Loop between Neufchâtel-sur-Aisne and Brienne-sur-Aisne

Park on Place de l'Église in Neufchâtel-sur-Aisne, near the town hall (free parking).

(S/E) Set off between the town hall on the left and the church on the right. At the end of the church, take Rue du Gué Josse. At the first intersection, after about a hundred metres, keep to the right and continue along a path. You will reach the edge of the Canal Latéral à l'Aisne.

(1) Turn left and continue along a dirt track, the Chemin Vert. Walk along the canal on your right for about 2 km until you reach the first bridge over the canal.

(2) Cross the bridge over the canal. At the nearby junction, turn right, heading south-west, and continue along the path opposite.

(3) After about 100 metres, turn right onto path no. 6. Continue straight ahead (south-west) and ignore two paths on the left (including one marked 58) and one on the right (marked 57). Alternate between passing through fields and along the edge of the woods on the right-hand side.

(4) At the end of a fence made of railway sleepers, turn left. At the next intersection, continue straight ahead on path no. 8. Further on, walk along a football pitch on your left.

(5) At the end of the football pitch, turn right. After about 50 metres, turn right again into Rue Arthur Rimbaud.

(6) After about 200 metres, turn left onto Ruelle du Presbytère. Walk past the cemetery, then the chevet of the church. At the D925, turn right to reach the entrance to the church.

(7) With your back to the church, follow Rue de l'Église to the left. This leads to Rue d'Obernai (D925), which you should follow to the right.

(8) When the road turns left, turn right onto path no. 3 (Route de Neufchâtel). At the fork shortly afterwards, turn left. Continue straight ahead to rejoin the edge of the Canal Latéral à l'Aisne.

(9) Follow the towpath on the left, which has been converted into a cycle route (red and white GR®12 and GR®654 markings). Pass several silos.

(10) Cross the D966 (caution: fast and heavy traffic) and continue opposite on the towpath, still following the GR® signs. Follow the canal and reach lock no. 1 at Pignicourt.

(11) Turn right and cross the canal. On the other side, continue along the path opposite. After a left turn, you will reach a crossroads.

(12) Then turn right onto the rural path known as Neufchâtel. Walk north-northeast, then northeast.

(13) Continue left onto Rue de Pignicourt. You will come to Rue du Faubourg de Reims (D966). Follow it to the left and cross a river. Shortly after a monument in honour of the Resistance fighters, carefully cross the D966 and quickly return to the church car park (S/E).

NEUFCHÂTEL-SUR-AISNE:

• Monument in memory of Lieutenant-Colonel Émile Driant. With your back to the main façade of the town hall, turn right onto Rue Principale and walk 250 metres.
• Since November 2008, Neufchâtel Town Hall has housed a museum dedicated to the life of Lieutenant-Colonel Émile Driant, a native of the town. The museum is run by the Association des amis du musée Driant (Friends of the Driant Museum Association).

BRIENNE-SUR-AISNE:

• Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church
• Wayside cross, war memorial