Vichères walks

From the Church of Notre-Dame (listed building), you can admire the traditional architecture of Vichères, built from red sandstone and white stone. This rural route, with its ups and downs, links Rougemont Hill (the highest point in Eure-et-Loir at 285 m) to the picturesque Berthe Valley via sunken paths.

The Étang des Panses lake can be seen along a path where it is not uncommon to encounter forest animals. After the forest, you will discover Percheron fruit trees at the Miermaigne conservation orchard; in mid-November, you can take part in the Apple Festival.

Beautiful views of the hills of Perche and the Vinette Valley. This route follows paths and small roads with little traffic.

The "Terres Douces" countryside reveals a heritage full of charm: the former Priory of Les Châtaigniers and the Manoir de la Guillerie.

A historical and heritage tour of the capital of the Perche region, following in the footsteps of Rotrou III, Count of the Perche, Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully, and Rémy Belleau, poet of the Pléiade.

This walk is the first stage of an eight-day, 220 km route, the Tour des Collines du Perche. This first stage, from Nogent-Le-Rotrou to Rémalard, will be your first taste of what characterises the splendid landscapes of the Perche: forests criss-crossed by sunken lanes, meandering rivers, and, along the way, chapels, fountains, wells and a few manor houses.

This route offers panoramic views of the Huisne valley on the outskirts of Nogent-le-Rotrou.

As you walk along the paths once used by the Maquis fighters, discover a key site of the Resistance in Eure-et-Loir: the Plainville Maquis.

Taking beautiful sunken paths, over hill and dale, you will discover magnificent panoramic views of the Cétonais countryside and be amazed by its diversity: woods, meadows, hedgerows and cultivated fields.

Through sunken lanes, hedgerows and woods, discover the landscapes of the Perche region as far as Ceton, the Jambette Valley and the Huisne Valley.

Like the neighbouring village of Gréez, the medieval development of Saint-Ulphace is linked to the settlement, between the Braye and the Saint-Ulphace stream, of a hermit monk in the6th century. The Hermitage of Saint-Ulphace led to the clearing of the surrounding land and the settlement of Christianised populations, followed by the establishment of the parish, first mentioned in 802.

A beautiful walk in the former fiefdom of the turbulent Gouet barons. Like Brou, La Bazoche continues a long tradition of fairs and markets. For over 100 years, the Percheron foal fair has been held on thefirst Saturday in November.

Lush green valleys, steep hillsides, majestic panoramas, sunken lanes and their gnarled pollarded trees are all part of this beautiful countryside walk, which crosses the wide Huisne valley and takes you through the villages of Mâle and La Rouge.

Set amongst woods and rivers, this route takes walkers through the lush countryside so dear to Marcel Proust, the illustrious guest of Illiers-Combray.

A lovely walk along sunken paths, through woodland and across the gentle hills of the Perche. Panoramic views of the Huisne and Maroisse valleys.

This route, which alternates between sunken lanes, forest paths and flat sections, will take you to the hill overlooking the Huisne Valley to the west. Along the way, several panoramic views allow you to admire the meadows of Avezé, a veritable hay barn that has provided for generations of farmers.

The village of Avezé developed in the Middle Ages to the north-east of the church, which was rebuilt inthe 16th century, at the same time as the priory that adjoined it, of which only extensive farm buildings remain. The main street is dominated by a large two-storey house known as the “Maison du prieur” (Prior’s House), dating from the 15th or 16th century, notable for its rear stair tower and its elegant façade that juts out over the current street.

Situated on the eastern slopes of the Huisne, Courgenard, first mentioned at the end ofthe 9th century, was the seat in the Middle Ages of an important barony belonging to the chapter of canons of Le Mans Cathedral. The fine Romanesque architecture of Saint-Martin’s Church still bears witness today to the power of this barony, as does the remarkable16th-century decoration adorning the chancel. In the19th century, the village still lived off agriculture and the production of hemp cloth. Today, it forms part of the La Ferté-Bernard employment area.

The route alternates between open countryside and woodland. The private Bois Landry forest is managed sustainably. It also serves as a venue for forest school and nature discovery trips. Along the way stands the fortified farm of Grand Bois Landry (17th century), still surrounded by moats.

