The Senonchoises "Alps"

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There is so little relief in the Senonches Forest! So, with a lot of imagination and a little humour, let's have fun transforming this walk through the slight relief caused by a geological fault in the south of the forest into an alpine trail: the 90D!
The trail starts, as it should, at the bottom of the "valley", on the banks of the Eure, at the edge of the "lake" of Fontaine-Simon. During the ascent, without ropes or ice axes of course, towards the Fontaine aux Liards at an altitude of 249 m, we will have to cross miniature "torrents", pass through tiny "passes" and follow a ridge path along a "vertiginous ravine"... railway. Then, after a descent into a "deep" valley, you will have to climb the Route de La Ferrière to finally tumble down towards La Billette, where you will begin to see the water ski lift installed on the pond, like a ski lift.
If this description doesn't convince you, rest assured that you will at least enjoy a beautiful walk in the forest!

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.16 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 67 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 65 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 247 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 192 m
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Photos

Picturesque path above the railway line

Description of the walk

Departure: Fontaine-Simon, 7 km south of Senonches via the D25 then the D348 (4.5 km walk via the GRP® Vallée de l'Eure from La Loupe station).

Parking is available at the water park car park at 5 Rue de la Ferrière in Fontaine-Simon.

Yellow markings

(S/E) With your back to the campsite, turn right. At the cross, follow the D348.6 to the left. Cross the D25 carefully, continue straight ahead, go through the railway tunnel and continue for 100 m.

No markings

(1) Enter the forest on the left via the first path parallel to the railway line and come out onto a gravel path.

Yellow markings

(2) Follow it straight ahead and cross the Rond du Grand Veneur. Walk along the railway line (on your left) via the wide path, then follow the trail that winds between the trees. It joins a path, approaches the railway line but does not reach it (do not cross the ditch near the site of the former La Ferrière halt).

(3) Turn right onto the path that follows the ditch, then overlooks it above a "ravine" (watch out for pine roots, though). After the "pass", descend quickly, staying close to the old railway line. Cross the "torrents" and climb back up to almost reach the D25. Do not cross the barrier and continue on the path near the road. Reach the Ligne de la Rachée.

(4) Turn right and follow the gravel road to the Rond de la Fontaine aux Liards (picnic tables - Refuge removed due to lack of motivation on the part of the caretaker! - Highest point of the route: 249 m. Beautiful panorama, unfortunately hidden by trees!).

(5) Take the second lane on the right, which, after a long, straight and almost horizontal stretch, descends sharply to join the Route de La Ferrière.

(6) Turn left into this lane, cross a "valley" and climb "hard". At the top of the hill, turn right onto a path that immediately joins the edge of the national forest. Join the GRP® Vallée de l'Eure.

Yellow and red markings

(7) Turn right onto the path, following the embankment on your left. Take this winding path down to the left. It continues along the edge of the forest and rejoins the D348.6.

(1) Follow the road to the right and go through the railway tunnel. When you reach the junction with the D25, turn left. Carefully cross the road and follow the path below the road, along the pond. Leave the GRP®.

Yellow markings

(8) Go around the pond, first to the south, then continue to the north-west (picnic area) before reaching the water park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 199 m - Water Park Car Park
  2. 1 : km 0.68 - alt. 196 m - Entrance to the trail on the D348.6
  3. 2 : km 1.07 - alt. 205 m - Path before the Rond du Grand Veneur
  4. 3 : km 1.8 - alt. 219 m - Crossroads near the old La Ferrière bus stop
  5. 4 : km 2.93 - alt. 246 m - La Rachée line
  6. 5 : km 3.45 - alt. 247 m - Rond de La Fontaine aux Liards
  7. 6 : km 4.58 - alt. 219 m - Route de La Ferrière
  8. 7 : km 5.06 - alt. 241 m - Junction with the GRP
  9. 8 : km 7.31 - alt. 193 m - Fontaine-Simon Pond
  10. S/E : km 8.16 - alt. 198 m - Water Park Car Park

Notes

The Perche Water Park car park is closed in the evening. Check the opening hours. Pedestrians can still pass through via chicanes. If the car park is closed, you can park in Les Ronds de Francqueville on the D25 near point (4) or at La Fontaine aux Liards: at (5) (picnic area signposted as accessible by car). Start from these points.

https://www.terresdeperche. fr/pages/parc-aquatique-du-perche

Waterproof footwear recommended.

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

After heavy rain, the Eure spillways may flood the path along the edge of the pond from the point (8). In this case, follow the eastern bank through the grassy areas to reach the car park.

Worth a visit

Senonches, 5 km away: Castle museum on the theme of the forest and its exploitation.
Orée du Bois sensory discovery trail -
Hotel - Restaurants - Lodges - Huttopia holiday village - motorhome reception area. Shops -
Fishing - horse riding
http://www.lesforetsduperche.fr/culture-et-tourisme/office-de-tourisme/

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: Parc Aquatique du Perche - campsite - indoor swimming pool https://www.terresdeperche.fr/pages/parc-aquatique-du-perche water skiing -

In the village: hotel-restaurant - shops.

La Loupe, 6 km away: history cellars - Commemoration of the 1944 bombings https://www.lechateaulaloupe.fr/

SNCF railway station.

