Thoré-la-Rochette walks

This route will take you from the world of vineyards to the defence line of the Saint-Rimay Tunnel. From cellars to blockhouses, you will also discover two restoration projects led by the Résurgence association along the way. A beautiful view of the Loir valley will accompany you for much of your journey.

A very beautiful walk along the Boulon Valley.

Pleasant walk except at the start. Beautiful valleys and woods.

A pleasant little walk through woods and vineyards.

Situated between the Loir and the rock on the hillside, this route allows you to discover a picturesque natural heritage, typical of the Loir Valley and its troglodyte dwellings.

An easy, family-friendly walk in a lovely little village.

A short walk starting from Meslay, passing the Château de Meslay, then following the Réveillon stream and winding through the village’s fields

Lovely views over the Vendôme area and the Loir Valley.

A lovely walk with plenty of sections through the woods. Hiking is all about having ‘fun’, and even if it’s ‘customary’ to pass through the ‘desert’, don’t worry – you’ll always make it to the church.

Walk through the woods and along the Houzée valley with its beautiful mills. Very beautiful valley.

A pleasant and easy walk on either side of the Loir.

An easy, very pleasant walk through woods (pleasant in hot weather), across the plain and with a beautiful view of the Loir valley.

Of the four walking routes on offer around La Ville-aux-Clercs, here is the Blue route.

La Ville-aux-Clercs offers four walking routes that are also suitable for mountain bikes: here is the Red route in the heart of the Perche Vendômois region.

The Braye, celebrated in song by Ronsard, meets the Loir here. Whilst Bessé-sur-Braye is best known to locals for its thriving paper industry, this village in the Calais region is also home to a Renaissance gem, the Château de Courtanvaux, which is said to have hosted Henry IV. Its large wooded park is open to the public all year round, and serves as the starting point for this walk, which also takes you through lovely countryside along a small tarmac road.

Bessé dates back to the Middle Ages. At that time, the parish comprised numerous fiefdoms, including Courtanvaux, a parish seigneury elevated to a marquisate in 1609. The village developed particularly from the18th century onwards thanks to the establishment of pre-industrial sites, as evidenced by the cotton mill set up by Elie Savatier in 1735 (on the site of a former linen weaving mill) or the paper mill established at La Roche in 1824. The latter has since become the town’s main industrial site.

Hillside route along the riverbanks, on foot or by mountain bike. Some of the hill climbs are a bit steep. Take your time to enjoy the route.

The evolution of Saint-Calais is evident in its town planning, which developed in the Middle Ages on either side of the Anille. On the right bank, the former abbey site founded inthe 6th century is still visible in the two tall gables of the current resource centre. During the Revolution, it gave way to another administrative centre with imposing buildings and the straight streets typical ofthe 19th century. On the left bank, on the hillside between the river and the castle founded inthe 11th century to rival the powerful abbey, you can easily make out the medieval quarter, which was built around the axis of the Grande Rue on an irregular and densely packed grid of plots.

Setting off from this village-street with its rich architectural heritage, head along the ancient sunken paths, sections (1) to (6) ofthe GR®® 235, lined with a variety of trees – oaks, service trees, serviceberries, wild pear trees and so on – offering walkers an enchanting, shaded route. These paths, in the heart of the rolling countryside of the Perche Sarthois, are linked by a network of quiet country lanes, offering stunning 180° panoramic views from the higher points.

Situated on a small spur at the confluence of the Anille and Roulecrotte rivers, the village, first mentioned in the 13th century, retains several old houses, including the town hall, a former presbytery built in the 15th century. The church, rebuilt around 1780, features a beautiful collection of murals painted around 1860 using potassium silicate (a new technique for the time).