Montereau walks

A largely shaded circular walk along the water’s edge. This walk follows the Rigole de Courpalet for nearly 5km before entering the Forest of Orléans and skirting the Étang du Gué l’Évêque. The Rigole de Courpalet, 32.8 km long, was dug to feed the Canal d’Orléans.

A circular in the Orléans Forest along a pretty path that winds between the trees. You will discover a series of springs converted into fountains and end this walk at the Résistance crossroads, a place steeped in Second World War history. A monument has been erected there in memory of the resistance fighters who died for France.

The route follows the course of the waterways of Vieilles-Maisons-sur-Joudry near the Forest of Orléans, running sometimes alongside the Orléans Canal and sometimes alongside the ‘rigoles’, tributaries of the Orléans Canal which they feed. These still waters are a source of coolness and tranquillity.

Discover how the Canal d’Orléans draws its water supply from the forest. From forest ditches to channels and from channels to ponds, the water flows imperceptibly through the hydrographic network skilfully created by human hands to ensure its proper functioning.

In the Orléans Forest, the route runs alongside the vast Étang de Corcambon, ending around the Étang du Bourg which borders the flower-filled village of Dampierre-en-Burly, at the foot of its fortifications.

A walk that follows the Canal d’Orléans towpath for a third of its length. The remaining two-thirds follow quiet country lanes and paths through fields or woods, in peaceful countryside.

On the edge of the Sologne, this circuit brings together the typical landscapes that make up the charm of this natural region near the Loire: meadows, ponds, forests, interspersed with crops and pretty brick houses. The little river Sange brings it to life and gives it a little relief. Marked in yellow, this route is also signposted in places as "PR® de la Vallée de la Sange - P 11". Despite two sections on the road, 70% of this circuit is on unpaved paths.

A very pleasant route, mostly along the banks of the Loire. Good view of the Château de Sully and the Basilica of Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire.

This short walk allows you to admire the medieval fortress in all its glory and stroll through the castle grounds and along the dykes that protect the town from the river. Many migratory birds take refuge on the castle's magnificent lake.

A hike offering great contrasts between the open fields of the first part and the wild banks of the Loire in the second part, with its unspoilt natural site known as "Entre les levées". Proposed by the tourist office as part of the Randonnée des Châtaignes (Chestnut Hike), this route was very popular with hikers.

Starting from Saint-Didier Church in the welcoming village of Villemandeur, with its many shops, this route will take you due west towards the peaceful village of Saint-Maurice-sur-Fessard, following the old towpath of the Canal d’Orléans, which has been converted into a cycle route. The route passes Machot Lock and follows various paths through the countryside, offering magnificent scenery that alternates between farmland and wooded areas.

Alternating between meadows, forests, ponds and farmland, this route presents no difficulties. It begins and ends majestically on the banks of the Loire. This is a shortened version of the former "PR® des Rauches" with 76% of the route on unpaved paths.

This first stage runs along the Loire to take you to Briare, a charming little town full of flowers, with its small river port. Please note: this hike can be done either as part of the 3-stage Gien - Cosne-sur-Loire hike, or on its own by taking the train from Briare back to Gien.

A route taking you along the Loing, past ponds, castles, mills and the old village of Amilly, then on to Lac des Closiers, the perfect spot for a picnic. The two locks: the Passerelle de la Marolles lock, followed by the Écluse de la Tuilerie lock.

This route is offered by the Gien Town Hall to explore the town while learning about its history and discovering its heritage. As you progress, you will find information boards with explanations of the various historical points of interest identified. I am sharing it here, with my personal modifications to the route and the various points of interest, which are more or less in the same positions.

A stroll along the Briare Canal, passing through the lakes area of the Savoies and Népruns Nature Reserve, ending at Lac des Closiers and a circular route through the beautifully restored Pêcherie district. Peace and quiet, nature, barges, birds and a few beautiful old houses – this is what awaits you.

Ranked among the most beautiful sites in France, explore Montargis through its streets on the water with 131 bridges and footbridges. A gastronomic and lakeside town nicknamed the Venice of Gâtinais.

Circular starting from the lakeside town of Montargis, known as the Venice of Gatinais. The junctions of the Briare, Orléans and Loing canals made it a veritable river crossroads between the Loire and Seine basins until the Orléans canal was decommissioned in 1954. Follow the waterways through the Loing valley, passing rivers, canals and lakes.

Discover the village of Paucourt and its forest, a veritable green lung in the heart of the Montargis national forest.

Mainly on dirt, sand or gravel paths, this fairly easy circuit takes you through the peaceful and varied landscapes of the Sologne: ponds, forests, hedgerow-enclosed pastures and interspersed crops. At the start and finish, the pretty village of Villemurlin offers a typical Sologne charm with its brick houses and blue ladders, reminders of a time when the attic was accessed from outside. Initially shared with the family path of Villemurlin (the "chouette promenade" or "owl walk"), this route then takes a shortened version of the former "PR® des domaines de chasse et cultures" (hunting grounds and farmland), of which a few signs remain.