BV25-45 Maintenon

Maintenon is home to the Château de Maintenon, which has a long and colorful history. Originally built in the 13th century and expanded in the 16th, it’s best known as the residence of Françoise d’Aubigné, Madame de Maintenon, the secret wife of Louis XIV. The château is also one of the stops on 5 historic sites, 1 cycling route. This loop is similar in feel to the Paris–Chartres–Paris ride but a bit shorter and with a few reversed sections to keep things fresh.

You head out of town along the quai, taking the direct route up through Sèvres and into Versailles. After Buc, the route swings west before dropping down 17 turns and then rolling through the forests around Rambouillet. By the time you’ve covered about 83 km, you’re in the center of Maintenon and right in front of the château. You only get a partial view from the road, but it’s still a nice moment, and the village makes for a good refuel stop.

The return follows the same general direction but avoids repeating any roads. You pass Vaux de Cernay, ride through Chevreuse and Jouy-en-Josas, and finish with the familiar run through Meudon and back along the quai.

While this route is similar to the Chartres loop, just shorter and a bit different, there is a reason this direction is my favorite. Even after riding these roads a hundred times, they never really get old.

GPX File