Circular walk starting from Dormans, on the GR®14 and along the banks of the Marne

This is a lovely walk through very varied terrain: vineyards, plenty of woodland, and the banks of the Marne towards the end of the route. You can visit Dormans, its castle and the Marne Battles Memorial.

Details

n°1072146

Creation:
13 Apr 2018

Last update:
17 Jun 2025

Last review:
30 Jun 2023

Activity: Walking
Distance: 17.79 km
Average duration: 5h 35
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 189 m
Descent: - 189 m
Highest point: 243 m
Lowest point: 61 m

Country: France
District: Dormans (51700)
Start/End: N 49.074479° / E 3.642044°
Accessible from the train station Gare de Dormans.
IGN map(s): Ref. 2613E, 2713O
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Description of the walk

The start is near the entrance to the grounds of Dormans Castle, where there is space to park a few cars.

(S/E) With your back to the park, take Avenue des Victoires to the right. At the crossroads, turn right onto Rue du Moulin, which runs alongside the park wall. Continue straight on until you reach the D18.

(1) Cross the road and take the^GR®®14(side trail) opposite, which is signposted. In the vineyards, turn left.

(2) At the end of the vineyard, follow the^GR®®14to the right towards La Chapelle Monthodon.

(3) Cross the D18 and take the path opposite. Pass in front of Champaillé (a pretty house) and turn right in front of the farm. The^GR®® markings are not very visible. Follow the^GR®® as it crosses the woods for about 2 km.

Please note: in summer 2019, the start of^{the GR®®} was gravelled. At the end of the renovated section, there was a mistake; the path leads nowhere. You must walk along the edge of the woods on the left for a few dozen metres to rejoin the^GR®®, which enters the woods.

(4) When you reach a five-way junction (very easy to spot), take the second path on the right, at a right angle. You leave the^GR®® here; there are no more markers. Continue straight on for 1 km until you reach a small road.

(5) Cross this road and continue straight ahead. Pass in front of La Bourdonnerie (a very beautiful house) and continue straight on across the fields.

(6) Cross the small road and continue straight ahead. At the junction, turn left and enter the woods.

(7) At the first proper path you come to, just after the start of the wire fence, turn right. Then continue left, then immediately right. You’ll reach a sunken path that descends steeply towards the valley to the D1003

(8) Cross the road carefully. Walk through the village of Sauvigny and continue to the bridge over the Marne.

(9) Before the bridge, take the towpath on the right. Pass the dam and the ruined farm, staying on the path the whole time.

(10) Just past the island, with Dormans in sight, take the tunnel under the railway line, then Rue Dumont Belcourt. At the end of the street, turn right to the roundabout, then take Rue Gambetta. Then take Rue du Château, which leads back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 79 m - Dormans Castle Park
1 : km 0.74 - alt. 131 m - Crossing the D18 - Mémorial des batailles de la Marne
2 : km 1.54 - alt. 186 m - Junction with the GR14
3 : km 2.01 - alt. 191 m - Crossing the D18
4 : km 4.42 - alt. 239 m - Crossroads of five paths
5 : km 5.52 - alt. 223 m - Crossing the D20
6 : km 8.06 - alt. 240 m - Crossing the road
7 : km 9.46 - alt. 235 m - On the right, the first "proper path"
8 : km 10.72 - alt. 117 m - Crossing the D1003
9 : km 11.53 - alt. 64 m - Towpath before the bridge - Marne (la)
10 : km 17.18 - alt. 66 m - Passage under the railway line
S/E : km 17.78 - alt. 79 m - Dorman Castle Park

Notes

This hike is accessible by public transport: TER Paris-Epernay, Dormans station.

No water along the route. Picnic area on the banks of the Marne near Passy-sur-Marne (just cross the bridge).

Very muddy on the plateau and in the woods. Wear waterproof shoes in wet weather.

For the unmarked section, it is essential to bring the map and the app as well, as it is easy to get lost.

The (7) is difficult to spot; (if you reach the main entrance gate to the wild boar enclosure, you have gone too far. Turn back.)

Dormans station; accessible from Paris, Meaux, Épernay and Reims.

Worth a visit

Visit to Dormans Castle and the Marne Battles Memorial.

