Fontenay-sur-Eure walks

Circular loop around the Bois des Tertres and the ponds of Fontenay-sur-Eure.

A walk in the Eure valley, without any major difficulties but with a few slopes through fields, woods, stony and grassy paths, and then a little tarmac and a few houses too. This walk can also be done by mountain bike or hybrid bike.

Lots of paths, a few small roads, varied landscapes with the banks of the Eure, ponds and a small piece of Beauce lost on the left bank of the Eure. A pleasant little hike if it hasn't rained too much in the previous days (or if you like mud).

Circular starting from Berchères la Maingot. Discover the remains of Louis XIV's unfinished canal, which was intended to supply the Palace of Versailles with water from the Eure. Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash.

This is a pleasant and easy circular route, alternating between wooded areas, forest edges and fields. Most of the route offers unobstructed views, even overlooking the Eure and Voise valleys. It is a landscape with very little traffic, allowing you to enjoy watching herons and harriers take flight, small game such as deer and hares scampering across the fields and paths, and, in season, gliders soaring through the sky.

A lovely little walk through mostly wooded areas withPR® signage (except for a curiosity at the end of the route).

The last section, from Pont sous Gallardon to Chartres, is the highlight of the route. The Beauce plain appears flat, but its many undulations reveal and conceal the spires and nave of the cathedral in turn. The Chemin Charles Péguy was created by the Amitié Charles Péguy with the cooperation of all the municipalities crossed and the support of the Eure-et-Loir Departmental Council.

Digny is located on the border between Perche and Thimerais. This route through the fields starts at the foot of the bell tower of Saint-Germain Church, built in 1525 and recently beautifully restored. In 2025, a local association organised various events to celebrate the500th anniversary of its construction. The route takes you to the 16th-century Ferme du Romphaye farm and the Château de la Hallière castle, built in 1770. The return journey takes you through the hamlets of La Richardière and Bellandas, allowing you to return quickly to Digny or extend your walk to Mille Champs along paths offering beautiful views of the village.

Starting from Maintenon station, a green loop allows you to admire the colossal Maintenon aqueduct and follow the Louis XIV canal for several kilometres before passing through the Eure valley and returning along the river. We recommend a picnic on the banks of the Eure or at Saint-Piat station if it rains.

Depart from Maintenon, passing by the château and then the plateau overlooking the Eure valley to Nogent-le-Roi, where you can admire the church and half-timbered houses. The return journey takes you through the valley along the path on the platform of the old railway line and then along the banks of the river on a charming shaded path.

In fact, here you will only find a few undulations caused by the streams flowing towards the nearby Eure. This small 637-hectare national forest is surrounded by a bridle path and criss-crossed by straight paths. The D103 crosses it from east to west and is not very busy. A high-voltage power line divides the forest. Parallel to the D103, it overlooks a large clearing and is bordered by a well-maintained path. A long north-south lane, formerly part of the GR®35 hiking trail, marks the boundary of the private woods to the west. Finally, the Merise forest road connects the D920 to the D103: closed to cars from Rond de la Félicité to Rond de Diane.This network of paths allows you to combine numerous circular paths or take shortcuts. Just make sure you don't leave the state-owned forest, which is bordered by an embankment. Private woods are located all around. These woods are rich in game, and large animals are shot there, so it is wise not to venture in on hunting days!

No, it was not calves, devotees or a certain Mr Desvaux, who once owned the property, but three valleys that gave the estate its name. However, there are many horses. Purchased in 1805 by the Marquis d'Aligre, whose family lived in the nearby Château de la Rivière, it became a renowned hunting destination where horses reigned supreme and were housed in sumptuous stables. Even today, horses still graze in the surrounding meadows.In front of the château, the statue ofthe 1,000th stag served by the Marquis's hunting parties bears witness to the abundance of game in these 120 hectares of woodland. Since 1946, the Fondation des Apprentis d'Auteuil, which owns the estate, has established a renowned vocational school there, which welcomes nearly 1,250 students.This circular starting from Saint-Maurice-Saint-Germain allows you to discover the site and the Eure valley. You can extend the walk by following the GRP® to the Boizard locks and the Château de la Rivière.

At the edge of the Montécot Forest, this circular route takes you past pretty little farms connected by winding roads. The bridle path on the western edge of the forest offers beautiful views of the countryside towards La Loupe.

A short walk along the Drouette river, passing most of the points of interest on the Discovery Trail This link allows you to discover the game and the information panels placed along the route.

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.

Starting from Nogent-le-Roi, explore the surrounding countryside between woods and valleys before visiting the castle park. The Eure valley and its water mills can be explored at a leisurely pace. Half-timbered houses characterise the distinctive architecture of Nogent-le-Roi. Between the castle grounds and the Bois de Ruffin, walkers will pass from an urban landscape to a very varied rural landscape.

This easy, bucolic walk allows you to discover a little of the Eure, a peaceful river. The starting point is a curiosity in itself: a town hall unlike any other. The finish invites you into the pretty little town of Nogent-le-Roi, with its old half-timbered houses.

A beautiful hike, mostly in the woods around the Eure valley, starting from the Senonches State Forest and ending at the Boizard locks. Built in 1785 by Louis XIV's engineers, this structure was supposed to be the starting point of an unfinished aqueduct that would have carried water from the Eure to the fountains in the park of the Palace of Versailles. On the way back, discover the Château des Vaux and its gardens.

This is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable hikes in this wood. At the start, there is a beautiful view of Moléans Castle, followed by a lovely walk through the forest. Then there is a very pleasant crossing of the fords and a walk along the banks of the Loir. The return through the forest allows you to finish in peace and quiet.

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 lovely walk, between fields of wheat and barley, and through the woods. In spring, the woods are full of white anemones, yellow lesser celandines and bluebells. The walk is not difficult. From the top of the fields, you can see all the surrounding countryside. It's very beautiful, especially when the rape fields are in flower.

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.

Short hike in the Bois de la Butte Ronde and Vallée des Grès. Along some of the paths, you can admire the enormous hundred-year-old oak trees. The Rambouillet Forest is managed by the ONF. The paths are well marked and the natural environment is very varied. You can easily go from birch and hornbeam trees to magnificent oaks, and from heather to ferns or grasses.

An easy walk in the forest, on the Rochers d'Angennes overlooking the valley, followed by a visit to the beautiful ruins of the Moulineaux Abbey. Please note! Several hikers have reported that the route is difficult to follow at the site of the former abbey, between points (1) and (2) According to the latest information, the passage near the former abbey is now closed and dangerous. The route has therefore been modified and the original route removed.

Hike through a forest with a variety of tree species. In autumn, mushrooms are abundant (boletus, parasol mushrooms).