The woods of Saint-Martin

Start at the Grands Moulins car park.

(S/E) Walk past the canoe and kayak centre, then take the footbridge and follow the path across the River Loir. Turn right twice and continue along the path that runs alongside the gardens. At the stop sign, turn left.

(1) Turn right into Rue de Chollet. Pass in front of the Moulin à Tan campsite.

(2) Turn left onto the footbridge. After the second footbridge, turn left again, then right onto the path leading uphill. Walk past the stadium.

(3) At the stop sign, turn left into Rue Abel Méret.

(4) At the junction, turn right onto Rue Saint-Jean, which continues as a path.

(5) Cross the D955 with care and continue straight ahead along the road that climbs the hillside. Pass in front of La Malassise and continue straight on along a path

(6) At the crossroads, turn right at the edge of the woods. At La Triquetière, turn left, then take the path on the right.

(7) Cross the D231 and continue along the path slightly to the left, crossing the stream in the Villarmoy Valley.

(8) At the crossroads near Villarmoy, turn left onto a path that leads to the hamlet of Crépainville, which you cross.

(9) At the crossroads, turn left. At the cross, take the path on the right which crosses the plain.

(10) Turn right onto the path at the edge of the woods.

(11) Head down to the left into the valley floor, cross the stream, then follow the path back up to the plain.

(12) At the crossroads, turn right, cross the Journet and continue straight on.

(13) Turn onto the first path on the right and cross the woods.

(14) Take the D31 on the left and enter Saint-Denis-les-Ponts.

(15) Turn left and take the steps leading down towards the valley. Continue along this path, which climbs back up into the woods of Saint-Martin. At the exit, very close to (13), continue straight ahead along the edge of the woods, then across the open land.

(16) At the crossroads, turn right and continue along the edge of the woods. The path climbs to the left alongside a property, then turns right before descending again to the right. At the next crossroads, turn right.

(17) Turn left and pass the riding school. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead along Rue Saint-Martin, which branches off to the right at the very end to join the roundabout on the left.

(18) Turn right into Rue Saint-Jean, pass the two branches of the Loir and turn left, crossing the gardens to reach the Grands Moulins car park (S/E).

The town of Châteaudun stands out for the beauty of its setting, atop a rocky promontory overlooking the Loir, and the grandeur of its château. The town, home to 58 listed or classified sites and monuments, can be explored via a pleasant route through the historic quarter.

Châteaudun Castle is the “first castle of the Loire” for visitors coming from Paris. This former fortified castle, now a grand princely residence, overlooks the River Loir from the north-western tip of the rocky outcrop on which the town is built. Here you can admire architectural features in a variety of styles, ranging from the feudal era through to the Renaissance, via Gothic architecture.

Discover an unexpected underground world by taking a guided tour of the Grottes du Foulon, a geological site covering over a hectare beneath the town. Follow the guide through the vast natural caverns carved out by water 65 million years ago. The underground tour offers the chance to admire a remarkable concentration of quartz geodes and bluish chalcedony.

As for nature, the town is the starting point for numerous walking, cycling, mountain biking, canoeing and horse riding routes. Fishing spots are also available in Châteaudun and the surrounding area.