Condé-sur-Iton, a small village located 3 km from Breteuil-sur-Iton, is well known for its castles, for the house of Pablo Neruda but also for its "Natural Space of the Furnace".
Indeed, at the end of October 2015, a Sensitive Natural Area was inaugurated in Condé-sur-Iton. After 18 months of work, the “old Condé pond” has definitely disappeared so that the Iton river can find its original bed. This colossal work also resulted in the creation of a fish passage and the development of paths for the public, which makes this space an ideal place for fishermen as for walkers.
On these beautiful November days, when nature is adorned with the shimmering colors of autumn, I feel like going for a hike. Among around thirty short hike circuits in the region, my choice is that of the “Fourneau de Condé” from Condé-sur-Iton.
In this mid-morning, the thermometer reads 14 ° C and the sun has difficulty breaking through the clouds which give the sky a milky appearance. A few banks of mist persist here and there. I start my journey in the Fourneau car park from which you can access the Perré path.
I walk along the stream on the recently landscaped trail. A carpet of dead leaves shivers under my feet. I meet some walkers. Further on, the remains of a furnace and a turbine bring a romantic touch to the landscape.
The markup takes me to the foot of "La Manquel". This is the name given by the Chilean diplomat, Pablo Neruda, at his house when he moved there in 1972. There is no need to find out why the poet took up residence here. The lock, the wash house, the Iton which flows peacefully at the foot of the wood of the Fourneau offer a bucolic picture in all seasons!
I join the main street of the village and I catch a glimpse of the "Old Castle" of the condé domain through the bare trees of its park. I then enter the Bois du Fourneau. The trail is perfectly well marked in both directions. I continue my journey without worry.
The walk alternates between woods and plains, hamlets and farms, plateaus and valleys.
Suddenly gunshots ring out in the woods. I see signs warning of a hunt in progress. The night before, I read the first chapter of a novel in which a woman is found dead on a hiking trail. We assume a hunting accident… My heart is racing! I hurry. I start whistling and then hum quite loudly. If I meet someone, they'll take me for crazy! At worst, I can pretend to drive game back to hunters ...
Despite this apprehension, I am struck by the beauty of the place. The forest is adorned with a thousand colors. Pleasant smells of undergrowth perfume the path. Moss-covered rocks give a touch of green to the landscape. The song of the birds echoes the sound of my footsteps on the carpet of leaves.
Further on, I descend to the Iton to step over it and go up to a small hamlet. La Chesnaye then the Haute Maison. Here I am already back in the center of Condé. The ride is coming to an end.
I walked a little less than 1h30 on this 6 km course. A radiant sky gave way to greyness. This little walk was very pleasant!
In addition to its natural heritage, Condé regularly offers activities in the Château de Condé, at the village hall or at the municipal library. The imposing Saint-Martin church, which cannot be missed at the entrance to the village, is also open to the public every day.