Forêt de Dreux, National forest in Abondant, France
Forêt de Dreux is a large public woodland in Abondant, France, covering roughly 3,300 hectares with paths that run for miles between tall oak trees. Most of the trees are oaks, but beeches, cherries, and pines also grow here, and the leaf canopy keeps much of the ground shaded even on hot days.
People have used this land since the Neolithic period, as shown by old tools and worked stones found in the soil. Later it became a royal hunting ground, and the octagonal hunting lodge built around the middle of the 1700s still marks that past.
The GR 22 long-distance trail crosses the woodland, drawing walkers who come for a full day outdoors, and local guides sometimes lead groups through the quieter sections. Near the hunting lodge, the large stone cross called Croix du Carré stands as a visible reminder of the noble families who once owned this ground.
You can walk here at any time of year, since there are no strict closing hours, and the soft forest floor makes routes easier on the feet. Dogs are allowed if kept on a leash, and you can ask ahead for a guided tour if you want someone to point out the different trees and ponds.
Part of this forest once belonged to a much larger woodland called the forest of Yveline, which surrounded Paris and included Fontainebleau and Rambouillet. A small arboretum inside the property grows different tree species for study, something many day visitors pass without noticing.
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