Cherré-Au is a new commune formed in 2019 by merging the communes of Cherré and Cherreau, located east of La Ferté-Bernard. The village of Cherreau has always been closely linked to the neighbouring town of La Ferté-Bernard. Indeed, in the Middle Ages, the lords of La Ferté took over the Abbey of La Pelice at the end ofthe 12th century. Then, in the14th century, the Domaine de la Plaisse was incorporated into that of La Ferté. More recently, as the town of La Ferté-Bernard expanded inthe 19th century, it encroached upon Cherreau, annexing the hamlets of Gué-Faux and La Fosse Fondue in 1889, which bordered the road to Paris.

Although many birds can be found here despite global warming, parakeets have not yet colonised the site! Discover these ponds, an integral part of the Perche landscape. Although medium-sized (20 hectares), they constitute a wetland of great importance. Starting from the hamlet of Perruchet between the ponds, the route offers beautiful views of the lakes from the small road overlooking the valley. A road, believed to be Roman, the Chemin de Jules César, approaches the Étang de Perruchet. Leave it to go around it to the south. The route then leads to the Touraille farm and returns via Haut Coudray and the heights of the Teillière Pond, where an information board provides a better understanding of these landscapes between Beauce and Perche.

This route takes you along quiet country lanes, paths through the bocage and forest trails, and will introduce you to the Étangs de Boisvinet. You will also pass the glassworks, which operated until 1952 and was the subject of a book by Daphne du Maurier, *The Glass Blowers*.

This hike allows you to discover Montmirail, a "small town of character", and its green countryside through woods and sunken paths.

A lovely walk along a former railway line, converted into a footpath and cycle route, through charming rolling countryside, then along paths and small tarmac roads with beautiful views over the Huisne Valley.

This walk through the Rémalard countryside will allow you to discover the Perche landscapes: hills, woods, streams, traditional houses and châteaux.

Situated on a small hill overlooking the surrounding area, the village, which takes its nickname from the Échelles farm, the former seat of the parish seigneury, offers a well-preserved architectural and landscape setting, dominated by the Church of Saint John the Baptist. Built inthe 12th century, this church underwent embellishment work in the16th century: what remains is the painted panelled vault, resting—an extremely rare feature—on posts placed against the walls, and above all the remains of an extraordinary altarpiece in carved and painted limestone, dated 1558. The décor was redesigned in the18th century with the installation of three new altarpieces.

This route, starting from the wash house in Saint-Éliph, allows you to discover the two aspects of the countryside around the village. It passes through Auberdière and Grande Cour, then Petite Butte and follows Chemin de César to Touraille through a landscape of meadows and hedgerows typical of the Perche region. It returns to Saint-Eliph along roads and paths on the plain, the first signs of the Beauce region. With many quiet, small tarmac roads, it is recommended as a winter route when the nearby forest paths become difficult.

This circular loop takes you along the most beautiful paths in the commune, but returns via roads. Don't hesitate to take this route, as the beautiful site of the Saint-Éliph wash house with its picnic area, the pretty hamlet of Vaufermé, the sunken path leading up to La Haisonnière, and the views of the Perruchet and Théllière ponds, a protected bird sanctuary, make for a varied and enjoyable walk.

In fact, here you will only find a few undulations caused by the streams flowing towards the nearby Eure. This small 637-hectare national forest is surrounded by a bridle path and criss-crossed by straight paths. The D103 crosses it from east to west and is not very busy. A high-voltage power line divides the forest. Parallel to the D103, it overlooks a large clearing and is bordered by a well-maintained path. A long north-south lane, formerly part of the GR®35 hiking trail, marks the boundary of the private woods to the west. Finally, the Merise forest road connects the D920 to the D103: closed to cars from Rond de la Félicité to Rond de Diane.This network of paths allows you to combine numerous circular paths or take shortcuts. Just make sure you don't leave the state-owned forest, which is bordered by an embankment. Private woods are located all around. These woods are rich in game, and large animals are shot there, so it is wise not to venture in on hunting days!