Aisne (l') walks

Discover the Canal des Ardennes, then the village of Asfeld with: - its 17th-century Baroque church (unique in Europe and still open) - its Grand-Cour square - its renovated wash house. Return via the old railway line, passing through the village of Vieux Les Asfeld (old station and wash house). A very easy route that can be enjoyed all year round.

Starting from the village of Fontenoy, climb up to the plateau between fields and woods. The start of the descent is marked by the passage to the Guésot quarries, which served as barracks for French troops during the First World War. The end of the hike takes place in the Aisne valley and along the edge of ponds.

This easy circular walk between Choisy-au-Bac and Rethondes will allow you to discover the banks of the Aisne and the beautiful gardens of Francport, then the pretty little village of Rethondes, near the clearing where the 1914-18 armistice was signed, before returning to Choisy-au-Bac via the Laigue Forest and the Château des Bonshommes, ending at the little Chapelle des Trois Chênes, which is awash with wild blue hyacinths in the last fortnight of April.

With a history stretching back two thousand years, the city of Soissons boasts a wide variety of architecture: Gallo-Roman ruins, Gothic abbeys and churches, Renaissance and Louis XIII pavilions, Art Deco buildings, and more. This urban hike invites you to discover this rich heritage! There are also several memorials in this city, which was on the front lines of the First World War.

A hike through the hills and valleys around the Saint-Martin fountain.

A walk retracing the period from September to November 1914 and June 1916. This marks the end of the war of movement and the transition to a war of position in the north of the Aisne. We will visit Lieutenant-Colonel Reboul’s command post (June 1916), the monument to those executed at Vingré (November–December 1914), the Broken Cross, the ruins of the Confrecourt farm and the quarries (September 1914).

From the church in Guyencourt, you’ll head to Roucy and its church. After a circular route through Roucy, you’ll set off again towards Bouffignereux. The whole route follows good farm and forest tracks. You’ll be treated to beautiful views of the villages and the Aisne valley.

A pleasant walk with no major difficulties. Best undertaken in dry weather, starting on paths through the fields and returning partly along the River Aisne through leafy stretches.

The village of Saint-Aignan-de-Couptrain is the starting point for two circular walks that will take you through unspoilt hedgerow countryside. Both routes follow dirt tracks for 90 per cent of the way. Here is one of these circular walks. The second: The ‘Boucle des herbages’ circular walk from Saint-Aignan-de-Couptrain

A lovely walk along the water’s edge and through the fields.

Enjoy a fascinating route in the heart of the Aisne, between Condé-sur-Suippe and Variscourt. The hike takes you in the footsteps of the Gauls, crossing the site of the oppidum of "Vieux Reims". It was here, on this vast territory, that a powerful stronghold of the Rèmes (who gave their name to Reims) once stood. The rural paths you take are an invitation to step back in time and imagine the lives of our ancestors on these lands.

Discover a unique hike steeped in history, starting from Berry-au-Bac. This route invites you to immerse yourself in the landscapes that marked the First World War. By skirting the famous Côte Cent Huit, a major battleground, you will walk in the footsteps of history, where the memory of the vanished hamlets of Sapigneul and La Neuville is omnipresent. The hike is varied, alternating between quiet forest trails, vast stretches of countryside and the tranquillity of the greenway along the canal linking the Aisne to the Marne

This lovely walk through the Vouziers countryside offers a chance to get away from it all, starting from Vouziers, in a rural setting amongst fields, wooded areas and the tranquillity of the towpath along the canal.

Walk through the vast meadows between Autry and Condé-les-Autry (some of which are designated as a Natura 2000 site) and discover some of the war’s key events as you pass through the hamlet of La Mare aux Bœufs, which was a strategic point during the Great War. This trail can also start at the Mare aux Bœufs wash house, where you can choose to take the circular route or just the 5 km of the historical section. This part of the route features historical panels about the Great War.

