Auberive, its former abbey, forest and animal park on a circular route.

Park in the small car park in front of Auberive town hall.

(S/E) Take the dead-end street (Rue des Écoles) to the left of the fountain in front of the town hall. At the end of the street, continue along the narrow passageway that leads to the fire station. Cross the D428 at the pedestrian crossing, turn left and follow the basketball court parallel to the road, then continue along the hedge of conifers bordering the sports field lawn. When you reach the gendarmerie, cross the road and take the small road on the left (at the crossroads: calvary, monument) and follow the signs for "Enclos à gibier".
You will arrive at a bridge.

GR® Red-White signposting

(1) After the bridge, turn right onto the paved road and continue for about 500 m.

(2) At the start of a left-hand bend, leave the road and take the path on the right that runs alongside a hedge.
The path ends at the forest.

(3) The start of the GR® opposite is not very visible in the vegetation and you will need to look for it. After that, it is easy to follow. Cross a hard forest road (elevation 376) and continue straight ahead on the forest road. A little further on, on the right, there is a hut that can be used as shelter in bad weather (the door was not locked when I passed by). At a crossroads (elevation 363), take the second track on the right (which climbs slightly) and continue for about 500 m.

(4) Follow the main track, which makes a sharp hairpin bend to the left. The track climbs steadily, with a bend to the right, followed by a left-hand bend. Then leave a first layon on the right and continue almost to the top of the climb.

Unmarked

(5) Take a less used layon on the right until you reach the paved road on the ridge: opposite is a car park and picnic area. Take the path on the left, then right and go around the animal park following the fence along the path.
Recommendation: make as little noise as possible, walk slowly without sudden movements: the animals are shy. I didn't see any wild boars in the first enclosure (absent or hidden?), but I admired a dozen deer in the second enclosure: males, females and young.
The main car park is near where the paved road rejoins the trail, with several picnic areas and a beautiful wooden structure housing educational panels. Continue along the road to the crossroads (elevation 454),

Blue and yellow PR® signposts

(6) Continue straight ahead and follow this paved road until you reach the fork in the GR®7 that you passed on the way there.

GR® red and white markings

(2) Turn right onto the GR® until you reach the initial fork.

Unmarked

(1) Continue straight ahead, keeping the dry stone wall on your left. At one point, you will be able to see the rear of the old abbey over the wall and a view of the village of Auberive. Continue to the Ferme du Chanois, then the D20.

(7) Go down it on the left, cross the bridge over the Aube and reach the D428: turn left. Pass in front of the gate of the old abbey.

(8) Turn left into the passage at the corner of the boundary wall (Promenade entre deux eaux). Follow the promenade to its end opposite the castle gate.

(9) Take the street on the left to admire the old abbey from the gate, or to enter for a visit.

(10) Retrace your steps.

(9) Continue straight ahead up the street and you will arrive at the town hall (S/E).

Grocery store, caterer and restaurant in the centre of the village of Auberive.
Picnic facilities on the edge of the animal park.

The former Auberive Abbey (https://abbaye-auberive.com/) can be visited (in one to two hours) in two parts.
- A historical tour of the site (from its foundation in 1135 to its current state), including its sale during the French Revolution, its brief industrial period, and its transformation in 1856 into a women's prison (where Louise Michel was incarcerated from 1871 to 1873 before being deported to New Caledonia).
- The exhibition gallery, which occupies the two floors of the west wing.