franceDigitale

Hiking in the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse

A magnificent hike that starts from Maincourt and goes to Dampierre-sous-Yvelines. Without doubt one of the most beautiful walks in Ile-de-France.

Some hikes can be boring and monotonous, you can walk a few kilometers between two alfalfa fields. With this walk it's the opposite, the landscapes change all the time, we go from the city to the fields and then to the forest. We take advantage of it to admire a castle, an iron house (!), laundries. It is really the ideal walk to change air, it is not very long and not too difficult. Why not come at the end of the season when the trees are in their autumnal finery? Leave Maincourt at the end of the morning, have a meal in a small restaurant in Dampierre-en-Yvelines and then come back quietly along the Yvette.

Interest: very good (1 user)
Difficulty:
Duration: 3 h.
Practical information

Le parking

The start of the hike is in Maincourt-sur-Yvette. You can find a small parking lot at the exit of the city, it is located just in front of the starting point. Unfortunately it is often full.
7

The start

To start the hike, just take the first street next to the parking. Then you just have to follow the path to Dampierre-en-Yvelines. Nothing difficult.
5

Le chemin

The path starts under the trees and then goes along a field at the edge of the forest.
6

The Iron House

The Iron House is not easy to find, you have to be careful when passing along the road to notice it. The Iron Houses are houses whose construction was supposed to be very easy and which could be easily transported to the colonies. This house was used during the World's Fair of 1889 and then it was reassembled here. Normally you can visit the park and the house but the entrance is not very welcoming. One has the impression to be in a private property whereas it is a hikers' lodge.
9

Beautiful view on the castle.

At one point you have to leave the road, at the level of a sign indicating the park of the castle, to have this magnificent point of view on the castle of Dampierre-en-Yvelines.
3

The hiker's rest

After the short walk, it is time to eat, you will find in Dampierre-en-Yvelines many restaurants and cafes at all prices. Be careful, it can be crowded. On the picture you can see cyclists because the Chevreuse Valley with its many small hilly roads attracts many amateur cyclists.
2

The way back

Finding the way back is not very difficult. At the level of the castle you follow the road of Maincourt then it is necessary to fork on the right towards the dead end to take again the path. You can see the signs indicating a hiking trail. Then you just have to continue the path to Maincourt.
5

The High Valley of Chevreuse

Very beautiful landscape. At the level of the farm it is enough to continue the way which sinks in the forest.
5

The forest

The path is quite steep in places and runs along the hill. In the distance you can hear the Yvette river flowing.
3

The wash house of the source of the fairies

This washhouse was built on the site of a spring that was called "le trou aux fées" (the fairy hole). During excavations, ex-votos were found that seemed to indicate an ancient religious practice. The water from this spring was said to have healing powers. It is not clear why a washhouse was built in a place so far from the houses.
4

The rocks

The path goes through the middle of the rocks, there is also apparently a small climbing course for those who want to climb on the rocks.
2

The wash house of Maincourt-sur-Yvette

Superb washhouse along the Yvette, its construction dates from the 19th century.
5

Other walks

At 1.45 Km

Maincourt discovery trail

At 2.71 Km

The Jean Racine path in the Chevreuse valley.

At 3.62 Km

A walk to the Vaux de Cernay waterfalls

At 3.66 Km

The Maréchaux trail in the Chevreuse Valley
}