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Ile de France Walks does Wednesday hikes in the Paris region. About half of us are English-speaking French. The rest are other English-speaking people from a wide variety of nationalities. Walks are free, and there's no need to sign up in advance. Just show up in good time, tickets in hand, at the meeting place indicated below.
This hike of 17 km on flat ground will lead us through woods in the northern part of the forest of Saint Germain to the pond of Corra.
From Breuillet Village we climb up the hill to the Porte des Bourdeaux and Saint Yon church and then follow the path to the village of Boissy sous Saint Yon where we will visit the Saint Thomas Becket church.As the name implies this church was associated with Thomas Becket when he fled to France after quarrelling with King Henry II of England.After his infamous murder in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 he was canonised and his tomb became one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Christendom.We then head for the village of Saint Sulpice de Favières in the Renarde valley where we will have our lunch next to the church regarded as one of the most beautiful village churches in France and once a major pilgrimage stop. After lunch we gently follow the Renarde (fox) stream to the lovely villageof Souzy la Briche. Unfortunately we can't visit the charming château which was once a Presidential weekend retreat!!From Souzy we climb up the hill and finally to Saint Cheron RER. For those who want a slightly longer walk we can continue from Saint Cheron back to Breuillet Village along the l'Orge river (4km).Since we will be visiting so many churches I'm sure that the Almighty will ensure good weather, but just in case come prepared!!
Getting there:From Gare d'Austerlitz RER C (direction Dourdan) DEBO at 09.16 (9h06 Invalides, 9h12 Saint Michel, 9h19 Bibliothèque) arrival 10.06 at Breuillet Village, zone 5Return: RER CSaint Cheron: trains leave at '17 and '47 mins each hourBreuillet Village: trains leave at '22 and '52 mins each hourSee you soonA bientôtMarcelle