Eure Valley from Sorel-Moussel to Saint-Georges-Motel

The route follows the Eure Valley greenway on the way there and runs alongside the Eure on the way back. As well as being bucolic, this route is entirely free of mud.

Details

n°106165

Creation:
11 Mar 2015

Last update:
02 Jan 2024

Last review:
22 Apr 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 10.86 mi
Average duration: 5h 05
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 59 ft
Descent: - 62 ft
Highest point: 279 ft
Lowest point: 217 ft

Country: France
City: Croth (28520|27530)
Start/End: N 48.844312° / E 1.381119°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2014E, 2015SB
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Description of the walk

Coming from Anet by car, shortly after the "Sorel-Moussel" sign, turn right towards Croth. Cross the Eure river and, immediately after, turn right to find a small car park on the edge of the Eure Valley greenway. This is where the hike begins.

(S/E) Set off along the Eure Valley greenway, heading south-west, with the Eure on your left. It will remain on your left throughout the hike.
This path is paved along its entire length. It follows an old railway line. You will see old SNCF buildings along the way. The first of these is the current Croth school, which is located in the old station.
It is impossible to get lost if you follow the tarmac path, which is also clearly signposted. There are also a few information boards explaining the history of the area.

(1) At La Croix du Brueil, leave the Eure Valley greenway for a moment to take a look at the abbey church and castle of Breuil Benoît.
To do so, take the large avenue on your left, on the other side of the road. You can see the abbey church from there. The site can only be visited in groups and by appointment.

(2) Return to the greenway where you left it and continue.

(3) Leave the greenway on the left, just before the Saint-Georges cemetery, which you can see on the left, along the D143. Pass the cemetery and continue for 200 metres along the road.

(4) Turn left onto Rue de l'Église and follow it to the church.

(5) Then turn left onto Route d'Abondant. Note that this village has a magnificent castle, which cannot be visited or even seen. Follow Route d'Abondant to the Gué des Grues bridge.

(6) Turn left just after the bridge, towards Sorel, onto the D116.
Follow the D116 to Route de Croth (which you turned onto when you arrived by car), passing through La Louetterie, La Pantoufle, La Robertière, Le Pré Ballu and Sorel. Don't get impatient, it's about 9 km.

(7) At the junction with the D301.13, turn left towards Croth. Cross the bridge that takes you back to the car park and take a look at the old paper mill (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 220 ft - Parking at the edge of the greenway
1 : mi 3.53 - alt. 246 ft - La Croix du Brueil - On the left
2 : mi 3.97 - alt. 230 ft - Abbatiale et château du Breuil Benoît
3 : mi 5.43 - alt. 253 ft - Leave the greenway - Left
4 : mi 5.63 - alt. 253 ft - On the left, Rue de l'Église
5 : mi 5.82 - alt. 249 ft - On the left, the road to Abondant
6 : mi 6.44 - alt. 246 ft - On the left, the Gué des Grues bridge
7 : mi 10.64 - alt. 253 ft - Intersection of D301.13 and D116 - Left. Bridge over the - Eure (rivière)
S/E : mi 10.86 - alt. 217 ft - Parking at the edge of the greenway

Notes

This hike took 4½ hours, with breaks included.

Worth a visit

Breuil Benoît Abbey and Castle:
Founded in 1137 by the monks of Vaux-de-Cernay, Le Breuil Benoît was attached to Clairvaux with the mother abbey of Savigny in 1147. Having left on a crusade, Guillaume de Marcilly fell into the hands of the Saracens and feared he would never return. Faith and cunning enabled him to regain his freedom. He then offered his grand abbey church to the monastery that his father had helped to found. It remains an impressive Gothic building and is the only one still standing, while all the other abbey churches, masterpieces of medieval Norman Cistercian architecture, have fallen. The site can only be visited in groups and by appointment.

Saint-Georges Motel Castle
The Château de Saint-Georges Motel was built at the end of the 16th century and remodelled in the 19th century. It is surrounded by a moat. Henry IV is said to have stayed in this château a few days before the Battle of Ivry, which took place on 14 March 1590. Today, it belongs to an American family who are patrons of French architectural heritage, notably financing the upkeep of the Palace of Versailles. They take wonderful care of this residence. This monument retains all its character and beauty.

Sorel-Moussel Paper Mill
Descendants of a Parisian dynasty of printers, Ambroise Firmin-Didot and his brother Hyacinthe established the family paper mill in Sorel-Moussel, created by their father Firmin in 1811. The location chosen was the site of a former mill. The complex included a type foundry, a paper mill and a bookshop. This structure was in keeping with the printing tradition under the Ancien Régime. The printer was a scholar, capable of composing and casting his own typefaces and, at the same time, manufacturing the books he then sold in his bookshop. He controlled the entire book production chain, from composition to distribution, producing his own paper in addition to printing. Ambroise Firmin-Didot was no exception to this rule.
See the website http://www.eurelien.fr/actualite/sorel-m...

