Around the River Blaise between Blaise, Daillancourt and Guindrecourt

The route starts from the village hall in Blaise.

(S/E) Follow Rue du Château de Blaise past the castle’s former outbuildings, then at the junction turn left onto the D233 towards Champcourt.

(1) At the entrance to the village of Champcourt, turn left onto Rue de la Mairie towards the church, then turn right onto Rue de l’Église and right again onto Route de Blaise, which leads to the wash house.

(2) Turn left onto the path leading up to La Garenne and stay on it until you reach the Croix de Champcourt.

(3) Follow the road down towards Daillancourt, passing the washhouse, the cemetery and the church, then turn right to follow the Grande Rue to the edge of the village, crossing the old metal bridge over the River Blaise.

(4) Cross the D2 county road and take the path that climbs up the hillside. At the end, turn right, skirting the vineyard, and head back down towards the village of Guindrecourt-sur-Blaise.

(5) At the entrance to the village, turn right to head down the Grande Rue and pass to the left of the church.

(6) At the next junction, leave the Grande Rue and turn left onto Rue Lacrout; continue to the end of the street, which climbs towards the cemetery on the outskirts of the village and then descends back towards the D2 departmental road.

(7) Turn right and walk along the D2 county road until you reach the first junction.

(8) Turn left and follow the Grande Rue back to the village of Blaise, after crossing the river of the same name, until you reach the town hall (S/E).

After Guindrecourt, when you come out onto the D2 departmental road (7), you can shorten the walk by turning left straight towards the village of Blaise.

Since 1 January 1973, Blaise has had neither a mayor nor a local council. Following a merger with Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, decisions are taken by the latter’s local council. Since 1 January 2017, its status has been changed to that of a delegated commune.

In Guindrecourt-sur-Blaise, you’ll find the Les Ecuries Lalye equestrian centre, where you can also go on horse rides.

You will pass close to two wash houses: one in Daillancourt opposite the church, and another before leaving Champcourt (2); and three old water mills in Daillancourt – the last house on the right as you leave the village, and the first two houses on the left as you return towards Blaise.

Between Blaise and Daillancourt, at Val Roquet, you will pass close to the only alkaline marsh in the north-western quarter of the Haute-Marne. It consists of a reed bed and a megaphorbiaie – a meadow of tall perennial herbaceous plants – where the monkshood (Aconitum napellus) blooms, a wildflower protected at regional level. Two butterfly species protected in France can also be found here: the marsh fritillary and the bog fritillary, both listed in the Red Book of Threatened Fauna in France and on the Red List of Insects in Champagne-Ardenne.

On your return to Blaise, you’ll pass close to a private pond. Depending on the season and the height of the surrounding vegetation, you may spot geese, ducks, swans, herons or egrets.

In Blaise, on both the outward and return journeys, you’ll pass by the former outbuildings of the now-demolished Château de Blaise, notably its dovecote, which has been listed as a historic monument since 1987.

You can carry on as far as the church, which has also been listed as a historic monument since 1925.