Champagne producers.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5

Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5

Route interest
4.4 / 5

virgule

30 Jun 2023 at 15:08 7200

Thanks for the info, I was just about to go there.

I hope they’ll get it back in working order.

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alainetmartine

30 Jun 2023 at 10:13 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

The GR14 and the Chemin de la Loge have been ravaged by the foresters. They are still virtually impassable.

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Ericdp

07 Nov 2022 at 11:29 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Top

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virgule

04 Nov 2021 at 16:50 3600

Hello,

Please note: the GR14 and the Chemin de la Loge have been badly damaged by forestry workers. They are practically impassable.

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virgule

03 Sep 2021 at 10:45 7200

Thank you for this review

From 6 to 8, these are unmarked paths through private woodland. I hope the landowners or hunters will see that there are fallen trees and that they will clear them away.

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Pascal Denis 51

03 Sep 2021 at 09:27 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Stunning views of the Marne Valley during the first part of the walk. I encountered significant difficulties between points 6 and 8 due to a large number of fallen trees blocking the path. The walk ended peacefully along the towpath back to Dormans

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champagne

09 Jun 2021 at 15:44 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

no problem

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virgule

02 Apr 2021 at 18:45 7200 • Edited: 02 Apr 2021 at 18:45 7200

Hello,

From early 2021, there will be an additional picnic table at the foot of the Memorial. And in the coming weeks, it will be quiet there.

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virgule

31 Jul 2019 at 19:05 7200

I went for another walk along the GR 14 today; there weren’t any puddles left. However, I’ve added the following to the guide:

Please note: in summer 2019, the start of the GR was gravelled. At the end of the renovated section, there was a mistake – the path leads nowhere. You need to walk along the edge of the woodland on the left for a few dozen metres to rejoin the GR, which enters the woodland.

Unbelievable but true: the start of the GR has been gravelled and, presumably due to a miscalculation, it ends in a thicket of brambles rather than continuing along the path. Don’t be fooled – the GR does continue, but not along the gravelled section. We had to struggle through the brambles before realising the problem, and judging by the tracks, we weren’t the first to do so.

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virgule

07 May 2019 at 22:24 7200

I went back there today for another walk. You really can walk the GR14 without getting your feet wet.

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virgule

25 Apr 2019 at 08:39 7200

Thank you for your review. The GR is indeed very pleasant, provided there isn’t any slush.

You can easily reach the path via a gap in the boundary wall at the top of the park, above the memorial chapel.

We’ll have to come back; the view from the tower is extraordinary.

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ovil

24 Apr 2019 at 23:04 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We set off from Dormans station and walked around the park and the memorial – which was unfortunately closed (opening at 2 pm) – before starting the route.
When we reached point 1, I thought I saw an entrance to the memorial, which might have saved us from having to walk down to the park exit and then back up again. To be checked.
No mud in the forest, but plenty of puddles, which we managed to get round without any trouble.
The path we took after the GR (point 4) looked as if it had been ploughed along a plot of land currently being cleared.
Beautiful scenery, dry weather and no getting lost, even without a GPS.
The feeling of being alone in the world disappears as soon as we cross the fields where farmers are spraying rather unpleasant chemicals. We were even ‘pelted’ by granules thrown up by a tractor treating the edge of the path.

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virgule

01 Aug 2018 at 18:47 7200

I did part of the route again today. The GR is dry, so now’s the time to go. The visit to the Memorial is fascinating, as is the visit to the eco-museum. Both are completely free.
A warm welcome at the tourist office (in the castle). There’s a handy leaflet there with walks to do in the surrounding villages.

In short, whether you’re a holidaymaker or a local, spending the day in Dormans is a great idea.

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virgule

28 Jun 2018 at 22:32 7200

I went back to the area today, between points 6 and 9. If you’re doing this walk in the summer, don’t go bare-legged, as the grass is quite tall now. As for the mud, after three weeks without rain, there are still puddles.
Apart from that, it’s a lovely spot; you feel like you’re the only person in the world.

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virgule

06 May 2018 at 11:11 7200

Hello,

do feel free to visit the castle grounds and the Monument to the Battles of the Marne. It’s right next to the starting point.

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