The Madeleine Forest and Port-Royal-des-Champs Abbey

In the footsteps of Jean Racine, in places steeped in history. A walk through a variety of environments, between forests, meadows and cultivated fields, with a lovely view of the ancient Abbey of Port-Royal des Champs.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: La coulée verte du Sud Parisien

Details

82684
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.16 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 120 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 116 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 167 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 92 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park near the (tiny) Milon-la-Chapelle town hall, in the street that runs perpendicular to the D46.

(S/E) With your back to the town hall, turn left (south), cross the D46 and head up the steep Route de la Madeleine. When you come to the sign indicating the entrance to Milon-la-Chapelle, ignore the yellow path on the left. Reach the Carrefour de Milon (large shelter on the right).

(1) At the crossroads, two forest tracks go off to the right (west): take the one on the left (known as the "Chemin de la Salamandre", signposted Blue and White). When the Blue and White path turns right at a right angle, continue straight ahead, heading west. At a crossroads, turn slightly left onto the widest of the paths, a fence of which can be seen in the distance. Reach the Carrefour du Roi de Rome (signposted).

(2) Marker VI of the Chemin Jean Racine, a few paces to the left of the barrier: here you can see the light doe, there the gentle country roe deer.

Head north-north-west down the steeply sloping path towards Port-Royal (signposted in yellow with blue and white markings). Reach the D46 (replica of marker VI). Cross the road to take the path opposite between two meadows. Reach the Rhodon stream, near the Moulin de Fauveau, a large building bordered by a pond.

(3) Kilometre marker V on the Chemin Jean Racine: This is where you can see a thousand thick willow trees in numerous lanes.

Turn left onto the path that runs alongside the building (white, blue and yellow markings). The path becomes a small street.

This option cuts the walk in half. Shortly before arriving, a path goes up on the right (signposted "Sente publique"). This path leaves the wood at Beauregard and rejoins the route at Beauregard.

(4) Kilometre post IV of the Chemin Jean Racine: This is where you can hear the murmur of these pleasant streams.

Take the road to the right and continue north (yellow markings). The road reverts to an undergrowth path and reaches a road.

(5) Before the road, Marker III of the Chemin Jean Racine: In this flower-filled countryside, you can see a thousand wandering herds. On the other side of the road (take care when crossing, the road is busy), signpost II of the Chemin Jean Racine: It is under these thick foliage that you can see the little birds.

After crossing the road, continue along the path (yellow markings). Go past a track that veers off to the left towards the entrance to the Port-Royal Abbey site (signposted, with the option of a diversion to visit the site) and continue straight on until you reach the Abbey site (wall on your left, signposted).

(6) Marker I of the Chemin Jean Racine: Holy dwellings of silence, places full of charm and appeal.

Continue in the same direction (north) along the wall, pass a large door (usually closed) and go to a point where the site of the old Abbey is clearly visible.

(7) Retrace your steps as far as marker I.

(6) Take the path that climbs north-eastwards through the woods and joins the D91. Cross the road and take the small street opposite (south-east, yellow markings). When the road bends to the right, go straight ahead on the path (sometimes muddy) that joins Buloyer.

(8) Cross the hamlet and continue on a small road, still heading in the same direction, as far as Romainville. Go through the village: at a crossroads, turn right and, immediately afterwards, at a junction, turn right again. You will pass a house and come out onto a track that runs along the edge of cultivated fields to Beauregard.

(9) Turn left onto the road. Cross a perpendicular road and continue along a footpath. Follow the ponds behind a fence and reach a perpendicular path.

(10) Turn right. After about 500 metres, the path veers left and begins a descent to Milon-la-Chapelle. Follow the road due south, reach a junction with a road on the right and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 92 m - Milon-la-Chapelle Town Hall
  2. 1 : km 0.63 - alt. 156 m - Milon crossroads
  3. 2 : km 2.28 - alt. 163 m - Carrefour du Roi de Rome - Terminal VI
  4. 3 : km 3.31 - alt. 103 m - Bollard V on Chemin Jean Racine
  5. 4 : km 3.98 - alt. 103 m - Bollard IV on the Chemin Jean Racine
  6. 5 : km 4.61 - alt. 111 m - Terminals III and II of Chemin Jean Racine
  7. 6 : km 5.24 - alt. 125 m - Bollard I of Chemin Jean Racine
  8. 7 : km 5.38 - alt. 121 m - Abbaye de Port-Royal-des-Champs
  9. 8 : km 6.4 - alt. 166 m - Buloyer
  10. 9 : km 8.21 - alt. 161 m - Beauregard
  11. 10 : km 9.31 - alt. 161 m - Haute Tasse Wood
  12. S/E : km 10.16 - alt. 92 m - Milon-la-Chapelle Town Hall