Other walks in the area

Walking Tour of the Bois de la Ferrière

Visorando member
Tour du Bois de la Ferrière
↔11.02 km ↗+61 m ↘-54 m ◔3h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Fontaine-Simon (Eure-et-Loir)
A forest hike starting from the Perche Water Park in Fontaine-Simon. The path leads into the Senonches State Forest after following the edge of the lake. A picturesque trail along the old railway line, a long forest line and then a path that descends into the Tourbière des Froux lead to this protected natural site, home to rare plant and animal species. Passing through hamlets and ponds, you return to La Ferrière, the site of former iron ore mining.

Walking Circular route from Fontaine-Simon to La Loupe

Visorando member
Boucle de Fontaine-Simon à La Loupe
↔13.89 km ↗+37 m ↘-33 m ◔4h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Fontaine-Simon (Eure-et-Loir)
Circular route starting from Fontaine-Simon along quiet paths and small roads through farmland. Pass by the church in Meaucé then the beautiful La Grande Maison farm surrounded by moats still filled with water.

Walking From the Senonches forest to the Boizard locks

Visorando member
De la forêt de Senonches aux écluses de Boizard
↔21.99 km ↗+181 m ↘-181 m ◔6h 50 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Senonches (Eure-et-Loir)
A beautiful hike, mostly in the woods around the Eure valley, starting from the Senonches State Forest and ending at the Boizard locks. Built in 1785 by Louis XIV's engineers, this structure was supposed to be the starting point of an unfinished aqueduct that would have carried water from the Eure to the fountains in the park of the Palace of Versailles. On the way back, discover the Château des Vaux and its gardens.

Walking The strange trees of the Senonches forest

Visorando member
Les arbres étranges de la forêt de Senonches
↔9.61 km ↗+52 m ↘-43 m ◔2h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Senonches (Eure-et-Loir)
This entirely forest-based circuit takes you past several strange trees, unexplained natural curiosities. It runs alongside the Biquet valley, a favourite walking route for the people of Senon. After reaching the Froux peat bog, a natural site of great ecological richness, it passes close to the romantic Forestiers pond nestled in the heart of the forest. This is an ideal spot for observing the animals that come here to drink in the evening.

Walking Where does this lead us? To Manou!

Visorando member
Ça nous mène où ? À Manou !
↔11.31 km ↗+59 m ↘-59 m ◔3h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Senonches (Eure-et-Loir)
A pleasant circular, partly through the forest and partly across fields, ideal for a late morning walk, lunch in Manou or at the Moulin à Vent, and a return in the afternoon with a visit to the Froux peat bog.Departure from the Senonches national forest, from the Bois des Dames, formerly owned by the nuns of the neighbouring Belhomert Abbey. At the entrance to Manou, view of the castle known as Blanche de Castille. Garden near the church and the "Bon'Eure" pond in Manou, a pleasant place to relax and have a picnic.Cross the Froux bog site, developed by the Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels (Conservatory of Natural Areas) to showcase rare and protected animal and plant species.Return via the Forestiers pond, which is ideal for observing animals coming to drink in the evening.

Walking Circular La Loupe, La Trinité without Trinitrine

Visorando member
Boucle de La Loupe, la Trinité sans Trinitrine
↔9.94 km ↗+37 m ↘-37 m ◔2h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from La Loupe (Eure-et-Loir)
Don't worry, no strenuous effort is required to complete this circular around La Loupe, linking the three parishes formerly known as "La Trinité des Bois": La Loupe, Vaupillon and Saint-Eliph. And if your heart races, it can only be from the emotion of remembering the terrible bombing that the town suffered on 17 June 1944. You will pass through woods and fields near the three churches of the former parish. If you want to see them more closely, you will need to make a small detour to reach them. Two of them are often closed and can only be visited on rare occasions. You could also visit the Gros Chêne de Meaucé (the big oak tree of Meaucé). It is a venerable old tree that has many stories to tell before reaching the end of its long life. After walking along the Étang du Gallou (Gallou Pond), you will arrive at the château, where a museum has been set up to commemorate the tragedy of 1944. Be sure to visit it.

Walking No calves at the Château des Vaux

Visorando member
Pas de veaux au Château des Vaux
↔8.14 km ↗+61 m ↘-60 m ◔2h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Saint-Maurice-Saint-Germain (Eure-et-Loir)
No, it was not calves, devotees or a certain Mr Desvaux, who once owned the property, but three valleys that gave the estate its name. However, there are many horses. Purchased in 1805 by the Marquis d'Aligre, whose family lived in the nearby Château de la Rivière, it became a renowned hunting destination where horses reigned supreme and were housed in sumptuous stables. Even today, horses still graze in the surrounding meadows.In front of the château, the statue ofthe 1,000th stag served by the Marquis's hunting parties bears witness to the abundance of game in these 120 hectares of woodland. Since 1946, the Fondation des Apprentis d'Auteuil, which owns the estate, has established a renowned vocational school there, which welcomes nearly 1,250 students.This circular starting from Saint-Maurice-Saint-Germain allows you to discover the site and the Eure valley. You can extend the walk by following the GRP® to the Boizard locks and the Château de la Rivière.

Walking Senonches - La Loupe

Visorando member
Senonches - La Loupe
↔13.36 km ↗+63 m ↘-66 m ◔4h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Senonches (Eure-et-Loir)
This last stage of our journey through the Vlaminck region takes us from Senonches to La Loupe. Initially mainly wooded, the route then crosses the Eure valley, passing close to the Fontaine-Simon water park, where you can stop for refreshments. La Loupe station provides a quick return to Paris-Montparnasse.

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