Gare de Chamarande walks

A hilly route from station to station, mainly through farmland for the first two-thirds, then through more wooded areas. Beautiful churches and rural heritage can be found in the villages along the way. In Dourdan, the walk along the Orge river, the 12th-13th century church and the fortified castle provide a superb finishing touch.

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.

Thirty-first stage of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France via the GR®11, linking Étréchy in the Juine Valley to Saint-Chéron in the Orge Valley, via the Renarde Valley. It winds its way through the Hurepoix and the southern edge of the Beauce, offering varied landscapes, from plateaus to valleys and fields to forests. It is notable for its numerous ascents and descents between plateaus and valleys.

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.

This stage of the GR®1 is one of the most difficult on this GR®. It is 32 km long and has an elevation gain of over 400 m. It is also one of the most beautiful. Starting from Lardy, this hike takes you past magnificent monuments such as the Church of Saint-Sulpice, the Church of Saint-Yon, the Church of Sermaise and the Château de Dourdan. There are other monuments to visit in this town. Most of the route is in the countryside, with several ascents and descents into the valleys. The route passes through numerous villages of varying sizes.

The main aim of this walk is to reach La Roche Turpin from a station (RER C). La Roche Turpin is a magnificent natural area consisting of a sandstone plateau and its slopes, covered by a beautiful forest mainly populated by oaks (including some superb specimens), chestnut trees and Scots pines.At the start, you can enjoy the path around the Bassin de Trévoix (Retenue de l'Orge). You then make a pleasant walk through the village of Bruyères-le-Châtel via a dense network of well-maintained footpaths. Next comes the beautiful forest of Bruyères-le-Châtel (although there are long straight stretches due to fences enclosing large areas).

A walk from station to station in the Orge Valley, exploring two large ponds home to numerous birds. A picturesque route in the first half, which then sees the proportion of urban sections increase. Heritage sites along the way: a well-restored old mill, a few churches, a small menhir, a wash house...

Thirty-second and penultimate stage of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France via the GR®11. It starts in Saint-Chéron in the Orge Valley and ends in Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse in the Yvette Valley, thus completing the crossing of the Essonne via its main valleys. After starting off towards the west, the route heads due north across the Hurepoix plateaus.

A hike from station to station, along the Orge and its tributary, the Rémarde, as well as the Bassin de Trêvois. A small menhir and a Louis XIII-style castle add a nice touch of heritage.

A hike from station to station, mostly following the Orge river or its secondary branch, the Grande Boële, and along a few large reservoirs. There is a rich heritage to discover, in Arpajon at the start of the hike and, as a highlight, at the Basilica of Longpont.