Wash houses, springs and streams around Senonches

Departure from Rond de Battenberg: parking along Avenue des Evés.

No signposts

(S/E) With your back to Lake Arthur Rémy, cross Avenue des Evés, then Avenue Poucin using the pedestrian crossings, and enter Square du Petit Bossard. First follow the wide central path. Then turn right at the picnic tables, cross the second small wooden bridge and follow the stream on the left to discover the Source de la Comtesse, well hidden between the stones.
Then head towards the metal gate at the end of the square. Note the beautiful brick arches that allow the water to pass through. Cross the stream coming from the forest from the Étang Loiseau and follow it to the right on the narrow path along the wall. You will come out onto Avenue Poucin. Turn left to go up towards the church (public toilets on the left in the recess in front of the church). Cross carefully and turn right onto Rue du Château, walking along the recently tree-lined square between the reopened market halls and the castle. Enter the courtyard, then return to the square and reach the crossroads with Rue de Launay (small garden at the foot of the castle).

Yellow markings

(1) At the Rue de Launay roundabout, cross Avenue des Evés carefully to see the pond behind the wine press. Turn right onto Avenue des Evés along the old cider house and arrive near the Lavoir des Evés. It is fed underground by the Source de la Comtesse. Turn immediately left to go behind the wash house. Continue left between the stream flowing out of the wash house and the shore of Lac Arthur Rémy. Cross the weir (here the streams meet before crossing Rue de Launay). Now walk up along the future Ruisseau de Saint-Cyr.
As you approach the hedge of the boules court, continue along the stream on the left. You will arrive at the Lavoir des Sormes. Leave the yellow markings.

No markings

(2) From the wash house, turn right, walk along the fence and follow the track towards the sports hall. Approach a second pond, then turn left to pass behind the tennis courts and sports hall. Join Avenue de Badouleau. Follow it to the left until you reach the entrance to the holiday village.

Yellow markings

(3) At the entrance to the holiday village, turn left and follow the tree-lined path down to the Source de la Hutte and the equestrian centre. Cross the bridge and walk back up alongside the equestrian centre to Route de Pontgouin.

(4) Carefully cross the road and continue straight ahead. After about 100 metres, turn left onto Rue du Gibet. Follow this street until it meets Rue de Chartres. Turn right and continue for a few metres, then carefully cross in front of the entrance to Rue de l'Étang de l'Isle.

(5) Walk down this street (view of Senonches). Turn left into the narrow passage between the houses and reach Rue des Laitiers at the barrier that closes Chemin des Esseaux.

(6) Follow Rue des Laitiers to the right. At the end, turn left and cross the bridge, staying carefully on the left-hand pavement. Turn left onto Rue du Vieux Fourneau. Pass in front of the wash house and continue for about 50 metres until you reach the entrance to a grassy passageway on the right.

(7) Turn right into the passageway that follows the leat leading to the mills that once stood above the Route de Dreux. At the roundabout, keep left and head towards the town centre. Pass in front of the École Sainte-Marie, cross at the pedestrian crossing and follow the pavement on the left towards the crossroads. Cross Rue des Vallées at the pedestrian crossing and continue to the bridge to see the Goette, a stream coming from the west of the forest and joining the Ruisseau de Cyr. There is a lovely view of the stream from the bridge. Then return to the junction at the EHPAD Résidence Périer.

(8) Follow Rue des Vallées on the right, staying on the side of the stream, and continue to the entrance to Rue de la Becquetterie in front of the nursery school. Leave the yellow markings.

No markings

Continue along Rue des Vallées. Turn left onto Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville, then right onto Rue au Merle. You will arrive at the Vallées crossroads. Cross Rue des Vallées and Rue de la Ferté-Vidame using the pedestrian crossings.

(9) Opposite, follow Rue des Marronniers on the path to the right along the wall. Pass under the old railway bridge. Continue straight ahead for 100 metres, then carefully cross Rue de la Libération on the pedestrian crossing to arrive at Rue du Perthuis de Manou on the left. Turn right immediately and take the path to see the Lavoir des Noues.
From the wash house, return to Rue du Perthuis de Manou and walk behind the old railway station. Turn right onto Rue de la Sablonnière and follow it to the last houses.

(10) Turn left to cross the footbridge over the Étang de Loiseau spillway, then follow the dyke. Cross the sluice gate where the stream flows out towards Square du Petit Bossard. Turn left onto the path towards Rond de Battenberg. Follow the fence of the fire extinguisher factory. Cut across the end of a large driveway. Continue straight ahead, staying close to the fence. Go down a steep slope (danger) to cross the abandoned railway line and reach the D25 at the entrance to Senonches.

Cross the road carefully and continue straight ahead. Join the Orée du Bois discovery trail. Follow it to the right, then leave it near the picnic tables. Cross the car park and Avenue du Général De Gaulle at the pedestrian crossing and continue straight ahead to Avenue Poucin.

(11) Cross Avenue Poucin with caution (beautiful view of the church). Continue straight ahead along the path following the school fence. At the corner of the forest, take a small detour to the left to see the school pond created by the pupils and their teachers. Entrance on the left, exit near the barrier at the edge of Avenue de Badouleau. Cross carefully at the pedestrian crossing. Continue opposite along the pond. Turn left in front of the entrance to the motorhome parking area, then turn right to reach the bank of the Étang Arthur Rémy pond. Follow it to the left. Veer left to see one last spring located along the hedge on Avenue Poucin in a circular building with a thatched roof. Then turn right to reach the Rond de Battenberg (S/E).

