From Moutiers-au-Perche to La Ferté-Vidame

(S) Start from Notre-Dame church, follow the path up the hill and enter the undergrowth.

(1) At the fork, turn right. Then cut across a transverse path and go back downhill. At the edge of the woods, turn left.

(2) At the next crossroads, turn right and you will immediately come to a small road. Ford a stream. Ignore the semblance of a path in the meadow on the right (elevation 181). The path, clearly marked by fences, winds through grasslands and leads to the hamlet of La Badinière.

From La Badinière to Les Déserts (about 5km), follow the red mountain bike trail.

(3) Follow a tarmac path on the right, which becomes sandy after a right-hand bend. Go uphill, turn left and, at the fork that appears shortly afterwards, turn right. Then continue straight ahead.

(4) At the next crossroads, go straight ahead along the edge of the plateau. Alternate between undergrowth and the edge of the forest. Pass the ruins of Gros Fouteau, ignoring the paths on the right.

(5) At the T-junction, turn right to cross a small road. Continue straight ahead downhill along a stony path that is wet in places. This will take you to the D280.

(6) Cross this road and continue opposite into the woods. After about 50 metres, turn left (south-east). At a junction at the edge of the woods, go straight ahead along the edge.



(7) At the crossroads, go down to the left along a sunken path that enters the Bois du Roy at a pond. Go back up along a steep, rocky path that winds through the undergrowth and leads to the D36 at a place called Les Déserts.

(8) Cross the road and continue straight ahead. Go straight ahead (ignore the mountain bike signs that lead off to the right). After the last house, the straight path becomes grassy.

(9) Come out onto the D614 and follow it to the right for about 100 metres. Take the tarmac path on the left and walk alongside the buildings. The tarmac then gives way to earth and grass (ignore a path on the right).

(10) At the crossroads, take a gravel path on the left which passes close to La Fauvillière and becomes tarmac. At the end, turn right, cross the Carrefour des Trois Croix, leaving the oratory on your right, and continue straight ahead (north-east) on a gravel path which then becomes grassy. Cross a stream.

(11) At the three-way junction that follows, turn left. Cross a perpendicular path (elevation 221).

(12) At the next crossroads, turn left onto a grassy path which becomes tarmac at the hamlet of La Charbonnière.

(13) First turn left then right and continue straight ahead until you reach the D280.

(14) First turn right then left to leave Le Bois des Menus and then La Huetterie on your left. Ignore a turn-off on the right and then one on the left.

(15) At the next intersection, turn right onto a grassy path with ruts but well cleared.

(16) Come out onto a small tarmac road and follow it to the left. Pass the hamlet of La Roulandière. Cross a small bridge, pass through the hamlet of La Haute Martinière and continue on the tarmac road.

(17) You will come out onto the D616; follow it to the right. After about 200 metres, turn right onto a path that is not marked on the IGN map. You will reach the banks of the Eure; note the wash house on the opposite bank.

(18) Cross the river on the dam downstream from the wash house. The path gives way to a narrow street that joins Rue des Lilas (D8). Follow this road to the right (watch out for traffic, stay on the side of the road).

(19) After about 500 m (cross), turn left towards La Cour Mesnil. Cross the hamlet and ignore the turnings on the left. Leave the hamlet of Le Bignon on your right and continue straight ahead.

(20) When the road turns right, continue along the path opposite, near the Ferrettes farm. The path climbs towards the forest and curves to the left.

(21) When you reach a large road, follow it to the right at an acute angle. After about 50 metres (signposted "Neuilly-sur-Eure, vers la ligne de Chambray"), take a small path on the left.

This leads to the D37; follow it to the right (mind the traffic). Immediately take the^first path on the left into the Ligne Chambray (sign and wooden bar). Continue straight ahead along a wide forest lane to the Rond des Hussards.

(23) Take the^third left (at 10 o'clock), a wide lane on the left that leads to the hamlet of La Bêchetière. Continue straight ahead (north-north-west).

(24) At the end, take a wide gravel path on the right that quickly curves to the left. The path soon leaves the forest and becomes tarmac. Cross Rue de la Pommarie (D318.3) and continue straight ahead through the hamlet of La Pommarie. Pass a small road on the left (D146) and reach the hamlet of La Bêchetière.

(25) Turn left. At the fork that appears shortly afterwards, turn right into Rue de la Floudière. Leave the hamlet on your right and turn left.

(26) Join the D15 and follow it to the right (watch out for traffic).

(27) At the end, follow the D941 to the left (the road is very busy but there is a wide grass verge on the left). This will take you to La Ferté-Vidame, Place de l'Hôtel de Ville (E).

Before setting off on your hike, print or download a recent version of the route. In case of changes, always follow the markings on the ground.
In Moutiers-au-Perche: a few shops, a grocery store, bakery and butcher's, but check opening hours. Fol Avril gourmet restaurant. Stopover lodge for eight people with the option of additional camp beds. Guest rooms in the surrounding area.
In Neuilly-sur-Eure, bar and shops.
In La Ferté-Vidame, all shops, bars and restaurants in the town centre. Hotel and guest rooms, and bungalows at the campsite on the outskirts of town (on the hiking trail).

This itinerary is brought to you by the Itinéraires Ruraux association, whose main purpose is to preserve the hiking trails of the Perche region.

At the start of the hike, take the time to enjoy the view of the Perche countryside and one of the prettiest villages in the Perche region at the top of the lane that climbs up to the church. Visit the charming 12th/16th-century Notre Dame du Mont Harou church with its unusual bell tower and remarkable gargoyles. 16th-century organ and interesting wall frescoes. The view from the steps is breathtaking.

The path leading from the church goes to Gué de Culoiseau, where you will pass a charming hamlet, then once again through woods and countryside. You will then cross the cereal plain on farm tracks before reaching Neuilly-sur-Eure and entering the forest again. At the hamlet of La Bêchetière, you will walk along a very long boundary wall that protects the Peugeot-Citroën test route. This is where prototypes are tested and must remain top secret.

The route ends at La Ferté-Vidame, the gateway to the Perche region when coming from Paris. Known for its forests and waterways, the region is ideal for hunting. You will be surprised by the ruined castle, which stands like a film set in front of a large parterre extended by ponds and then by the forest. The first castle was inhabited as early as 985 and hosted illustrious guests, including the moralist Saint Simon and King Louis-Philippe. The current building dates from the 18th century.