Sunday 7 June in and around Chartres

On Sunday, Claude will again be the leader, assisted by Mary Lynne who will be delighted to join the walkers again after a five month break.

This will be a hike plus a discovery of Chartres and its surroundings, the famous cathedral, two other noteworthy churches and the unique "Picassiette" house made of fragments of dishes (5 € entrance fee).

Il s'agit d'une ballade d'environ 10 km qui nous permettra de découvrir le vieux Chartres et en particulier les églises St Aignan ses vitraux et ses fresques intérieurs, St Pierre et sa tour fin Xe siècle, et surtout la magnifique cathédrale Notre-Dame (possibilité d'audio-guide 4,20€ à 6,20€ par personne) et sa crypte.

Changement de décor au milieu du parcours avec la visite de la maison "Picassiette" monument d'art naïf (5,00€ par personne) et pique-nique dans le parc des bords de l'Eure.

This brief walk, some 10 km, will explore the old town of Chartres, in particular the church of St Aignan with its stained glass and indoor frescos, St Pierre and its late Xth century tower, and above all the magnificent cathedral of Notre Dame. In the cathedral it is possible to rent an audio guide for 4.20€ or 6.20€.

There will be a change of décor in mid-walk with a visit to a monument of naive art, the sponger's house (pique-assiette), admission 5.00€. We'll picnic in the park on the banks of the Eure.

Bring good walking shoes, rain gear and a picnic lunch.

We will take the 9.34 train (train 62477) at Montparnasse direction Chartres, arriving in Chartres à 10.42

The return will depend on the length of time each person wants to spend in the cathedral at the end of the walk:

Chartres - Montparnasse

16.35 - 17.34
17.27 - 18.34

18.41 - 19.34

Train ticket normal 26.60€ return.
Train ticket seniors 13,40€ return.

Please let us know if you're coming.

claude7.faure@orange.fr mlfich@yahoo.com

Wednesday 3 June between Louette and Chalouette

Claude Faure will lead us on a 19 km walk around Etampes, south of Paris in the department of the Essonne. One of the highlights of this walk is to see the watercress "plantations" along two streams, the Louette and the Chalouette. Bring good walking shoes, rain gear and a picnic lunch.

Here is information from Claude:

Après le curieux clocher penché de Saint Martin d'Etampes, cette longue randonnée de 19 km nous permettra de longer les ruisseaux "Louette" et "Chalouette" et leurs cressonières. Nous traverserons de charmants hameaux et les jolis villages de St Hilaire et Chalo-St Mars.

After the curious leaning tower of Saint Martin d'Etampes, this long walk (19 km) will take us along the banks of two little rivers, the Louette and the Chalouette, with their watercress beds. We'll see some charming hamlets and the pretty villages of St Hilaire and Chalo St Mars.

Departure: gare d'Austerlitz RER C ELBA at 8.26. Arrival at St Martin d'Etampes at 9.28 (zone 6). Claude will join the group en route. At this writing he isn't sure at which station he will board the train.

Return from St Martin d'Etampes RER C GATA at 17.13 arriving at Austerlitz at 18.17

Wednesday 27 May Ponds of the upper Bièvre

Versailles to St Cyr l'Ecole, 27 May 2009

In a way, this walk will be a continuation of Daniel's "Boulogne to Versailles" a fortnight ago. We will walk from the station Versailles Chantiers to St Cyr l'Ecole, going along the ponds where the river Bièvre begins, about 10 or 12 Km. For those hardy ones we can return to Versailles by a different route, another 5 or 6 Km.

Be prepared for some hills, and for the weather whatever it might be, sun or rain. And remember to bring along water and a snack.

We can get to Versailles Chantiers by either SNCF or RER C.

• SNCF: gare Montparnasse 9:43 (arriving at Versailles at 10:07) MOPI direction Mantes le Jolie
  
  
• RER C: St Michel - Notre Dame 9:38 (arriving at 10:13) SARA direction St Quentin en Yvelines

I will meet you at Versailles Chantiers at the exit.

