Route des Gouffres (Caves Route) in Trois-Fontaines-l'Abbaye

Well-marked hike mainly in the forest, passing near the developed chasms (wooden barriers).
Yellow, white and redPR® markings for theGR® 14 and 14B.

Details

1026177
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.94 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 131 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 124 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 231 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 160 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the abbey car park, head south-east and take the tarmac path on the right. Pass the Fontaine la Folie and you will reach a fork in the path.

(1) Continue along the same path, ignoring the path on the right that leads to the pumping station, until you reach another fork.

(2) Take the path on the left heading east-northeast (signposted "route des gouffres"). Follow the yellow markings.

(3) Turn right (south) onto the Route Forestière des Hattons for 150 metres, then leave the forest road and turn left towards east-southeast.

(4) At the crossroads, turn left (north-northeast) onto Route Forestière de Brassa, following the yellow markings. Follow this path for about 1.25 km, passing the Source de la Bruxenelle, which is indicated by a sign.

(5) Turn left onto the Route Forestière de la Belle Épine and then immediately right (north-northeast). Cross a perpendicular path and you will arrive at the Gouffre de la Beva (secure).

(6) Continue straight ahead (yellow markings). At the T-junction, turn left. After about 200 metres, turn right and, after another 200 metres, turn left. At the T-junction, turn right (north-northeast) to join theGR®14.

(7) Follow theGR® to the left (red and white markings) to the Aven de la Taille Clergé karstic cave (secured).

(8) Continue straight ahead, cross the forest road and continue straight ahead for 100 metres to the Taille Clergé chasm (secured).

(9) Continue straight ahead for 150 metres along theGR®14and take the first path on the left (south-south-west). At the T-junction, turn right and, 150 metres further on, turn left.

(10) Turn right. At the T-junction, turn left and, after about 100 metres, turn right (west-northwest). After about 400 metres, turn left and then take the first path on the right. After about 500 metres, you will come to a T-junction.

(11) Turn left towards Rue de la Neuve Grange. Leave the forest and continue south-west. Passing close to the cemetery, turn right to return to the abbey car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 160 m - Parking at the abbey.
  2. 1 : km 1.37 - alt. 170 m - Turn left at the fork
  3. 2 : km 2.34 - alt. 182 m - On the left, yellow marked trail
  4. 3 : km 3.26 - alt. 195 m - Route Forestière des Hattons on the right
  5. 4 : km 4.09 - alt. 195 m - Turn left at the crossroads.
  6. 5 : km 5.53 - alt. 226 m - Turn left onto the forest road
  7. 6 : km 6.08 - alt. 219 m - Gouffre de la Beva
  8. 7 : km 7.21 - alt. 217 m - Turn left onto the GR14
  9. 8 : km 7.59 - alt. 205 m - Karstic cave de la Taille Clergé chasm
  10. 9 : km 7.76 - alt. 202 m - Gouffre de la Taille Clergé
  11. 10 : km 8.87 - alt. 213 m - T-junction
  12. 11 : km 10.33 - alt. 200 m - Towards Rue de la Neuve Grange
  13. S/E : km 11.94 - alt. 160 m - Parking at the abbey

Notes

Water point and toilets in the abbey.
Table and benches at the start near the "Fontaine la Folie" fountain.
There are no shelters on the route, so bring a raincoat depending on the weather.
Well-marked route with small footbridges to cross streams.
Equipment: walking shoes, gaiters in wet weather, water, cereal bars or fruit.

Worth a visit

Visit to the Abbey of Trois-Fontaines.
Bicycle museum in the abbey annex.
Lac du Der lake 40 km away.

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
baladin54
baladin54

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike done on a sunny day. Much of the hike takes place under cover, in the forest. The sinkhole route is very well marked.

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F.Hlr
F.Hlr

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely shaded walk, despite quite a bit of tarmac at the start. Best done in warm weather.

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Pat1965
Pat1965

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice route. Easy to follow markings. Moderate difficulty but achievable for beginner hikers. Route completed within the allotted time.

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courjus52
courjus52

Hello,
Yes, the Beva chasm is at point 6, as shown on the map, and the chasm route is very well marked by the local Perthois Sport Nature club. Between 10 and 11, it is an old railway line. The markers show you the right way, and if you use the Visorando app, it will tell you when to turn.
Try to find your bearings better next time.
Best regards.

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Olivier S.
Olivier S.
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very beautiful walk, best enjoyed with a small picnic. A variety of views, woods, mushrooms, silence and rustling sounds. Finish with a tour of the abbey grounds.
Points to note:
- do not linger around the Bruxenelle spring: wild boars clearly come here to cool off.
- the Beva chasm is not at the point (5), but 500 m further on after the forest road junction, in line with the path that zigzags a little between the karst collapses and the felled trees.
- between points (10) and (11), you pass over a long embankment (gas pipeline) and the signs become a little unclear.
After some hesitation, you will find the right path again.

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Clic
Clic

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The trail disappears over a short section where trees have been felled between points 5 and 6. The same applies to the markings, which are hidden a little further on by a large pile of branches.
But with the app, no worries.

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ChristineB
ChristineB

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We were fortunate to enjoy a beautiful hike in the sunshine.
Lots of forest, beautiful route.
The chasms are impressive.
An easy and enjoyable hike that I would recommend

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LEBANDIDO
LEBANDIDO

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

After about 25 minutes on a tarmac road, you will see the sign for the "Route des Gouffres" (Caves Trail), which is easy to follow.
Information boards about the fauna, geology and other topics make for an enjoyable walk. The visit is enhanced by a tour of the abbey

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Patrick-m
Patrick-m

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Many thanks for the excellent route markings, which are easy to follow. This may well be the best-marked route I have followed in a long time, as I often get lost when the markings are incomplete in places.

Many thanks also for the explanations about the various points of interest along the route.

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courjus52
courjus52
• Edited:

Hello, thank you for your feedback.
The branches on the path have been reported and are being dealt with by either the ONF (French National Forestry Office) or the Perthois Sport Nature trail markers (local hiking club).
Kind regards.

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phb51
phb51

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk on these hot days. We regret that certain sections of the path were very cluttered with cut branches that had not been cleared away (between 4 and 5, and between 9 and 10). Difficult walking.
of interest are the Bruxenelle spring and the three chasms. We recommend it.
thank you for creating this.

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les grolles
les grolles

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

hike on 1 June
post-lockdown hike 18 participants in 2 groups
well marked
pleasant in the woods given the heat of the day

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lulu0852
lulu0852

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a lovely walk, mainly through the forest
no particular difficulties
very good signposting along the route

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NICOBERBRI
NICOBERBRI

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

IN VERY WET WEATHER, DIFFICULT ROUTE

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dylan341
dylan341

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike in the heat, but very pleasant in the woods
There was a change in the route between points 5 and 7
We finally ended up at point 7 or 8 (I can't say for sure as I don't have GPS)
At this point, the route is shared between the PR 36 (yellow markings) and the GR 14 (red and white) until the finish.
Very good markings throughout the route
Be careful as not all the chasms are secured.
Some muddy sections despite the dry weather, so be careful when it rains.
Distance: 13 km (with iPhone app)
Duration: 2½ hours (fast walking and running)

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