Take part in the transhumance of a flock of sheep in Essonne, France.

Traditionally, a transhumance takes place in the mountains, on high or medium plateaus, with the aim of moving herds from their wintering area to their summering area (in spring) before repeating the reverse inautumn. Although the Ile-de-France region is not mountainous, some shepherds still go on transhumance, as was the case with a herd in the Parc de la Villette a few years ago.

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In the Essonne department, according to Domaine de Montauger, eco-pasturing is essential to the proper management of sensitive natural areas (ENS ). So, for several years now, Mr Sil, the shepherd and operator of the Beaumont farm in Valpuiseaux, has been organizing a transhumance with his 250 sheep.

This year, you can join him on a three-day walk from ENS de Pierrefitte to Étampes, ENS de la Justice and La Ferté-Alais.

On the program for this great transhumance:

• Friday 29/08 from 5pm: departure of the transhumance from the Coteaux de Pierrefitte departmental site in Etampes: (chemin de la Roche du Temple, 91150 Etampes)
• Saturday 30/08 around 9am-9.30am:^1st stopover at the Ormoy-la-Rivière washhouse (rue de l'Eglise, 91150 Ormoy-la-Rivière. A meeting with the shepherd is planned in collaboration with the commune of Ormoy-la-Rivière.
• Saturday 30/08 from 3pm: ^2nd stopover at the Mesnil-Girault farm in Boissy-la-Rivière: (route de Boissy, 91150 Boissy-la-Rivière. The shepherd will present his activity and the Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels Sensibles will talk about the management of natural environments through pastoralism.
• Sunday 08/31 around 9-9:30am:^3rd stopover at La Forêt-Sainte-Croix (chemin des Vignes, 91150 La Forêt-Sainte-Croix. A meeting with the shepherd is also planned.

All transhumance-related activities and participation are entirely free of charge: a great way to discover shepherd traditions without even leaving the Paris region!