Notes

From (2) to (5), the path is used by both pedestrians and cyclists: sharing the space requires a minimum of courtesy and caution on both sides. This does not mean that there are never cyclists elsewhere on the route.

A detailed map is useful (at least the one that accompanies this description).

Ride completed six times by the author, the first on 14 September 1997, the last on 05 October 2014.

Worth a visit

From (1) to (5), you can walk along most of the Sentier Jean Racine, which runs from the Port-Royal site to the Château de la Madeleine in Chevreuse. The trail is named after the famous poet and playwright, who spent part of his childhood and received part of his education at Port-Royal Abbey. Along the way, seven signposts (six of which are on this itinerary) display brief quotations from "Promenade de Port-Royal des Champs", a long ode comprising no less than 55 stanzas of 10 lines each, composed by Racine in 1656, at the age of 16, in a somewhat grandiloquent style.

En (6), site of the former Abbey of Port-Royal-des-Champs, destroyed in 1710 by order of Louis XIV ... The plague of absolutism! A chapel, "civil" buildings and rare remains of the abbey remain, including Racine's tombstone.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 172 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
PicBob
PicBob

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk... The time required is greatly overestimated!
What more can be said about the other reviews? Varied routes, two lovely little climbs.
A few pretty, hidden houses.
Perhaps worth doing in the opposite direction for a different perspective!!!

Machine-translated

Daniel Gruat
Daniel Gruat

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A wonderful walk along ancient paths steeped in history, with plenty of variety, beautiful forests and charming houses! A must-do 👍

Machine-translated

maxdorian
maxdorian

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route with varied scenery.

Machine-translated

TiboLapi
TiboLapi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike, although the start is a bit steep but that's exactly why we're here
No problems with the route, we didn't need to look at the description.
Note: in Romainville, you'll find a greengrocer's ("Le Garde Manger"), depending on opening hours, of course.

Machine-translated

User 7644123

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike that takes you on a lovely circular route past beautiful houses along the way. Much of the route is on forest paths and small tarmac roads. No difficulty apart from the steep climb at the start to reach the plateau.
Duration: 2½ hours at a brisk pace.

Machine-translated

User 28026753

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Perfect, hike completed in 2 hours 45 minutes instead of the 3 hours 15 minutes announced, with only one short break.

Machine-translated

User 23388231

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

There were no yellow trail markers inside the estate or from the car park, which meant we had to navigate our way through the woods on a suggested 3 km path, like we were on Survivor...

Machine-translated

Valentinfelix
Valentinfelix

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A wonderful discovery of the green and rolling Chevreuse Valley, excellent signage, beautiful diversity of landscape and a visit to the ancient Port Royal Abbey with its ruins and chapel. Recommended for a very pleasant 3-hour hike

Machine-translated

User 25010334

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route between forest and plateau. No particular difficulty if you follow the blue, white and yellow signs. The hike took 3 hours with a few short stops (to see a young deer and refuel). Very enjoyable

Machine-translated

User 13814322

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

One of my best hikes in the Île-de-France region. It's interesting, with varied and rather pretty landscapes, especially in June. I also enjoyed the elevation changes. I don't remember having any difficulty following the route, especially since I already knew half of it. Thank you very much. I'll happily do it again in autumn and even in winter.

Machine-translated

Dédé 61
Dédé 61

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

An easy but pleasant walk

Machine-translated

dehfr
dehfr

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Route taken on a beautiful sunny day. passage through woods and fields. a bit of road.

Machine-translated

Jmbouver
Jmbouver

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice little walk with no difficulty

Machine-translated

FLAGA
FLAGA

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A really nice walk.

Machine-translated

Claire asc
Claire asc

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Walked yesterday. A fairly easy route apart from the steep climb at the start. The path was muddy at times, but passable despite the recent downpours. Recommended if you're looking for a 3-hour hike.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.