Sainte-Marie-du-Lac circular route via the Moulin du Charme and Écollemont

Starting from the Musée du Der in Sainte-Marie-du-Lac-Nuisement, a lovely walk past an old mill, then through a village in the Champagne region, and back via the Lac du Der embankment.
Yellow and blue markings on part of the route.

Details

2082325
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.13 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 20 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 21 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 143 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 119 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park opposite the Musée du Der.

(S/E) Go past the roundabout and walk behind the small hedge along the D13A road. Walk past the museum on your right, along Rue des Vergers, until you reach the crossroads.

(1) Continue along the stony path that runs alongside the road on your left for about 1.4 km. After a wide bend to the right and then to the left, you’ll reach the start of a path on the right.

(2) Take this path and head towards the Moulin du Charme, then pass in front of the Côte Saint-Pierre farm to reach the village of Écollemont.

(3) At the entrance to the village, turn right and then, at the bend, turn left (you can visit the village first). Walk straight through the village, heading west on the D13B until you reach the junction with the D13A.

(4) Cross the road and take the path opposite, slightly to the right, which leads into the woods. Continue southwards, let the path continue to the right and carry on for about a hundred metres before turning left towards the east-southeast. The path turns left, leaves the woods and runs alongside them on the right for about 250 m.

(5) At the crossroads, take the stony path on the right, cross the woods and turn left to reach the embankment and the roundabout on the cycle path. Continue along this and follow the shore of Lac de Der-Chantecoq.

(6) As you approach Port de Nuisement, leave the cycle path and head down to the car park on the left. Cross it to take the path opposite that runs alongside the small restaurant-campsite, and go straight on. Further on, the path runs alongside the road. Continue to the end where it meets the D13A.

(7) Follow the road to the right for a few dozen metres, then turn right onto Rue de la Petite Ville. Continue until you reach and rejoin the cycle path, heading left along the embankment to the car park opposite the Musée du Der (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 139 m - Car park opposite the Musée du Der
  2. 1 : km 0.32 - alt. 138 m - Follow the road along the stony path.
  3. 2 : km 1.79 - alt. 138 m - Turn right towards the mill
  4. 3 : km 3.86 - alt. 134 m - Turn right towards the village centre
  5. 4 : km 4.82 - alt. 121 m - Junction of the D13A and D13B
  6. 5 : km 6.03 - alt. 142 m - On the right, cross the woods
  7. 6 : km 8.08 - alt. 141 m - Head down to the left towards the car park - Lac du Der-Chantecoq
  8. 7 : km 9.98 - alt. 136 m - Follow the road to the right for 50 m.
  9. S/E : km 11.13 - alt. 139 m - Car park at the Musée du Der.

Notes

Water points and shelters in the village at the start, at Port de Nuisement and in Écollemont.
Good walking shoes recommended, along with water, cereal bars and dried fruit.
Rainwear if the weather looks threatening (no shelters between the villages).
Watch out for the many cyclists on the cycle path. They do not always ring their bells to warn of their approach.

Worth a visit

Visit to the Der village museum.
Beach and campsite at Port de Nuisement.
Visit to Lac du Der and the bird sanctuary (information available at tourist offices around the lake).

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
brageole
brageole

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

i did this hike on Thursday, 7 August, in beautiful sunshine. I set off early because there isn't much shade.
it's a nice, easy route.
Except after point 4: once you've crossed the country road, you take a path through the forest that ends after a few hundred metres in the middle of a woodcut that has destroyed everything, but you can find the trail again in the woods heading southeast, to exit the woods after 200-300 metres

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User 8284240

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, pleasant and easy walk!
The return route along the lake is a good idea and gives you the chance to take a dip.
There’s a lovely beach with a playground for the children.
In summer, I recommend going for a swim – don’t forget to pack your swimsuit, sun cream and a beach towel.
Have a lovely day everyone and enjoy your walks

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Randonneur lorrain
Randonneur lorrain

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A route with very little shade, but almost no elevation gain
The first part is rather uninteresting (fields scorched by the drought), except perhaps for the mill
The second part is more interesting, along the embankment.
No trouble following the route.

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Fanny petitjean
Fanny petitjean

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy and pleasant walk. Thank you!

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Leshayons
Leshayons

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Charming little villages, woods, countryside and a lakeside embankment. Lovely

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Rahir Jacky
Rahir Jacky

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk through the forest and around Lake Der. A charming village with typical half-timbered houses typical of the southern Marne / Haute-Marne and north-eastern Aube regions. An easy, flat route ideal for a leisurely stroll with children and grandparents.
The route is signposted and well-maintained except between points 4 and 5: from the forest entrance (D 13A road) to the forest exit as you approach the embankment. No signposting in the forest; the path is not maintained (branches and brambles litter the ground). Red and white ribbons tied in places helped us find our way ('all along the route between the two points).
Apart from this minor issue, a walk to be recommended, far from the crowds at the Giffaumont leisure centre. We returned via an alternative route: the Crochefer dyke to the port of Nuisement.

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