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5

Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5

Route interest
3.3 / 5

gmevel

22 Apr 2025 at 09:41 7200

Hello,
I am the author of this hike.
I am outraged by what you write about the rubbish littering this route. It was not like that at all when I described it. This is symptomatic of the behaviour of some people. Your action of picking up rubbish that you find during your hikes is very commendable.
As for the tarmac, it's true that hikes are more pleasant on paths, but it's appreciated in winter when the paths are muddy.
Thank you for your contribution.

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NicoBigbro

21 Apr 2025 at 13:50 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Hello everyone, several points:
- Easy to follow the route via the app, very good description and interesting points of interest.
- However, the route itself is not the most pleasant, with 90% of it on tarmac paths or roads. It is more suitable for cycling. The first part on the greenway is dedicated to cyclists. The "castle" and church look magnificent but are private properties and inaccessible. The second part runs alongside the Eure river, but it is several dozen metres away from it (private property) and is not suitable for children (on a road with no possibility of stopping).
The area around this route is a real rubbish tip. I always hike with a bin bag to pick up litter, but here I would have needed a van, mainly for aluminium cans and plastic or glass bottles. I was outraged, disappointed and then annoyed, which ended up spoiling my enjoyment of the walk.

Rating: 3/10. Disappointing.

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Marc Moissat

28 Mar 2022 at 19:05 7200

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Michel28100

16 Dec 2020 at 12:29 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy and pleasant walk.

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gazok54

29 Aug 2020 at 18:45 7200

Hello and thank you, VincentLafon
This hike has been quite enjoyable so far. Personally, I don't like walking on tarmac either, but as they say, "there's something for everyone". Take a good look at the route next time and avoid hiking on roads and tarmac paths.

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VincentLafon

29 Aug 2020 at 14:48 7200

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

WARNING: this hike looks appealing on paper but is UNINTERESTING and DANGEROUS: 1) 100% of the route is on paved paths and roads, 2) 90% of the Eure river is INVISIBLE (hedges, trees, houses with walls) and 3) The entire return journey (+8km) is on a relatively busy departmental road, often without ditches, requiring constant vigilance.

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gmevel

02 Jun 2020 at 12:33 7200

Hello,

I am the author of this hike.
I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it. The idea was to offer you the chance to discover this section of the Eure, which is quite beautiful.
In winter, when the paths are muddy, some people appreciate the lack of trails.
As Visorandonneur ovil pointed out, to avoid part of the D116, at point 6, you can continue straight on the D147.2 to join the GR22 and follow it to the Moulin valley. There, turn left onto the path that descends back to the original route at the junction with the D21.7. This adds a little distance and means you cannot enjoy the river on this section.

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Glob78

02 Jun 2020 at 10:41 7200

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

Hiking only on roads or cycle paths (greenways, etc.)
Probably great by bike, but not for me on foot...

The GR 22 trail that passes by the Château de Sorel is nice. (Thanks for the tip.) (Allows you to avoid the D116.)

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olivierle12

28 May 2020 at 19:25 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

very beautiful hike

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marsupilami_888

17 May 2020 at 22:30 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful and very interesting hike.
Thanks to the previous Visorandonneurs for their expert advice, which was very helpful, especially at point 1.

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ovil

17 Jun 2018 at 00:09 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

I followed the signs for the greenway car park and found myself in front of the old Sorel-Moussel railway station and the school, where there are several car parks available.
We left the route at the Gué des Grues bridge to continue opposite and join the GR 22 route called "Château de Sorel". We reached Sorel through the forest, avoiding a long stretch on the D 116.
Leaves, branches and even a tree were strewn across the greenway following the storms of the previous days.
Be careful at point 1. The "Croix du Breuil" sign is only visible from the road, and the arrow on the information sign on the greenway invites you to continue on your way.
At point 3, a sign points to St Georges-Motel centre. The cemetery is only visible once you have left the greenway.

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sdesdevises

24 Jul 2017 at 09:52 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Many long straight stretches, including the greenway between Croth and St George.
You can reach St Georges from Breuil Abbey without returning to the greenway: take the path opposite the castle!
Could the section from Gué des Grues to Sorel-Moussel also be done partly in the forest above?

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helenealain

15 Aug 2016 at 22:59 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We combined this hike with the one in Marcilly-sur-Eure. We did not go through Marcilly, as we left the greenway just before Marcilly to turn right onto the D143.
We followed part of the Marcilly sur Eure hike route and then rejoined the greenway south of Marcilly to return to our original route.
We covered 24 km in 6 hours, including breaks.
It is a very pleasant route, often shaded.

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libel

12 Aug 2016 at 07:58 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The part of the route along the Eure river on the main road is the most pleasant but relatively dangerous because there is quite a lot of traffic and unfortunately there is no dedicated pedestrian lane.

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buchette4

31 May 2016 at 08:50 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

An easy route that only uses tarmac paths, ideal in case of heavy rain and therefore mud.

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Author

gmevel
38 Walks

Visorando Member

City: Angers (49000|49100)

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