The Pont d'Avrogne hike offers a variety of landscapes, including open countryside, wooded paths and peaceful rivers. Along the way, you will pass the Calvaire des Fusillés, a witness to local history, before reaching the remarkable confluence of the Aire valley, where you will discover typical riverside landscapes with remarkable wildlife.

Circular Loop 2 – In the footsteps of the Dukes of Joyeuse: Amidst unique natural landscapes, heritage and history, follow in the footsteps of the Dukes of Joyeuse through the remarkable scenery of the Aire Valley, linking ancient castles and abbeys that bear witness to a rich local feudal and aristocratic history. The GR® de Pays Argonne invites you on a nature getaway in the heart of an authentic region, amidst deep forests, hidden valleys and charming villages. Set off to discover an unspoilt Argonne, marked by history and the tranquillity of its landscapes. Complete Argonne Country GR® circular loop: 386 km across the Argonne massif.

Circular Loop 1 From Mont Dieu to Bairon: From Vouziers, immerse yourself in the tranquillity of the Croix-aux-Bois forest, pass through charming villages with their golden ochre stone houses, be inspired by the legacy of the Carthusian monks of Mont Dieu, and marvel at the valley of the locks and the River Aisne. The GR® de Pays Argonne invites you on a nature getaway in the heart of an authentic region, amidst deep forests, hidden valleys and villages full of character. Set off to discover an unspoilt Argonne, shaped by history and the tranquillity of its landscapes. GR® de Pays Argonne circular loop: 386 km across the Argonne massif.

Escape on this route that combines natural tranquillity and historical resonance. Your walk begins along the peaceful Canal latéral à l'Aisne, offering a bucolic interlude. Then, history reveals itself. You will come across the Saint-Rigobert Chapel, a thousand-year-old place of worship that served as an observation and rescue post for General Mangin during the relentless Great War. Finally, the route takes you to the Berry-au-Bac National Necropolis, a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made on the nearby Chemin des Dames.

This shaded mountain bike trail starts in the town of Coudun and heads towards Compiègne via the greenway, then runs alongside the Oise river to Jaux. It crosses the Oise via the Jaux footbridge and enters the forest. It joins the Francport at the Aisne bridge, then crosses the Oise again via an unusual bridge on the Oise Canal at the Longueil-Annel locks. It then heads towards Mont Ganelon, descends to Clairoix and ends in Coudun.

A memorial hike starting from a town steeped in history and in a forest that is equally steeped in history. The route alternates between forest paths (mostly), trails, including the one that allows you to "climb" Mont du Tremble, paths along the Aisne river and urban sections rich in heritage.

A peaceful cycle ride along the Voie Verte Sud Ardenne, which runs alongside the Canal des Ardennes from Château-Porcien to Pont-à-Bar, punctuated by the numerous locks.To compensate for the difference in level between the Canal des Ardennes and the Meuse, between Le Chesne and Rilly-sur-Aisne, no fewer than 27 locks line the canal, 17 of which are within the Montgon area. Follow the Canal des Ardennes, discover its locks, via a short detour to the Château de La Cassine, and the passage through the Saint-Aignan tunnel.

Twenty-fourth stage of the Jura to Hauts-de-France via the Francigena. For this stage, you leave Champagne by crossing the Saint-Thierry massif. Once you reach Cormicy, the terrain becomes a little flatter. You pass through Berry-au-Bac. This is where the Berry-au-Bac National Necropolis is located, which contains 3,972 bodies, 2,014 of which are in individual graves and 1,958 in ossuaries. You then continue on to Corbeny, where you can see the Oratory of Saint-Marcoul. Then you follow the "Chemin des Dames", a major site of remembrance of the Great War, to arrive in the village of Bouconville-Vauclair, where you will find the Abbey of Vauclair, the Château de la Bôve and a network of trenches from the 1914-18 war.

This list includes several hikes that pay tribute to soldiers of all nationalities who fought in the First World War. More than a century later, certain remnants still bear witness to the appalling conditions in which they lived. In the list, these hikes are classified according to the front line, from north to south and then from west to east.