The cave dwellings of Les Roches-Lévêque

Park in the car park next to the restaurant at 66 Grande Rue.

Yellow^PR® markings

(S/E) With your back to the restaurant car park, cross the road (D24) and climb the steps opposite: at the top of the steps on the left are 16th-century remains of the gate in the wall of the old castle, and a guesthouse. Turn right and take the small path on the right.

(1) After a few dozen metres, follow the path to the right. Return to the D24 and follow it to the left: view of the troglodyte cellars carved into the tuffeau stone characteristic of the region, and the ruins of the old rock-hewn chapel of Saint-Gervais, built in troglodyte style, which houses a 12th- and 13th-century fresco.

(2) Once in Saint-Gervais, turn left, pass the Impasse Saint-Gervais, and climb a path immediately on the right, which leads to the former mushroom farms forming the largest Greater Horseshoe Bat (bat) roost in the department. Enjoy the panoramic view over the Loir Valley.

(3) After the cellars, leave a road on your right and continue straight ahead, following Rue du Ris. Keep left at the next two junctions, staying on Rue du Ris, which becomes a track and leads further on to a tarmac road. Turn right at the crossroads to join Impasse du Ris, then turn left to reach the D53.

(4) Turn right and walk alongside the D-road for about thirty metres, then cross carefully to turn left onto a path that passes in front of the old wash house and the Fontaine Saint-Julien. Walk for about 500 metres, then climb up a sunken path on the left. Turn left at the junction, go down the street to the D53, and follow it to the left for about 50 metres.

(5) Cross the road carefully to climb a grassy path on the right, and pass through the hamlet of La Barre. You’ll come to a well; leave it on your right as you cross the road. Continue straight ahead for about 100 metres.

(6) Turn left onto a stony path and follow it for about 800 m. At the junction, turn right onto another stony path, take the first path on the left, and head into the woods.

(7) At the junction, turn left towards Les Basses Vallées. Cross the hamlet to reach a road, which you follow to the left.

(8) At La Chenaudière, continue to the right towards Huchepie. Leave the road at the junction and continue straight ahead along a stony path to the Huchepie junction. Continue straight ahead, skirting the edge of a wood, and follow the edge until you come out onto another path.

(9) Turn left, cross the tarmac road and head straight on towards Le Hêtre.

(10) Keep left at the three-way junction to cross the hamlet, and continue straight ahead. You’ll come to a junction; take the sunken path straight ahead that leads downhill.

(1) Turn right, then go down the steps on the left to rejoin the D53 and the car park opposite (S/E).