Rimarde, Œuf and Salvin valleys starting from Yèvre-le-Châtel

Departure from the car park near the old church: follow the signs as you enter the village.

Yellow markings

(S/E) Take Rue Saint-Lubin (D923) on the left, then Rue des Ménestrels on the right. At the intersection with Rue Sainte-Barbe, turn right, then left into Grande Rue.

(1) At the fork, take the grassy path between Grande Rue and Rue des Forges. At the intersection with Rue de Tours, continue straight ahead towards Place du Bourg and the fortress. Pass through the postern gate. Rue des Remparts goes around the building and then curves to the left.

(2) Turn right onto a downhill path marked "Moulins Vasles", 40 metres after the fortress. Cross Rue de Pithiviers and continue straight ahead onto Rue de Nacelle.

(3) After 130 metres, turn left onto a grassy path that becomes an alley, then cross Chemin de la Procession. Turn right at the crossroads, then left at the next intersection.

(4) At the fork, keep right onto a lane that runs along a wall. This joins a wide path that goes around the Moulin Val sur la Rimarde, becomes Rue du Colombier, and crosses the river before bending to the right.

(5) At the bend, leave the tarmac road and take a path on the left, in the opposite direction to Rue du Colombier. Follow this well-marked path until you reach a fork.

(6) Keep left at the fork to stay in the Rimarde valley and its strip of vegetation.

White-red (^GR®32) and yellow markings

(7) Turn left at the Mesnil mill to cross the two branches of the Rimarde. Turn left again onto the cross path. This path leaves the Rimarde valley to join the Œuf. When you reach the bridge over the Œuf, where you can admire the two arches, turn left (do not cross the river). Continue straight ahead at the next crossroads.

(8) About 40 metres after the crossroads, leave the main path at the foot of a hill and turn right onto a path that is not very visible, although it has a directional marker (^GR®). Pass the Moulin de Bouffaut. The path joins a wide avenue just before intersecting Rue de Fréville, which you will take to the right.

(9) At the crossroads, leave the main road, Rue de Fréville, and turn left onto Rue de Monceau. After about 100 metres, keep right at the fork. The lane quickly becomes a path that runs alongside the Œuf valley. Pass Moulin de la Porte, keep right at the fork, still following the Œuf.

(10) Turn right at the crossroads, then immediately left onto a grassy path just before the bridge over the Œuf. This path eventually joins another to form a wide lane, then intersects with a small road.

(11) At the intersection, turn right onto the small road, cross a branch of the Œuf equipped with a leat on the left. This small road joins another after crossing the Œuf, then makes a wide left turn as it approaches the hamlet of Doureux.

(12) Turn onto the first path on the left 50 metres after the two small roads merge and keep left at the fork. Turn left at the crossroads, as if entering the Montcelard farm.

(13) Shortly before the farm entrance, keep right on the path that runs alongside a shed. This joins a small road at a place called Le Vergeret. Pass the Notre-Dame de Bon Secours property.

(14) Turn right at the hairpin bend where you reach a crossroad, Chemin de Bondaroy, towards the church. Turn left onto a grassy path at the entrance to the hamlet of Bondaroy, just before the church wall. This path leads to the Church of Saint-Grégoire and its chatterbox via a wide grassy alley that serves as a square. After passing the church, turn left onto the grassy path that runs along the old surrounding wall, of which the entrance arch remains.

End of the white-red markings

(15) Leave the^GR® by keeping left at the fork to join a path that you will take to the right. Turn left after 80 metres to cross the Œuf valley.

(16) Turn left 80 metres after crossing the river, leaving the paths on the right. The trail leaves the forest and joins the Salvin valley. The path widens before crossing the D123, so take care. Opposite, the path shifts about 20 metres to the right while continuing in a south-westerly direction. The route curves to the left to cross the dry Secval valley. Ignore the trail on the right at the bottom of the valley.

(17) Turn left at the hairpin bend 100 metres after the low point to rejoin a path parallel to the one you took on the way there, and cross the D123 again, still with caution.

(18) Keep right at the fork 80 metres after the main road. The route runs along a cliff that tends to disappear into the vegetation a hundred metres before the Château de Salvin. Turn onto the second path on the right in a hairpin bend shortly before the entrance to the château. The silhouettes of the church and fortress of Yèvre soon appear at the end of the straight road. However, you will need to turn right onto the Route d'Estouy as you approach the village, then left at the junction with Rue de Pithiviers.

(19) Keep immediately to the right at the fork overlooking the old church, then head towards Yèvre-la-Ville and the Church of Saint-Lubin, turning right onto Rue Saint Lubin to return to the starting point (S/E).

At the fork (18), the path on the right is obstructed but still passable, and a "private property" sign has been incorrectly installed. Ignore these attempts at intimidation; the route follows public paths exclusively (yellow markings).

Although there are many branches, the route does not present any major difficulties thanks to the yellow markings, which are doubled by white and red markings on the GR^®. However, it is advisable to remain vigilant.

The route may be muddy after heavy rainfall in winter and early spring.

Barriers at the entrance to certain paths prevent access to unauthorised vehicles. There is a passageway allowing hikers to get around them.

It is possible to picnic at the mill at the gate, where there is a table.

Yèvre-le-Châtel is ranked among the most beautiful villages in France. In particular, its medieval fortress, built under Philippe Auguste at the beginning of the 13th century, stands out as massive and imposing.