ESCAPADES-FONTAINEBLEAU'S GORGES D'APREMONT
Jack
de France are on http://www.worldtable.com/Jack/IDF/idf.toc.html
Inseparable from the forest of Fontainebleau, the gorges d'Apremont
are easily accessible by foot from Barbizon. The starting point for
hikers is the carrefour du Bas-Breau, located about 1.5 km from
Barbizon, in the extension of the rue Grande ( main street), passing a
charming alley with a lot of centennial trees. The gorges offer very
nice walks which will be enjoyed by the experienced as well by the
novices (promeneurs du dimanche they say in French). I find the term
of "gorges" a little exaggerated, but certain view points on that
magnificent rocky chaos invites us to "descend " into the vale.
I will not and couldn't describe the numerous hikes you can realise,
the professional (? ;-)) hikers know them already by heart. For the
Sunday walkers it will be enough to get to the carrefour du Bas-Breau
and look at a map with all the paths and trails ( all well marked).
Anyway here are the main hikes:
--RANDONNEE PEDESTRE "LES PEINTRES DE BARBIZON": is a circuit of 7 km.
Count 2.30 min return included but without the stops. On the footsteps
of Renoir, Jean-Francois Millet and Theodore Rousseau, it's an
artistic promenade through one of the great sites of the forest de
Fontainebleau you can complete by a visit to the painter ateliers in
Barbizon. The circuit starts in the forest, carrefour du bas-Breau.
The marking is white and red of the G.R.1 and panels of Tour du Massif
de Fontainebleau (TMF). try to rediscover the landscapes of the forest
which inspired the Barbizon painters.
"A landscape, that's sport" groaned Renoir on the trails of the forest
of Fontainebleau, carrying his heavy suitcase and easel on his back.
At the skirt of the forest , the route de Barbizon joins the one of
Jean-Francois Millet at the carrefour du Bas-Breau where you leave
your car. . "Route" is here synonym of pretty path of gritty sand,
full-grown forest trees and centennial essences. Excerpt of a letter
by Millet: " Is a distorted tree more beautiful than a straight one? I
don't know.....and I ignore what these wretched trees are saying to
each other, but they talk, say things, and if we don't understand
them, that's because we don't speak the same language, that's all..."
Like a lot of poor and money less artists, Millet paid often his
pension at the auberge Ganne in Barbizon with a painting. After the
carrefour du Bas-Breau, on the right, go and discover the two
medallions dedicated to Millet and Rousseau. They are attached to the
rocks, on a little hill. At the carrefour Felix-Henert, leave the
Barbizon route and follow the marking of the TMF towards the gorges of
Apremont, passing the "mare aux biches"(pond of the hinds). Through
the heart of the rocks you will continue on the TMF leading you to the
west until the carrefour Andre-Billy from where you will have a nice
view on the gorges d'Apremont. Turn to the north taking the path
"Ventes d'Alexandre" and its magnificent trees. The red and white
marking of the G.R.1 continues by the carrefour des gorges d'Apremont.
An immense oak awaits you at the crossroad located just in front of
the "caverne des Brigands". A path takes you now directly back to the
carrefour du bas-Breau.
---LE GRAND BELVEDERE D'APREMONT is a walk of 20 minutes back and
forth starting from the route of Sully to Neflieres. On the left side
of this road, numerous view points and little spots to pick-nick.
--For those who dispose of much more time, the CIRCUIT DU DESERT
(about 4hours back and forth)
Next post one of the cutest villages of the region:
Milly-La-Foret
Jack
Loire,Provence, Cote d'azur,Languedoc-Roussillon,Belgium and Dublin
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