, was a meeting place for young lovers from the village. There weren't many other places nearby where they could meet discreetly!

A varied hike around Marcilly, countryside, forest and villages...

On the edge of the Senonches Forest, north of Perche, La Saucelle is a real crossroads between different historical and natural sites. On this short route, come and discover what the Knights Templar brought to the village. It was here, in La Saucelle, that they first settled in the Drouais region, and even in Eure-et-Loir. This settlement, in 1165, was made possible thanks to donations from local lords. These were largely plots of land in the Carnutes Forest. The Knights Templar cleared these plots and all those that followed, creating the vast plain that surrounds the village.

A walk half in the fields and half in the Châteauneuf-en-Thymerais State Forest, starting from the village of Jaudrais and passing through its hamlets. The circular route follows the Grande Vallée stream from a distance on both sides.

This is a pleasant hike in the forest, offering a change of scenery and the charm of being in the heart of the wilderness.

Halfway between the national forest and the hillsides of the Eure, this walk will take you to some remarkable places in the shade of oak trees and the coolness of the riverbanks. You will walk past the castle and through the old village of Sorel, then follow the old railway line (greenway) to Marcilly-sur-Eure.

The route follows the Eure Valley greenway on the way there and runs alongside the Eure on the way back. As well as being bucolic, this route is entirely free of mud.