The Belvédère and the Château de Chamarande

Starting point and access: Chamarande station.
- RER - Line C, on the section between Paris and Étampes.
Take the Rue des Écoles exit on the side of track 2B, which runs from Étampes to Paris (if arriving in the opposite direction, take the underground passage).

Blue + red and yellow markings

(S/E) When you leave the station, follow Rue des Écoles to the right and, at the intersection immediately ahead, keep right to follow Chemin des Barbiettes (dead end). Walk along the railway line on your right. At the end of the tarmac road, cross the Sente des Mésanges on the left and continue straight ahead on a path parallel to the railway line. Cross a stream (tunnel under the railway line, on the right).

Blue markings

Immediately turn left onto a path and quickly join a wide track.

(1) Follow the path to the left, down a slope dotted with rocks on the right. Pass a forest barrier, a small car park, then another forest barrier and continue along the Route de Longuenoue. Climb gently at first, then more steeply. Stay on the main path, which is stony and marked, and ignore the vague tracks on the right. Take a sharp right turn and continue climbing. Reach a plateau and continue straight ahead along the edge of the field on your left until you reach a three-way junction.

Then turn right and walk south-east on flat ground. When you reach a shelter, leave the marked path for a moment and turn right onto a trail. Leave the shelter on your left and you will come directly to a viewpoint at the top of a rocky slope.

(2) With your back to the view, cross a grassy area, keeping the shelter on your left. Ignore a path on the right and continue north-east on a stabilised path (you will rejoin the blue markings).

No markings

After about 250 m, take a wide path on the left. At the crossroads after about 200 m (plot no. 15), turn right onto a narrower path. Pass a pond on the left. At the next junction (plot no. 18), go straight ahead. Pass another pond on your left and you will come to a T-junction at the edge of the forest. Then follow a wider path to the right and you will immediately come to a three-way junction.

(3) Here, you have two options:
- Turn left onto Allée Royale and follow the alternative route described in the practical information section.
- As shown on the map and described below, continue straight ahead (south-east). Further on, cross the stabilised path you left earlier.

N.B. From here to the point (4), the paths taken are not shown on the IGN map, only on the OSM map.

Leave a picnic table on your left and cross a lawn. Join a marked trail and follow it to the right. Ignore a ravine on your left (mossy rocks) and you will soon reach a faint fork (small rocks protruding from the ground). Ignore the clearer trail on your right and follow a track on your left that winds its way between small rocks. Immediately descend a flight of sandstone steps. Continue on a better marked path interspersed with steps; at the^third flight, turn sharply left (ignore a steep shortcut on the right). After another flight of steps, turn sharply right. Join the shortcut and veer left. The path widens and descends gently to a stone path.

Blue markings

(4) Follow the lane to the right and downhill. Pass a forest barrier, walk along a car park on your left, follow the Allée Royale and ignore a red and yellow arrow that invites you to turn right.

No markings

Go under the railway bridge (paved passage). At the stop sign, carefully cross a small road and enter the Domaine de Chamarande.

Inside the estate, signposts are located at major intersections.

Continue straight ahead towards the castle, which is clearly visible, either on a tarmac path or on its wide grassy verge. At the end of the path, cross the bridge over the old moat, which is now dry, and enter the castle courtyard. Turn right, pass between two stone pillars and cross another courtyard. Pass under a porch (entrance to the archives) and cross the former moat again. At the end of the bridge, turn left (paved area).

(5) At the intersection (small pond opposite), turn left, follow a gravel path and walk along the castle on your left. At the corner of the castle (imposing plane tree on the right), turn right onto a path not shown on the IGN map. Cross a bridge over a canal.

(6) At the end of the bridge, turn left towards the Canal des Amoureux. Pass an abandoned building on your right and walk along the canal you just crossed on your left. At the intersection just before a bridge, turn right towards the Juine. Walk along the Canal des Amoureux on your left, lined with beautiful plane trees. At the footbridge over the canal, turn right and walk along the Juine on your left. Continue straight ahead along the river on your left and the lawns and reed beds on your right (the path may be wet in places).

(7) At the end of the path, turn left and cross a canal over a small masonry bridge. Immediately turn left to take a wooden footbridge over a stream.

N.B. From here to an old gate signposted, the paths taken are not shown on the IGN map, only on the OSM map.

At the end of the footbridge, turn left onto a path and you will find the Juine on your left. When you reach a small clearing, turn right and follow the canal on your left. Ignore the path on the right and continue straight ahead between two canals until you reach an old gate, which is now closed. Then take a wide path on the right towards the castle. Ignore the grassy paths on either side.

(8) At a three-way junction, turn right towards the island. Shortly afterwards, continue straight ahead (in December 2021, access to the island was blocked) and follow a pond on your left. Then take the^first small bridge on the left (not shown on IGN) towards the marsh. At the end of the bridge, turn left and walk along the pond, still on your left, until you reach the intersection you took earlier.

(6) Turn left towards the archives. Pass the imposing plane tree on your left and, at the corner of the castle, turn left to walk along it on your right.

(5) At the intersection you took on the way there, continue straight ahead. At the crossroads that you will soon come to (church opposite), turn right at an acute angle. At the next crossroads, turn left to leave the estate. Turn left into a one-way street and you will come to a small square (Place de la Libération; town hall on the right).

(9) Turn left towards the church and immediately left into a cobbled lane. Walk around the church clockwise. At the foot of the bell tower, turn left onto a cobbled path. Walk past a wash house on your left, turn right leaving the remains of an aviary on your left and you will come out onto a street.

Blue markings

Follow the street to the right and you will soon reach the town hall square.

(9) Turn left towards the station, go through a chicane and take a short pedestrian street. Cross Rue du Commandant Maurice Arnoux and continue straight ahead towards the station. At the end of the street, turn left and you will soon see Chamarande station on your right (S/E).

To return home:
- RER - Line C, towards Étampes (immediate access) or Paris (take the underground passage).

Train timetables: consult the Transilien website.

For motorists, there are two parking options:
- In the car park at Chamarande station (S/E).
- In the car park at the viewpoint, shortly after (4). Start the hike from the Domaine de Chamarande.

Hiking boots are recommended.

Public toilets and numerous picnic tables in the Domaine de Chamarande. A few bars and restaurants in the centre of Chamarande.

Alternative route:
At point (3), turn left into Allée Royale. At the next intersection (elevation 142), continue straight ahead and follow the blue markings. After a right turn, you will reach an intersection (elevation 125). Continue straight ahead (south-west) and down a stone path. Rejoin the main route at point (4).

A detailed map is required (at least the one accompanying this description) or, better still, follow the route using the Visaorando app. The section between points (3) and (4) requires a good sense of direction. Many of the trails used are not shown on the IGN map used for the PDF but are shown on the OSM map. To follow the route with the app, download both maps.

Hike completed by the author on 21 December 2021.

- Boulders in the Belvédère Forest, between (1) and (2) and between (3) and (4).
- Belvédère de Chamarande (2).
- Chamarande Castle (17th century), shortly before (5).
- Canals, banks of the Juine and pond on the circular in the park from (6).
- Saint-Quentin Church (12th-13th century) (9).
- Wash house and old aviary shortly after the church.