The marl pit trail from Mezières-lez-Cléry

It is mainly a forest route that recalls the major development work carried out in Sologne, which began in the second half of the 19th century when marl was extracted and then transported by horse-drawn carts to improve the acidic soil.

Details

1626791
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.89 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 10 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 10 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 104 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 94 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start at the car park (grass area) located 100 metres from the church in Mézières-lez-Cléry (towards Cléry-Saint-André)

(S/E). Take the Cléry-Saint-André road towards the church in Mézières, with the château on your right. Continue in the same direction at the crossroads, then take the forest path when the road begins to curve to the right.

(1) Turn left at the fork, then ignore the side roads. Cross Rue du Buisson

(2) At the crossroads just before the hamlet of Nuisance, turn right onto Rue des Sourderies, which becomes Rue de Bracieux.

(3) At the hamlet of Le Buisson, turn left onto Rue du Buisson, then immediately right onto Chemin de Maigreville. This lane crosses Rue du Trembleau and continues along Chemin des Maisons Brûlées, which runs alongside vineyards. Note the propeller on the left-hand side, which is used to stir the air during spring frosts (anti-frost system).

(4) At the fork, take the right-hand lane until you reach the Chemin Transversal de la Bonne Blanche.

(5) Take this path on the right (GR® de Pays Sentier .historique de la Vallée des Rois). This beautiful lane crosses several private driveways before meeting the crossroads known as 'Chemin des Marnières'.

(6) Turn right onto Chemin des Marnières, which runs alongside old marl pits, recognisable by the depressions at the edge of the route, now covered by vegetation. Follow this forest lane, which crosses Rue du Trembleau, until you reach the fork you took on the way there.

(1) Turn slightly left. Continue along the road towards the church until you reach the car park at the starting point (S/E).

:

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 94 m - Car park near Mézières church
  2. 1 : km 0.98 - alt. 95 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 1.73 - alt. 102 m - On the right Rue des Sourderies
  4. 3 : km 2.81 - alt. 103 m - On the left Rue du Buisson
  5. 4 : km 3.68 - alt. 103 m - Take the right-hand path at the fork.
  6. 5 : km 4.66 - alt. 103 m - On the right, Chemin de la Bonne Blanche
  7. 6 : km 6.29 - alt. 99 m - On the right: Chemin des Marnières
  8. S/E : km 9.89 - alt. 94 m - Car park near Mézières church

Notes

This route is not difficult and can be enjoyed in all seasons.

Worth a visit

From the starting point, you can see the Château de Mézières, which dates back to the Restoration period, as well as other buildings characteristic of northern Sologne.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
Valentinfelix
Valentinfelix

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Faster route than expected
Very monotonous route with little interest, very straight asphalt road for 20% of the distance... lack of points of interest on the route, even if the forest is beautiful at the end!

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banbou
banbou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike, not much road

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beauchamp isabelle
beauchamp isabelle

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

pleasant hike

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Hanna45
Hanna45
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy hike. Thanks to Jean-Louis for his very clear description.

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Thierry4572
Thierry4572

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike done with Nordic walking.

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you for sharing the pleasure of hiking in Sologne.
Have a nice day,
Jean-Louis

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cat45
cat45

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you for your comments.
Have a nice day
Jean-Louis

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G.L.
G.L.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant route, quite busy during the first third (but it was late Sunday morning and still very bearable!)
Thank you!

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you,
Kind regards,
Jean-Louis

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Lucas45
Lucas45

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for discovering this route.

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you for your comments,
Jean-Louis

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Beaugency45
Beaugency45

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant route.
The Château de Mézières is photogenic.

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Jean-Louis Pinault
Jean-Louis Pinault

Thank you,
Kind regards,
Jean-Louis

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AnneBihan
AnneBihan

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Pleasant route. The first part runs between fields and orchards, then through the forest.

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