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Beauce Agricultural Plain

Eure et Loir  >  France

The Beauce plain south of Chartres looks particularly unattractive but has more to offer than it looks. Especially in late august to mid september.

Added* by Jean-Yves Barnagaud
Most recent update 18 december 2025
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Description

The Beauce plain is an agricultural land interspersed with windfarms and villages. It is essentially flat, with small hills that offer good viewpoints, eg around the pointed spot. In winter, large flocks of priba and zlata prosenka can be expected. Small number of močvirska uharica may occur in grassy patches (unreliable). Breeders in crops include rjava penica, rumena pastirica and veliki strnad. However, the area is at its best during autumn migration, especially from mid august to mid september. The local star is the dular, which regularly stops over on hill tops (look for the flattest ploughed crops with few vegetation and some rocks). Searching for it will or won't produce results, but migration can be really nice some days (flocks of swallows, repaljščica, pipits etc). Try the edges of small woods for črnoglavi muhar and warblers.

Among raptors, pepelasti lunj breeds in the surroundings. močvirski lunj and rjavi lunj are uncommon but may still occur at the right season. Other possibilities are bela štorklja, črni škarnik or any other species - just wander and search. Spring migration is not as good because crops are higher, but patches of dry grassland and small quarries can still offer some migrant passerines.

Details

Access

The whole plain between Chartres, Bonneval, Orgères-en-Beauce and Voves is worth a half-day visit, which can be done by car or bike. Take the driveable paths among fields and stop at any good viewpoint. In autumn, any ploughed field can bring something. Also worth a check are the small patches of grasslands interspersed here and there among fields. There are a few quarries (eg around Berchères les Pierres or Voves), the best way to go is to look at Geoportail.gouv.fr to prepare your itinerary.

Terrain and Habitat

Plain , Agriculture

Conditions

Flat , Hilly , Open landscape

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Yes

Good birding season

Autumn , Winter

Best time to visit

Autumn migration

Route

Paved road , Wide path

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Bicycle , Car

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

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