Three times lost in the Forest of Fontainebleau, once amazed. Among tall ferns, almost white sand, and the remains of a forgotten village, this walk reveals the poetry of a timeless place.

This morning, I set out for a walk in the Forest of Fontainebleau, carried by the music of Jackson Wang — Hate to Love. I don’t understand all the lyrics yet, but the melody alone gave me the feeling of floating, light and joyful.

I wanted to show you another side of my little corner of paradise: a walk that follows the traces of a hidden village, deep in the woods.

The secret path

Most walkers head towards the famous Gorges of Franchard, but I chose the path to the left — wilder, less traveled.

I had already taken it twice, in autumn and in winter. But this time, summer had changed everything: thick ferns, dense vegetation, filtered light… To the point that I got lost three times before finding my way back. But isn’t that what adventure is all about?

Rocks, Ferns, and White Sand

The Forest of Fontainebleau is a world of its own.
Ferns rise to shoulder height, tall pines stretch to the sky, and carpets of purple heather brighten the ground. And everywhere, the legendary sandstone boulders, attracting climbers from all over the world.

Beneath my feet, the pine needles made the ground soft and springy, almost like a living carpet. In some places, pale sand appeared, almost white.

This sand is not random: it tells of a distant past, when millions of years ago, the sea covered this land. That’s why the sand here is so pure in silica — it was later used to make Murano glass, and even television screens.

A pale sand, relic of an ancient sea, still brightens my steps.

A discreet yet precious natural treasure, like an echo of buried time.

The Hidden Village of Stonecutters

At the end of the path, I finally found what I was looking for: an old stonecutters’ village.

The stones quarried here once paved the streets of towns. They are still there, lying under moss and ferns, as if time had stopped. As if the workers would return the next day to finish their task.

Today, volunteers take care of preserving this place, removing moss so that the memory of the quarrymen remains alive. It is a fragment of history, hidden in the forest, a heritage under the open sky.

Stones frozen in time, silent memory of the stonecutters of yesterday.

A walk set to music

For me, every walk comes with a soundtrack. This morning, it was Hate to Love. On the way back, Bad Desire by Enhypen kept me company. The rhythm was stronger yet still soothing, matching my mood perfectly: the pride of reaching my goal, and the joy of walking in the incredible light of late morning.

A unique forest

The Forest of Fontainebleau is not just about trees and rocks: it is a living place, full of history and mystery. Between grand landscapes, white sand, legendary rocks, and traces of the past, it always has a new surprise for those who take the time to get lost in it.