L'Abri des Francs and circular loop via the Carrefour des Ventes to Galène

Start from the Jeu de Paume car park. This is reached via a small road, the Chemin de la Butte Blanche, on the right at the entrance to the village of Recloses when coming from Villiers-sous-Grez. Follow signs for "Tennis/Jeu de Paume" and head downhill. The car park is at the end of the tarmac road, on the right-hand side next to a small football pitch.

Red and white + blue markings

(S/E) Head east along the Chemin de la Butte Blanche, a cobbled path continuing from the road.

Blue markings + blue Roman numerals on some rocks (see the recommendations in the practical information section)

(1) At a small building, turn left onto the Sentier de l'Orme and follow a wire fence on your right. Climb up and you will see the first boulders. At a T-junction (not shown on the map), follow the Sentier de la Caverne Longue to the right. Continue climbing, follow a fence on your left, then head back down.

(2) At a T-junction, follow the Sentier de l'Escalier to the left and head uphill. Note the rock shelter X on the right; climb a few sandstone steps to reach a viewpoint. Continue along the Blue Trail, following a fence on your left, and at a Fork in the road, keep left.

(3) At a T-junction, follow the Chemin du Menhir to the right. At a Fork in the road, turn left onto the Chemin du Menhir and head downhill, keeping a fence on your left.

(4) At the bottom (rock resembling a menhir on the right), ignore a path branching off to the left and follow the Sentier de la Vallée southwards. After about a hundred metres, turn left (be careful to spot this turn-off). Climb in zigzags between the rocks (follow the markings carefully). Note the large rock shelter on the right, marked XIV.

(5) Shortly afterwards, at a T-junction, turn right. The rocks become less frequent. At a T-junction, turn left and, after a few dozen metres, turn right (be careful to spot this turn-off).

(6) At a point where the path appears to be blocked by a tangle of tree trunks and branches (as of December 2024), turn right following the blue markings. Go round a large rock on the right and head downhill. At the bottom, turn left and climb the wooden steps. At the top, turn right and head uphill. Pass the base of Rock XVII and turn right.

(7) At a fork in the road, turn right (ignore the arrow pointing left towards a pond). Descend, then alternate between short ascents and descents. Continue along a plateau, keeping a general east-southeast heading.

No markings

(8) At the “Les Cumiers” signpost, turn left (let the Blue trail continue straight on). At the T-junction, go right for about twenty metres (opposite, a sign indicating a strictly protected nature reserve, no entry). Then turn left at the foot of a tree marked with the number 202.

(9) At the next junction (plot no. 573), turn left. Continue straight on (north-west) along an unmarked path marked by sandstone boundary stones (former boundaries of the royal estate of Fontainebleau). This will take you to the Carrefour Marthe.

(10) Take the third right (north-east), the Route des Ventes Cumier. At the next junction, take the second left, the Route de l’Épine, a well-maintained track. At a junction, continue straight on until you reach the Carrefour des Primevères (central fir tree; bench on the right).

(11) Take the third left, heading due west, onto Route des Barnolets. At the first junction, turn right onto Route des Sorciers. At the next crossroads, take the third left, still on Route des Sorciers.

(12) Cross the D63E2 and turn into the Route du Lévrier opposite. At the Carrefour du Parc aux Boeufs, take the fifth left (north-west), the Route de Joinville.

Red and white markings

(13) At the Carrefour des Ventes à Galène, follow the Route du Lièvre to the left along the^GR®13. Cross the Route du Roitelet and continue straight on to the Carrefour des Sept Pins. Then turn right onto the Route du Parc aux Boeufs and follow the fence on your right. At the next junction, turn left onto the Route des Petites Mares. Pass the Mare aux Fourmis on your left and continue straight on until you reach a forest track.

No signposting

(14) Cross the road and take the Chemin rural des Vaches opposite (let the^GR® head off diagonally to the right). Go straight on and pass a riding school on your right. Ignore a hard-packed track on the right and rejoin the tarmac road. At the Stop sign, follow Rue Grande to the right for about twenty metres (old paved trough on the left). Then turn left into Rue des Écoles, towards the town hall and the church. Go straight on until you reach the town hall on your left and the church on your right.

(15) Turn right, pass through a metal gate and go round the church on the right. Pass by the war memorial and go through another gate. Return to Rue des Écoles and follow it to the left for about 20 metres. Then take a path on the right.

Red and white + blue markings

At the end, cross a road and then a small paved square. Pass through a wooden gate and head downhill. At the first junction, turn right onto the Sentier du Bourg au Jeu de Paume. Head downhill, keeping a fence on your right. At the bottom, turn right and you will immediately reach the car park (S/E).

Hiking boots are recommended.

No water source identified along the route. Picnic tables near the car park at the start (S/E).

A detailed map is required (at the very least the one accompanying this description) or, better still, a route to follow using the Visorando app. From (1) to (8), a good sense of direction is required.

Recommendations regarding the blue-marked trails:
- The Denecourt-Colinet trails, marked in blue, mostly follow paths that wind their way through the rocks. It is impossible to describe the numerous changes of direction, and the description provides only the most important landmarks.
- Consequently, follow the markings closely, as they are frequent and well-maintained (thanks to the trail markers!). If you haven’t seen a marker for a while, don’t hesitate to retrace your steps until you find the markings again.
- Markers may be located on three types of supports, at three different heights: (i) on tree trunks at eye level; (ii) on rocks, at the same height or lower; (iii) on the ground, on exposed rocks.

Hike undertaken by the author on 25 December 2024.

- Rocky outcrops, rock shelters and plateau landscapes between (1) and (8).
- Pleasant forest path between (8) and (14).
- Recloses Church (13th–15th centuries) (15).