On the Way of St James around Conches-en-Ouche

(S/E) From Place Aristide Briand in Conches, head right towards the public gardens, Square Jean de la Varende. Cross the square, pass in front of the medieval castle to reach Rue de l’Hôtel de Ville. Go round the town hall on the right, pass the viewpoint overlooking the Rouloir Valley and arrive at Sainte-Foy Church.

(1) Turn right onto Rue Sainte-Foy, head down towards Place Carnot, then continue straight on along Rue Paul Guilbaud. At the V@l site (François Décorchemont Glass Museum, Micro-Folie, Fab-Lab, etc.), cross Rue Paul Guilbaud and head down Rue de la Cavée.

(2) Turn left to head down to the arboretum, cross two small wooden bridges and take the dirt track on the right. At the end of the track, cross Rue Gustave Anceaume and take Rue de Rhodes opposite.

(3) Halfway up the hill, take the steep path on the left leading down towards the station. At the bottom of the path, join the tarmac road, turn right onto it and follow the railway line.

(4) Enter the Pré Bourbeux community forest, follow the path on the right and continue through the forest. Do not stray from the path. There are viewing points along the route. Keep going straight ahead.

(5) At the crossroads, turn right, go past the footbridge, then the playground (picnic tables, children’s play equipment, pétanque court) and head towards the exit, Rue de la République. Turn right and head for the Chevaux roundabout. Cross the D840/Route du Neubourg with care.

(6) Continue straight ahead onto Rue Jacques Prévert. Cross the D61/Route de Louviers and take Rue du Gros Chêne opposite. Turn left onto Rue des Fontenelles and continue straight through the Fontenelles housing estate. Turn left onto Rue des Bergeronnettes, continue along a dirt track and turn right.

(7) Head due north. At the bottom of the path, at the junction, turn right and enter the Bois de la Vallée l'Aunay. When you reach a tarmac road, Rue de l'Eglise, turn left and head uphill towards the church of Saint-Élier.

(8) Continue along the tarmac road. At the junction with the D167/Rue du Site, turn right and then left onto Chemin de la Croisille. At the next two junctions, continue straight ahead and follow Rue du Bois des Maisons. Turn right onto Rue des Buissonnets, then at the crossroads turn right onto Rue Jean Louis Godard to reach the town hall in La Croisille.

(9) Turn left onto Chemin de la Dîme, then turn right onto Rue du Bourg. Ignore Impasse de Baligan on the left, then cross the D167/Rue Saint-Martin.

(10) At the junction, Place des Tilleuls, first turn right then left onto a grassy path. Continue straight down. At the bottom of the path, at the tarmac road, Rue du Rouloir, turn right, cross the railway bridge and pass the church at La Croisille.

(11) Before the brick bridge, leave the road and turn right onto a dirt track. Follow it to the end.

(12) At the tarmac road, Rue du Moulin, turn left, cross two small bridges and go up the hill. At the top of the hill, just before the railway bridge, turn right and head down towards the hamlet of l’Aunay/l’Aulnaye.

(13) Just before the Saint-Élier wash house, turn left under the railway bridge. Follow the dirt track straight on. The Bonne Touche ponds are on the right. At the end of the track, you’ll come out onto a tarmac road.

(14) Turn right onto it. At the junction, turn left onto Rue des Fontaines.

(15) At the T-junction, turn right, then take the steep path on the left leading up to Sainte-Foy Church. At the foot of the church, take a sharp left-hand bend, pass the town hall, cross the public garden and return to the starting point (S/E).

Yellow markings.

Wear practical, suitable clothing and footwear, and boots in wet weather.

Take care during the hunting season.

In Conches-en-Ouche.
Ruins of the 12th-century medieval castle. Not open to visitors.

16th-century Sainte-Foy Church, listed as a Historic Monument. A remarkable collection of Renaissance stained-glass windows of exceptional artistic richness, produced by the finest workshops of the period.

François Décorchemont Glass Museum: a collection of glass art from the late 19th century to the present day.
The museum pays tribute to François Décorchemont (1880–1971), a 20th-century painter and glass artist from Conches.

Pays de Conches Museum: housed in an authentic Norman building, a collection of objects and tools related to beekeeping, shoemaking, farriery, locksmithing, saddlery and life in days gone by.

Arboretum: trees of European, Asian and American origin. Apple tree conservatory (92 varieties).

Pré Bourbeux: educational trails on flora and fauna, a playground and picnic area.

In La Croisille.
La Ferme du Bourg restaurant. Set in a 13th-century Norman farmhouse inn, serving dishes made with fresh seasonal produce from the farm or local producers, offering a modern take on traditional Norman flavours. All dishes are homemade.