The Bonnelles Nature Reserve and the Saint-Symphorien fountain

Description of the hike

Parking in the Bonnelles sports center car park (“Natural Reserve” sign). Access by the A10, exit “Dourdan”, then direction “Rochefort-en-Yvelines” and “Bonnelles”.

Unmarked route. In the nature reserve, discreet wooden signs are present in important places.

(D) From the car park, with your back to the small covered shelter and with the tennis courts on the right, turn left onto the gravel path which runs alongside the car park on its right. Pass at the foot of a majestic plane tree (bench) and turn right onto Chemin des Écoliers (sign). At the T-junction, turn left. Ignore the start of a path on the right and continue between fences and hedges. Arrive at a small triangular lawn with, on the left, the Château de Bonnelles in a state of abandonment. At the end of the lawn, turn right onto a street (“Impasse” sign). When this street turns right (sign “Rue des Potagers”), continue opposite towards the old gate of the Château de Bonnelles. Cross the old moat, cross the road and continue opposite along Allée de la Duchesse, which is a path lined with stones.

(1) At the “Stop” sign, cross Rue de Villevert and continue opposite on a path (wooden barrier). At the first inverted T junction, turn right between two fences of houses. Cross a street and continue opposite on a path with a wall surmounted by a hedge on the left hand side. Reach a small square and take a lawn opposite located between two streets (sign “Impasse sur la gauche”). Take a gravel path which later joins the street on the right (Rue du Mail). Follow this street to the left and, after a shed and at the corner of a green gate, take a path to the right which descends between two walls. At the bottom, turn right into Rue de la Liberation. Successively ignore Rue du Moulin Coleau and Rue de la Fontaine Saint-Symphorien on the left. Leave Rue de Villevert on the right and reach Place de la Duchesse d'Uzès (church and war memorial on the left).

(2) Retrace your steps and turn right into Rue de la Fontaine Saint-Symphorien (note an isolated Red and White beacon). Descend ignoring two perpendicular streets on the left and noticing some beautiful flowered houses on the left side. At the bottom of the descent, go past a forest barrier, note the starting car park on the right and come to an information panel. At this sign, turn left, cross a stream and immediately find the Fontaine Saint-Symphorien on the left.

(3) Pass the fountain, cross a brook and continue on a grassy path with garden fences on the left and woods on the right. The path bends to the right and becomes narrower as it skirts a college on the left. At the end of the buildings, turn right onto a path that goes into the woods (sign indicating the Saint-Symphorien Fountain in the opposite direction). Cross a brook then go past a valve on a stream on the right (do not cross the stream on the posts placed there as a footbridge). Reach a fence and turn right with this fence on your left. At a fork, let the fence go left and follow the indication “Etang de Chartemps” (sign) to the right. Cross a stream and turn left to walk along the pond on your left. Successively cross two streams and, just after the second, turn right onto a path towards the Etang des Trois Ducs (sign). Go along a stream on your right and, at the edge of the pond, make a bend to the left. Note the kiosk bridge on the right. At a fork, turn right towards the Fontaine Saint-Symphorien (sign). Cross a bridge and reach the kiosk bridge called “des Amours” (sign).

(4) Go right to cross the Pont des Amours. At the exit, two possible directions, both shown on the route:
– On the left, cross another bridge and end in a small shaded area with a stone bench suitable for a break.
– On the right, reach the old pier now transformed into a wildlife observation post.
Retrace your steps and cross the Pont des Amours in the other direction.

(5) Turn right. Walk through dense vegetation and come to an information panel near a pond.
Pass the forest barrier and, while pressing to the left at the edge of the vegetation, successively follow a football stadium, a handball stadium and a tennis court on the right and return to the starting car park.