When planning a stay in Vaupillon, you can weigh up two specific interests: the village’s inclusion in a designated protected area and the choice of several routes with different features. The trails are distinguished by more than just their length: one is specifically described as a circular walking trail, another heads towards the village, and a Route tranquille passes through the commune. These distinctions help you assess the available options without combining them into a single tour.

Protected area and habitats

Vaupillon is one of the communes covered by the “Cuesta cénomanienne du Perche d'Eure-et-Loir” special protection area. The area covers 350 hectares and was designated by the founding decree of 13 April 2007. This figure refers to the protected area as a whole. The natural setting is described more specifically at Petit Moulin in Vaupillon: three Natura 2000 habitat types are listed for this area.

These include hydrophilous tall herb fringes of the plains and montane levels (6430), Atlantic acidophilous beech forests with holly and yew in the undergrowth (9120), and oak-hornbeam forests (9160). Put simply, the first term describes moisture-loving tall herb fringes; the second refers to a specific type of Atlantic beech forest, and the third to oak-hornbeam forest. Each number corresponds to its respective technical designation. This helps distinguish the commune’s general connection to the protected area from the three habitat types specifically listed for Petit Moulin.

Choose routes by length and layout

The “La Trinité des bois” circular walking trail is 13.5 kilometres long and is recognised by the Eure-et-Loir Departmental Hiking Committee. It is marked in yellow; check the markings locally before setting out. This gives you a specific distance, a circular route and a marking colour to consider when choosing a trail. At 13.5 kilometres, it is longer than the other walking trail described, which is 10 km long.

The La Loupe–Saint-Victor-de-Buthon walking trail is 10 kilometres long and heads towards the village of Vaupillon. Compared with the 13.5 km circular trail, it is shorter; the descriptions also differ in their orientation: here, the direction towards the village is specified, while the other trail is described as circular. You can therefore use length and route layout as separate criteria when making your choice.

Another route also passes through Vaupillon: the Route tranquille “Vallées et fermes fortifiées”. Its passage through the commune is explicitly stated. This distinguishes it from the La Loupe–Saint-Victor-de-Buthon route, which heads towards the village. The three route descriptions can therefore be distinguished by their respective features: passing through the village, heading towards the village or forming a circular trail.

A name with historical significance

“La Trinité des Bois” appears both in the name of the circular walking trail and in an earlier ecclesiastical designation. The former parish included Saint-Éliph, Vaupillon and La Loupe and bore this name. In its historical context, the name therefore refers to a parish that included these three places; for walkers, it is the title of the 13.5-kilometre circular trail. The same name thus has two distinct associations: the historical parish area and the name of a specific route.

Discover more destinations: Brezolles, Morainville, Thiron Gardais, La Bazoche-Gouet, Voves, Le Coudray, Montreuil, Boissy-Lès-Perche

For the wider travel guide: Eure-Et-Loir.