Tour du Bon Dieu de Laudigerie

This ‘tour’ won’t make the Good Lord of Laudigerie jealous – that figure of Christ fixed to the cross by the side of the D20. It was carved by a clog-maker from the hamlet from a log that had long been used for farm work. This is said to be the origin of the somewhat ironic and disillusioned local expression used to describe frivolous people: “He’s like the Good Lord of Laudigerie, who’s played more tricks than he’s performed miracles!” Devotion, however, remains strong; a small ceremony takes place there on the eve of 15 August, and the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, placed in the ‘Lourdes’ grotto, is always adorned with flowers. This route leads across the fields from Senonches to Laudigerie. It was once a village of clog-makers and woodworkers. The workshops have disappeared, and the former industrial clog-making factory, which you pass by, has been converted first into an office furniture factory and then into a plastic recycling plant. The return journey takes you along the edge of the forest and offers an opportunity to reflect on the town’s liberation on 14 August 1944.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.79 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 95 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 98 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 817 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 715 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

The walk starts in Senonches from the Champ de Foire car park on Rue du Tramway.

No signposting

(S/E) From the car park, head towards the old railway bridge on Rue de la Libération. First cross Rue de la Petite Vitesse, go under the bridge and turn left onto Rue du Perthuis de Manou. Cross this street and turn right onto Chemin des Noues. Walk past the wash house and continue along the path behind the factory. Carry on along the Fossé des Noues until you reach the first path crossing it.

(1) Head towards the houses on the right; before reaching them, follow the path on the left which runs behind the houses. Continue straight on until you come to a path running perpendicular to the corner of an orchard. Turn right and you’ll come out onto Rue de l’Ancienne École (D319.2).

(2) Turn right, then left onto Rue de la Gourderie. At the end of this street, you’ll come out onto the D20 near the wayside cross.

(3) Cross the D20 carefully and take Rue du Gros Chêne opposite. Continue along this street, which becomes a track crossing the fields and leads to the edge of the woodland in front of a deep ditch.

(4) Follow the ditch to the right to find an easier passage at the corner of the woodland. Once you have crossed, follow the old bridle path to the right along the edge of the woodland. Stay close to the edge of the woodland at all times, cutting across the ends of several paths. The track widens and, after crossing two sunken gullies which are sometimes filled with water, you’ll reach the D155.3.

(5) Take this road to the right. You’ll reach the D20. Follow it to the left along the wider left-hand verge until you reach the entrance to Rue de l’Évêché on the right.

(6) Cross the D20 carefully to join this street. You’ll come to Rue de l’Ancienne École. Turn left and continue until you reach Rue de La Libération – D20. Cross it carefully and follow it to the left for a few metres. At the barrier, turn right and, via the passageway, reach Rue des Sabotiers, which is full of flowers in summer. Turn right immediately to join Rue Roland Dorgelès. Turn right again to reach the memorial stone, erected in memory of the American soldiers killed on their arrival in Senonches whilst liberating the town on 14 August 1944.

(7) Walk across the grassy area at the back and through the plot behind the houses, which turns into a path on the right. This leads out onto Avenue d’Horicon. Turn right, then at the Stop sign turn left along Rue de la Libération (D20). Walk under the bridge, then carefully cross Rue des Marronniers at the pedestrian crossing. Follow Rue de la Petite Vitesse to the Champ de Foire car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 722 ft - Champ de Foire car park - Église Notre-Dame (Senonches)
  2. 1 : mi 0.73 - alt. 768 ft - Crossing the stream
  3. 2 : mi 1.51 - alt. 814 ft - Rue de l’Ancienne Ecole
  4. 3 : mi 1.81 - alt. 801 ft - Laudigerie Calvary and Cave – D20 road
  5. 4 : mi 2.38 - alt. 817 ft - Ditch at the edge of the forest
  6. 5 : mi 3.16 - alt. 774 ft - D155.3 road
  7. 6 : mi 3.45 - alt. 761 ft - Rue de l’Évêché
  8. 7 : mi 4.27 - alt. 741 ft - Memorial stone
  9. S/E : mi 4.79 - alt. 719 ft - Champ de Foire car park - Château de Senonches

Notes

Make sure you wear good, waterproof shoes.

During the hunting season, check the calendar on the Forêts du Perche Tourist Office website. There is no hunting in state-owned forests on Sundays and public holidays.

Worth a visit

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