The hills above Chartres

Along the banks of the Couanon stream, the gardens enhance this walk, offering beautiful views of the cathedral.

Details

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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.89 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 131 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 125 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 509 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 400 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Lèves (28300)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.469558° / E 1.481712°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2016SB, 2116O
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

Parking available near the church.

(S/E) Take the path running alongside the church and a small car park, then turn right onto the street leading to Josaphat Abbey.

(1) With your back to the abbey, walk up the lane opposite. At the top, cross the road, then go down a small path and some steps on the left. Follow the stream, pass the cemetery, and walk alongside the private gardens. Continue on to cross the Champ de Mars and the Bois de Lèves. You will reach a crossroads at the Couasnon.

(2) Take the path on the right, continue straight on and leave the woods to reach a crossroads just before the Route du Bois de Lèves.

(3) Turn right onto this grassy path. Cross the housing estate then turn left into Rue des Lucasses. Turn right into thefirst street, Rue de Bailleau. Continue to the junction with Rue des Trois-Maisons.

(4) Turn left onto it. At the stop sign, follow the D906 to the right for a few metres, then slip into Ruelle aux Rats on the left. At the end, turn left onto Rue du Bout du Val. You’ll come to a right-angle bend and a crossroads.

(5) Take this path on the right, then follow the edge of the woods for a few hundred metres. Turn right onto the path that enters the woods and head uphill. At the top, at the crossroads, turn right. Continue, then follow the road to the right. You will reach Rue du Moulin de Brétigny.

(6) Turn right onto it for about ten metres, then turn right onto the path just before a sign. Walk along the fields, enter the woods again and come to another Y-shaped crossroads at a place called Mousseau.

(7) Stay on the right-hand path and leave the woods. Turn left onto Rue du Val. At the crossroads, near the water pump, continue along Rue du Mousseau. Then take Sente du Larris on the left. Walk down to the road. Follow it to the right and head for the church car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 400 ft - Saint-Lazare Church car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.16 - alt. 407 ft - Josaphat Abbey
  3. 2 : mi 1.08 - alt. 427 ft - Coinon (rivière)
  4. 3 : mi 1.38 - alt. 509 ft - Grassy path
  5. 4 : mi 1.68 - alt. 502 ft - Rue des Trois-Maisons
  6. 5 : mi 2.03 - alt. 463 ft - Path to the woods
  7. 6 : mi 2.69 - alt. 469 ft - Rue du Moulin de Brétigny
  8. 7 : mi 3.16 - alt. 446 ft - Mousseau
  9. S/E : mi 3.89 - alt. 400 ft - Saint-Lazare Church car park

Notes

Route created in collaboration with the Eure-et-Loir Departmental Hiking Committee.
Follow the yellow markings.

Worth a visit

Cultural site
Atelier Picol
Ateliers Loire
Horticultural Garden
Local produce
La Roussière

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
waiwaite
waiwaite

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant short hike. Easy, well-marked trails. For once, we trusted the yellow markings, which were perfect. Most of the route is shaded, which is a plus in hot weather.

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reitop
reitop

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, perfectly signposted – I highly recommend it! Best regards.

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LOLADOL
LOLADOL

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Well shaded along most of the route.

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Rémi Marchand
Rémi Marchand
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Can be done on foot from Chartres city centre: allow an extra hour for the return journey

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Helene GC
Helene GC

Overall rating : 1 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : No

The route is very poorly described. There are no landmarks. There are no signposts. I would do this hike again, but not using the information in this guide.

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