Gien walks

This route is offered by the Gien Town Hall to explore the town while learning about its history and discovering its heritage. As you progress, you will find information boards with explanations of the various historical points of interest identified. I am sharing it here, with my personal modifications to the route and the various points of interest, which are more or less in the same positions.

This first stage runs along the Loire to take you to Briare, a charming little town full of flowers, with its small river port. Please note: this hike can be done either as part of the 3-stage Gien - Cosne-sur-Loire hike, or on its own by taking the train from Briare back to Gien.

This hike begins with a crossing of the magnificent Briare Canal Bridge. This crossing is a privilege and if you are there early in the morning, you are sure to experience a range of emotions.It continues along paths that run alongside the canal parallel to the Loire, offering bucolic panoramas.

In the Orléans Forest, the route runs alongside the vast Étang de Corcambon, ending around the Étang du Bourg which borders the flower-filled village of Dampierre-en-Burly, at the foot of its fortifications.

On the edge of the Sologne, this circuit brings together the typical landscapes that make up the charm of this natural region near the Loire: meadows, ponds, forests, interspersed with crops and pretty brick houses. The little river Sange brings it to life and gives it a little relief. Marked in yellow, this route is also signposted in places as "PR® de la Vallée de la Sange - P 11". Despite two sections on the road, 70% of this circuit is on unpaved paths.

A circular in the Orléans Forest along a pretty path that winds between the trees. You will discover a series of springs converted into fountains and end this walk at the Résistance crossroads, a place steeped in Second World War history. A monument has been erected there in memory of the resistance fighters who died for France.

A largely shaded circular walk along the water’s edge. This walk follows the Rigole de Courpalet for nearly 5km before entering the Forest of Orléans and skirting the Étang du Gué l’Évêque. The Rigole de Courpalet, 32.8 km long, was dug to feed the Canal d’Orléans.

A very lovely route through the countryside of the Pays Fort. Sunken lanes, forests and ponds give it its charm.

An easy route, with a variant, open to pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. The Blue Route is rich in heritage that characterises Blancafort: the canal, the river, the old marl pits and the paths rehabilitated for the enjoyment of walkers by the Blancafort et Patrimoine Association. Five other trails are suggested on the sign at the wash house (canal bridge, Euro monument).

From the old canal to the new one, from the old locks to the new ones, a whole world of greenery and water!

Marked hike N°71. A whole new way to discover the story of the construction of the Canal de Briare! With this hike you can follow a part of its water supply system and come back along the old route to the incredible monument that we today know as the Seven Locks.

This family hike is historically very interesting. Between the shaded first part and the canal-side second part, the route has a total elevation gain of 28 metres, mainly at the beginning. In terms of history, from Henri IV to Charles de Freycinet, the size of boats has increased, imposing new standards. Today, we talk about the amount of water consumed that needs to be saved.

A signposted, family-friendly, shaded walk along the Breteau ditches that feed the Briare Canal. This easy route also takes you to the Étang de la Grande Rue lake and its dam. Suitable for pushchairs and bicycles, you can enjoy the cool shade of the undergrowth in summer and a dry path in wet weather.

The route goes from pond to pond around the village of Champoulet. There is wildlife to discover.

A route to the Attrape Rêve equestrian centre in Dammarie-en-Puisaye

This short walk allows you to admire the medieval fortress in all its glory and stroll through the castle grounds and along the dykes that protect the town from the river. Many migratory birds take refuge on the castle's magnificent lake.

A very pleasant route, mostly along the banks of the Loire. Good view of the Château de Sully and the Basilica of Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire.

A very pretty circular route on the border between Cher and Loiret. Its long paths will take you to the Borne des Quatre Paroisses, the meeting point of the communes of Cerdon-du-Loiret, Brinon-sur-Sauldre, Villemurlin and Isdes. The walk through the forest on the border between Loiret and Cher is worth the detour alone.

A hike offering great contrasts between the open fields of the first part and the wild banks of the Loire in the second part, with its unspoilt natural site known as "Entre les levées". Proposed by the tourist office as part of the Randonnée des Châtaignes (Chestnut Hike), this route was very popular with hikers.

Alternating between meadows, forests, ponds and farmland, this route presents no difficulties. It begins and ends majestically on the banks of the Loire. This is a shortened version of the former "PR® des Rauches" with 76% of the route on unpaved paths.

Whether on your own or with friends, this circular walk will delight you with its variety. Its shaded paths make it very pleasant in summer. Its short length will leave you time to stroll along the beaches of Étang du Puits or the banks of the Canal de la Sauldre.

Mainly on dirt, sand or gravel paths, this fairly easy circuit takes you through the peaceful and varied landscapes of the Sologne: ponds, forests, hedgerow-enclosed pastures and interspersed crops. At the start and finish, the pretty village of Villemurlin offers a typical Sologne charm with its brick houses and blue ladders, reminders of a time when the attic was accessed from outside. Initially shared with the family path of Villemurlin (the "chouette promenade" or "owl walk"), this route then takes a shortened version of the former "PR® des domaines de chasse et cultures" (hunting grounds and farmland), of which a few signs remain.

This beautiful circular walk begins along the Canal de la Sauldre, with its locks, small bridges and weirs. It then enters the forest, along long paths lined with ponds, and ends with an almost complete tour of the Étang du Puits, via Cerdon beach, the pretty path that winds between the trees along a small disused railway line, the crossing of the Bois aux Moines and, finally, the path that runs alongside the Canal and the beach at Argent-sur-Sauldre.

A short and pleasant walk in the countryside near Barlieu.

The route follows the course of the waterways of Vieilles-Maisons-sur-Joudry near the Forest of Orléans, running sometimes alongside the Orléans Canal and sometimes alongside the ‘rigoles’, tributaries of the Orléans Canal which they feed. These still waters are a source of coolness and tranquillity.

Discover how the Canal d’Orléans draws its water supply from the forest. From forest ditches to channels and from channels to ponds, the water flows imperceptibly through the hydrographic network skilfully created by human hands to ensure its proper functioning.

A rolling bocage landscape, typical houses in black and ochre sandstone, and a pyramid-shaped barn – a walk to reconnect with unspoilt nature.

A beautiful route for appreciating the landscapes of the Pays Fort. Moving from sunken paths hidden beneath hedgerows (known as ‘bouch’tures’) to open grassy tracks with views of the rolling hills of the Sancerrois offers walkers a variety of wild landscapes typical of the Sologne region of the Berry.