Waterproof footwear is recommended.

During hunting season, check withthe Perche Forests Tourist Office on 02 37 37 80 11 for hunting days and locations. (No hunting on Sundays in the national forest).

For more information, read the Perche Senonchois history book no. 74, "SENONCHES ses cours d'eaux, ses étangs" (Senonches: its waterways and ponds), published by the Senonches Cultural Association. On sale at the Tourist Office bookshop at the château and at the Maison de la Presse.

On the way

(S/E) Square du PetitBossard
A few years ago, this beautiful public garden was nothing more than a swamp overgrown with vegetation. Several springs originate here. To the left of the central path, they form streams that gather in the central pond before flowing underground into the Étang Rémy.

(Note on the left-hand side of the path, before the children's playground: a concrete manhole where the water from the Fontaine du Chemin spring, located behind the playground, flows into. It gave its name to the neighbouring district.

(1)Château
In the courtyard: Tourist Office - Bookshop - Souvenirs - Bike hire -Drinks
Museum: Permanentexhibition on the theme of the forest and its exploitation. - Temporary exhibitions.

(2) Crossroads of Rue de Launay
The pond is fed by a branch of the Loyseau stream that runs behind the former Legrand cider factory. Its outlet passes under Rue de Launay and joins the former Étang de l'Isle. There used to be a ford here that had to be crossed to reach the château.

(3) Holiday village
From April to November, this holiday village welcomes many tourists, often from neighbouring countries, who are looking for a holiday close to nature. During the season, you can enter to see the Étang de Badouleau: there is a bar and fast food restaurant open to all at the end of the dyke, after which you return the way you came. As you pass, note the sluice, through which the stream flowing out of the pond heads across the meadows towards the source of the Hutte.

The source of theHutte
The source is captured in the small building on the right. A pipe carries the water under the path. It flows out on the left and immediately joins the stream. Many Senonchois still come here to fetch water to drink. It is renowned for being pure and beneficial. The stream, which flows underground from the vicinity of La Fizilière, east of the forest, emerges near La Serranderie. It becomes the Saint-Cyr stream, which joins the Blaise before Louvilliers-lès-Perche. After passing through Dreux, this river flows into the Eure.

(6) Digue desEsseaux
Due to construction work, it is currently not advisable to walk on the dyke. The area undergoing redevelopment must be temporarily bypassed. A discovery trail will allow visitors to explore the site of the former Isle pond, which was drained for health reasons.

(8) Rue desVallées
View of the grounds of the Auberge de La Pomme de Pin, crossed by several branches of the stream known as "La Goette" coming from the west of the forest. (There was also a marshy area here that protected the village). La Goette will soon disappear under the houses and then, culverted, run alongside Rue de la Ferté Vidame until it leaves the town. It can be seen here one last time from the bridge at the entrance to Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville.

(9) Carrefour des Vallées
La Goette is joined here by the Noues stream coming from Laudigerie. There used to be a ford here too. Now there is no trace of the streams. You have to lean over the space surrounded by a low wall and closed off by a gate, at the corner of Rue des Marronniers, to hear their waters flowing occasionally.

Lavoir des Noues
It is fed by the stream that runs underground through the crossroads, passes through the property on the other side of the Rue des Marronniers wall and joins the Goette at the Carrefour des Vallées.

Orée du Bois sensory discovery trail
This trail, which is accessible to people with disabilities, complements the visit to the château's permanent exhibition, "Forêt d'Histoires" (Forest of Stories). Upon entering, visitors are shown how to experience the forest using their five senses. Various "workshops" develop the themes presented at the château in situ.
The trail has become a popular place for families with young children and also for elderly people who are no longer able to walk along forest paths.

In Senonches
Hotel - Restaurants - Lodges - Huttopia holiday village - Motorhome reception area.

Shops

Fishing in Lake Arthur Rémy - Horse riding at the Hutte farm on the Pontgouin road.
http://www.lesforetsduperche.fr/culture-et-tourisme/office-de-tourisme/

La Ferté-Vidame 13 km away. Espace Saint-Simon - Park and castle ruins

Manou, 4 km away: the Froux peat bog, a site developed by the Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels Sensibles (Conservatory of Sensitive Natural Areas) for the discovery of rare and protected plant and animal species.
Castle known as Blanche de Castille.
Auberge du Moulin à vent - Hotel - restaurant - Horse riding
Bar de la Grange open Tuesday to Saturday from 7.30 amhttps://www.mairie-de-manou.com/bar-de-la-grange

Fontaine-Simon 6 kmaway : Perche Water Park - Campsite - Indoor swimming poolhttps://www.terresdeperche.fr/pages/parc-aquatique-du-perche-water skiing .

In town: hotel - restaurants - shops.

Digny, 10 kmaway : Nolimit-aventure tree climbing adventure parkhttps://nolimit-aventure.com/digny/

La Loupe, 11 km away: history cellars - history of the 1944 bombings https://www.lechateaulaloupe.fr/

SNCF railway station.