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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).
Apart from the steep slope at the start of the route, there are no major difficulties. It's a shame that the end of the route (after marker 7) is less attractive than the start. The visit to Port-Royal Abbey more than makes up for this. How quiet it is!
