If you're looking for a walking trail in the Forêt de Fontainebleau, it's hard to miss the historic Sentier de Denecourt. Accompanied by Jean-Claude Polton, Claude Denecourt specialist and author of a biography published in 2011 entitled "Claude-François Denecourt, 1788-1875, l'amant de la forêt de Fontainebleau" (Claude-François Denecourt, 1788-1875, the lover of the forest of Fontainebleau ) and member of the Amis de la Forêt de Fontainebleau, we set off to discover this accessible hiking trail, rich in discoveries.
Claude-François Denecourt (1788-1875), a former soldier and janitor, is considered the father of pedestrian tourism. After losing his job in Fontainebleau in 1832, he took refuge in the forest and made it his passion. A visionary, as early as 1839 he created signposted trails, marking remarkable trees and rocks, and creating attractions such as fountains and grottoes. His popular guidebooks and maps encouraged visitors to explore the forest on foot, making Fontainebleau a must-see destination for nature lovers.
Criticized by some artists, he received the support of great literary figures such as Théophile Gautier, who nicknamed him "Sylvain". His work, financed by the sale of publications and subscriptions, was continued after his death by his disciples and associations, making his work a lasting legacy of green tourism. Denecourt transformed the forest of Fontainebleau into a model of walking and discovery accessible to all.
First published in September 1849 in Denecourt's guide entitled "Délices de Fontainebleau, itinéraire d'une charmante promenade au débarcadère par le Calvaire et le Point de vue de la Reine des Bois", this trail initially included neither the Tour Denecourt, built in 1851, nor the as-yet-unknown Roche Éponge, and not all the fountains were laid out. Designed to invite travelers to explore the forest after their visit to the château before heading back to the station, the route avoided the Valvins road, described by Denecourt as "detestable and stinking". The arrival of the railroad in Avon in August 1849 revolutionized local tourism, and Denecourt invited walkers to contemplate this symbol of industrial progress through his itineraries, describing the trains in his guidebook as gigantic boas speeding through the valley, captivating and frightening at the same time.
Detailed directions for the Promenade du Sentier des Quatre Fontaines
SentierDenecourt-Colinet n°2, follow the blue signs:
Along the way, remarkable curiosities emerge, such as the Némorosa medallion, created in 1848 by Adam-Salomon, which tells the story of a legend created from scratch, and the Fouchier de Careil medallion, created by Ernest Dubois in 1907, located on the Tavernier rock. Emblematic passages such as Orloff Rock and Caution Rock also tell fascinating stories, linking Russian ambassadors and generous donors to this mythical forest.
The walk also takes us to the Grotte Colinet, a tribute to Charles Colinet, who continued Denecourt's work, where a bronze medallion by Léon Gausson and a poem by Alphonse Retté recall the silver wedding anniversary of this collective initiative. Scattered treasures include the Sponge Rock, discovered in 1866 as the remains of a former buvette, and the mound with arboretum, designed by botanist Gaston Bonnier.
The walk is also an opportunity to admire purely decorative artificial fountains, such as the Isabelle fountain, dedicated to the daughter of sculptor Adam-Salomon, or the Touring Club de France fountain, inaugurated in 1901. Each stop is a reminder of the collective effort to transform the forest of Fontainebleau into an accessible sanctuary, where art and nature meet in harmony.
Here and there, you'll discover what were once real social stopping-off points, accessible on foot or by horse-drawn carriage, where picnic areas and refreshment stands were the order of the day.
The tour culminates at the Tour Denecourt. Restored several times, this turret offers a panoramic view over the Seine valley and, on a clear day, as far as Paris. Originally named "Fort l'Empereur" by a loyal Bonapartist nicknamed the "Sisyphus of Fontainebleau", it was inaugurated in 1853 by Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie. However, built without mortar, it collapsed completely on January 28, 1878. The following year, a subscription campaign launched by the "sylvain" Colinet raised over 2,000 francs, enabling the tower to be solidly rebuilt and raised by over a metre. Renamed the "Tour Dénecourt" in 1882 by the Fontainebleau town council, today the monument offers an exceptional 360° panoramic view of the Fontainebleau forest and surrounding area, with views of towns and villages such as Samoreau and Fontainebleau.
The walk continues as far as the Calvary Cross, which originally comprised 3 crosses. They were erected between 1731 and 1735, during the reign of Louis XV. Destroyed in 1793 during the French Revolution, like the other crosses in the forest, they were reinstalled in 1805. From this promontory, you can admire views of the town of Fontainebleau, its famous château, the Butte Monceau, and the Avon viaduct, built in 1849 to accommodate the Paris-Lyon railway line.
Denecourt, nicknamed "Sylvain", devoted his life to landscaping the forest, tracing arrows on the trees and naming places of mythological or personal inspiration. One example is the Désirée fountain, named in tribute to the wife of a friend.
With its 300 km of trails and landscapes sculpted by time, the Fontainebleau forest remains a unique destination for combining nature, history and contemplation. At every turn, the footsteps of Denecourt and Colinet invite us to rediscover the essence of green tourism, between poetry and heritage.
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Location
Fontainebleau-Avon station
gare de fontainebleau-avon
77210 Avon
Prices
Free