A bientot,
Prudence
prukupka@aol.com

Wednesday 20 May from Chantilly to Senlis

Here is information from François Bechet who will lead this week's hike.

We will take the train leaving Gare du Nord at 9.31 (main lines) direction Saint Just en Chaussée, arriving at Chantilly-Gouvieux at 9.56. (Meeting point at Gare du Nord in front of the last carriage).

Return from Senlis by SNCF bus at 15.30 arriving at Chantilly at 15.55; then the train leaves Chantilly at 16.42 and arrives at Gare du Nord at 17.08. So we will have time for a drink at Chantilly.

Note that since Chantilly is outside the Ile de France region, you'll have to buy the tickets at an SNCF station or agency. You can buy a single ticket Paris-Chantilly and a return ticket Senlis-Paris.

The walk will be about 12 kms, mostly through the flat forest of Chantilly. We'll see the XVIIIth century Grandes Ecuries and the Château and will have some time to visit the little town of Senlis, especially the cathedral.

As usual bring picnic lunch and rain gear.

There is no need to tell me if you plan to come.

François

Wednesday 13 May from Boulogne to Versailles

Daniel Perot will lead an agreeable walk from Boulogne to Versailles. We'll lunch at the Etangs de Ville d'Avray. Nestled in a valley next to forest of Fausses-Reposes, the ponds were made famous by the paintings of Jean-Baptiste Corot. Other famous inhabitants of Ville d'Avray include Léon Gambetta, founder of the Third Republic, and the author Jean Rostand.

We'll meet at 10:00 am outside the metro station Boulogne Pont de Saint Cloud on line 10. Take the Musée Albert Kahn exit and look for the red and black logo of the Société Générale bank next to the exit.

The walk will start by crossing part of the Parc de Saint Cloud and then on to Versailles via the attractive village of Ville d'Avray.

We'll return by RER from Versailles. The walk will last 4 hours, or more if you join us in an optional visit to the Hameau de la Reine at Versailles. Please wear your spring shoes and bring a light lunch and water.

If you plan to come it is important that you contact Daniel and provide contact details to be alerted to any last minute changes.

Daniel Perot, email daniel.perot@free.fr.

Wednesday 6 May on the Mauldre

Dear Walking Friends,

This week, Claude will again lead us on a lovely walk, this time along the valley of the Mauldre which is gorgeous at this time with the fields of rapeseed in bloom. We already did the southern part of the valley last year (or the year before) and now we will do the northern part. It is about 14 km with gentle ups and downs. As usual, bring a picnic lunch and rain gear. Claude will meet you at the Epone train station at 10:09.

Valley of the Mauldre North

From Epône to Mareil sur Mauldre, this 14 km walk up the valley of the Mauldre will take us through some charming Ile de France: Epône and its 12th-century church; Aulnay sur Mauldre; Maule, the largest town in the valley; and finally Mareil sur Mauldre and its 15th-century church.

Departure: 9.23 from the gare St Lazare direction Mantes-la-Jolie, arriving in Epône Mézières at 10.09. I'll meet you at Epône.

Return: 15.58 from Mareil sur Mauldre arriving at 16.49 at Montparnasse.

Don't forget to bring your picnic lunch.

Claude

claude7.faure@orange.fr


Vallée de la Mauldre Nord

Cette randonnée de 14 km entre Epône et Mareil-sur-Mauldre nous permettra, tout en remontant la vallée de la Mauldre, de traverser de charmants petits villages d'Ile de France: Epône et son église du XII° s, Aulnay-sur-Mauldre, Maule le bourg le plus important de la vallée et enfin Mareil-sur-Mauldre et son église du XV°S.

Aller/ Departure: 9h23 à la gare St Lazare direction Mantes-la-Jolie pour arriver à 10h09 à Epône
Retour/ return: 15h58 à la gare de Mareil-sur-Mauldre pour arriver à 16h 49 à Montparnasse

N'oubliez pas votre pique-nique.

Je vous retrouverai à la gare d'Epone

Claude

claude7.faure@orange.fr