Hire a pocket computer with GPS for the guided walks! Let yourself be guided!

Stroll through the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Natural Park, without a map...discover the landscapes, nature and heritage with a Park Ranger by your side.  This is now possible with the Walking Guide, a small pocket computer with GPS which is packed full of information about the Park.  It can be hired from the Park Visitor Centre, at some tourist offices and sites, as well as from hotels and guest houses from September 2008.

How does it work?

Several itineraries are available.  The Walking Guide is worn around the neck, leaving you free to roam.  It will direct you to your point of departure and will guide you throughout the entire walk. As you approach an intersection, it will tell you which way to go.  And so that you don't miss any of the local landscape, heritage, environment or history, as you approach a point of interest the Walking Guide will emit a tone: quizzes, text, images, sounds and videos will tell you all the secrets of the area.

An encyclopaedia can also be accessed at any time so that you can find the answers to your questions.

Conditions of hire

Price: 5 Euros per day (some hotels and guest houses include this in their nightly rate.  Ask about this).

A returnable deposit cheque or a piece of identity is required before you hire. You can reserve the Walking Guide by telephone or email.

You can hire and return your Walking Guide from different locations.

Walking Tour 1: "Along the Yvette River" - 7km – 2h30 – depart from the Château de Dampierre (5km from Chevreuse)

The prestigious Château de Dampierre, an enchanting glen, a secret reed bed, one of the oldest windmills in France, the last town hall-church in France, the original architecture of the House of Iron... This walk along the river at the heart of the Yvette Valley is full of surprises.

Walking Tour 2: "Between valleys and castles" - 7 km – 2h30 – depart from the Château de la Madeleine in Chevreuse

This walk which departs from the medieval fortress, the Château de la Madeleine, combines exceptional heritage with hidden valleys: the heart of Chevreuse, exploring the Méridon forest, sampling the products at the Coubertin farm, crossing the Yvette River over the charming small bridges.  There is a multitude of pleasures and riches awaiting you!

Walking Tour 3: "In the footsteps of Jean Racine" - 9.5 km – 3h30 – depart from the church of Saint-Lambert-des-Bois (3km from Chevreuse)

Guided by Jean Racine, start your walk by discovering the picturesque village of Saint-Lambert-des-Bois. Your guide will then share memories of his childhood in such grand places as the abbey and the barns of the Port-Royal and the secrets of the history of Jansenism.  Punctuated by the charming hamlets of Buloyer, Romainville and Beauregard, you will discover the landscapes which inspired the writer.

Walking Tour 4: "Visit to the Château de la Madeleine" - 30min Depart from the castle's courtyard.  Guy Lerouge, Lord of Chevreuse in the 11th century, reveals the organisation of this fortress and the daily life in the Château de la Madeleine during the Middle Ages.

Walking Tour 5: "Around the Mérantaise" - 7km - 2h30 Depart from outside the Maison des Bonheur in Magny village. With the melodic Mérantaise in the background, you will discover this valley's magnificent panorama and heritage.  Between the market towns of Magny-les-Hameaux and Châteaufort, you will be welcomed by the undergrowths and green prairies which will reveal their natural treasures to you.

"Royal Town" Walking Tour 6: "The town of Rambouillet" - 3km - 1h30 Discover the historic town of Rambouillet: the walk takes you through the streets of the town, from the castle to the ancient bailiwick, from the church of Saint-Lubin to the Palace of the King of Rome... Observe the façades typical of the 18th century, the grand bourgeois houses of the Belle Epoque, and the holiday villas from the inter-war period which are evidence of the splendour of the town.

Walking Tour 7: "The Rambouillet estate" - 7km - 2h30 The Château de Rambouillet and its park have seen lords and monarchs, emperors and presidents pass through: François 1st, Louis 16th, Napoleon 1st, Felix Faure... Meet these exceptional residents and discover curiosities from the estate during your walk through the garden and forest.

Walking Tour 8: "Between nature and architecture" - 5km - 3h Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, a town unlike any other! Depart from the Tourist Office in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.  During this walk you will discover the history of the town centre: it is not a traditional town, nor the countryside, but your walk will take you on a path between urban landscapes and nature.  Designed and constructed in three different epochs, the town centre was one of the largest building sites in Europe in the early 1980s.  For everyone over 5 years old.

Walking Tour 9: "Maison Triolet-Aragon" - 1.30km - 1h "There was the scent of crickets and mint..." Readings, songs, quizzes and photos invite you to take a journey through the park in the footsteps of Aragon and Elsa Triolet. Two walks are available to satisfy old and young alike!

To find out more: Where can I hire the Walking Guide? download the list For additional information: 01 30 52 09 09