Day 3 : FERE-EN-TARDENOIS - GOUVIEUX (110 on 318 km)
our XVI th century home stands out in a un sumptuous decor in the vicinity of the feudal ruins of the Fère castle and its impressive gallery-bridge. Its cellar houses 20,000 great vintage bottles.
After the coolness in the Ourcq valley you will encounter the imposing ruins of the Cistercian Longpont abbey founded by Saint Bernard in the XII th century on the edge of the Retz forest and on the banks of the Savtères.
A nice forest road called "the beech road" will lead you though the woods up to Villers-Cotterêts.
This town saw François Ier, Rabelais, the three Dumas, and its name is still linked to the edict which instituted the handling of births, marriages and deaths Registers.
You will find back the immense Retz forest where clusters of beech trees join the oak trees, the hornbeams, maple trees, the chestnut trees and the pine trees.
At La Ferté-Milon, Jean Racine’s home town you will find back the river Ourcq which flows at the foot of imposing fortress where Jean de la Fontaine found his inspiration.
After the Ourcq valley you will cross the fertile plains of the Paris Bassin to reach the royal abbey of Chaalis at the heart of the Ermenonville forest. Superb remains of the XIII th century church and the same period priest’s chapel are left from the abbey belonging to the Cîteaux Order founded by Louis VI.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau spent his last weeks of his life in the castle. You will have the opportunity to see his grave in the poplar island.
You will cross the Coye forest then the Chantilly one to travel back.
Favourite deals
All the circuit in PDF
