Abandoned hamlet of Bézu and the former Saint-Michel quarries

Car park at Chérence cemetery at the junction of the D171 and D100.

(S/E) Follow the D171 towards the village centre.

(1) At the first houses, turn left onto the first street, known as Chemin de la Mare Guitot. Follow this for about 200 m, then turn left onto a grassy path. Ignore a path leading down to the left, continue for about 200 m, then follow the main path to the left. You will reach a fork.

(2) Keep to the right, cross another path, then continue straight on until you reach a junction at a place called Le Petit Champ.

(3) Continue straight ahead and arrive at a crossroads, at the D37.

(4) Take the first road on the right, which climbs towards Le Chesnay. Pass above the church and the cemetery, then take a sharp right-hand bend to follow the Chemin des Écailles (yellow markings). At the end of the path, cross the fence via the designated crossing and continue straight ahead. After about 400 m, turn left at a 90° angle to follow a track that climbs through the meadow to another designated crossing to get over the fence.

(5) Once you have crossed the fence, ignore the yellow markings heading to the right and continue straight on, climbing into the forest. Reach the top of the hill, then take the second path on the left which passes near an old quarry and then becomes a wider track.

(6) After about 800 m, turn right onto another wide, downhill path. At the bottom of the descent, near a ruined house, turn left to enter the formerCarrière Saint-Michel.

(7) Return to the ruined house and take the path on the left. Pass the first path on the left and continue to the next junction.

(8) Turn left, then, at the fork that appears shortly afterwards, take the right-hand path. Continue straight on to reach the ruins of the hamlet of Bézu, on the edge of the forest.

(9) Return to the path, cross a ford and continue straight on until you reach a small tarmac road.

(10) Turn left onto it. Cross the D171 and continue straight on along the Sentier de la Nourrée. Once at the end, turn right into the street and follow it to the end.

(11) Continue right onto Rue de l'Église: there is a plaque on the former home of Nathalie Sarraute at the first gate on the left. At the fork after the town hall, keep right onto Rue André Malraux. Then turn left onto Sente Proprette, which leads up to the church.

(12) Turn right, then continue straight on along Rue des Cabarets. At the end of the street, turn left.

(1) Turn left again to return to the car park (S/E).

No shops or water points along the route.

Option to start from the Bois du Parc car park, 500 m north-east of (7).

(4) Option to visit Amenucourt Church, 100 m from the route.

(7) Former Saint-Michel stone quarries, which were used for Haussmann-era construction in Paris. Two other quarries are accessible in the surrounding woods

(9) Ruins of the hamlet of Bézu: homes of the quarry workers.

In Rue de l’Église, a plaque on the house of Nathalie Sarraute.

(12) Saint-Denis Church in Chérence.