Congy and the menhir at the Chénevry pond

Here’s a short walk through woods, vineyards and fields, taking you to the pretty village of Congy and its imposing menhir.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.85 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 147 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 154 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 230 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 146 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Congy (51270)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.858789° / E 3.826922°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2714E
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

The walk starts in front of the town hall, where you can park.

(S/E) Take Rue du Colombier. The street runs alongside the wall of Congy Castle, which can be seen through the gate. Continue straight on.

(1) Take the first path leading into the woods on the left. This path is marked in red and yellow (GRP® Tour du Pays de Montmort). After 400m, the path turns right, then arrives at a hunters’ hut.

(2) Head straight ahead and continue along the path through the woods.

(3) Pass close to Vieille Andecy. Continue along the marked path; do not head towards the farm.

(4) Pass by the Ferme du Buisson. Continue along the same path.

(5) At the first houses in Villevenard, cross the bridge on the left towards the vineyards. Take the first path on the left, then the first on the right.

(6) Once at the top of the vineyards, continue along the path that runs between the vineyards and the woods. After 2 km, you’ll reach a quiet country lane. Take it on the left.

(7) At the crossroads, take the path straight ahead that runs alongside the vineyards. When you reach the D243, turn right and follow the road behind the embankment to the vineyards.

(8) Turn left onto the path that goes round the vineyards until you reach the D243 again. Follow the road behind the embankment for 200m.

(9) Turn left onto the path that passes near the menhir. Continue along this path, following the row of trees and the ditch that mark the boundary of the marshy area (private pond). When you reach the edge of the woodland, turn right onto the path that climbs a small hill to reach a small copse.

(10) At this point, walk along the edge of the woodland to the south if you want to be in the sun, or to the north if you want shade. Continue along the path which leads to the edge of the vineyards and keep going in the same direction, following a wooded section.

(11) Where you meet the vineyards again, take the path on the left that runs along the foot of the vineyard.

This path takes you back to the village of Congy. Turn left onto Rue du Bordet, then left again onto Rue des Vignerons.

(12) At the roundabout, turn right into Rue Saint-Rémy, which takes you back to the starting point.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 184 m - Car park in front of the town hall - Château de Congy
  2. 1 : km 0.38 - alt. 205 m - Enter the woods
  3. 2 : km 1.24 - alt. 230 m - Hunting lodge
  4. 3 : km 2.15 - alt. 222 m
  5. 4 : km 3.33 - alt. 212 m - Ferme du Buisson
  6. 5 : km 4.97 - alt. 150 m - Small bridge
  7. 6 : km 5.56 - alt. 194 m
  8. 7 : km 8.74 - alt. 201 m - Crossroads
  9. 8 : km 9.78 - alt. 173 m - Walk around the vineyards to avoid the road
  10. 9 : km 10.87 - alt. 148 m - Chemin du Menhir
  11. 10 : km 12.19 - alt. 161 m - Small wood
  12. 11 : km 13.18 - alt. 187 m - Turn left along the vineyards
  13. 12 : km 14.57 - alt. 176 m - On the right, at the roundabout
  14. S/E : km 14.85 - alt. 184 m

Notes

Toilets in a building to the right of the church.
Drinking water in the cemetery.
Twenty Champagne producers.

Worth a visit

The château is privately owned; it is not open to visitors but can be viewed from the outside.

Numerous Neolithic remains in the surrounding villages.

Pretty market halls in Congy.

Champagne producers.

A good restaurant in Villevenard.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
So Fy
So Fy

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A lovely walk, though it’s a shame there aren’t any signposts in the vineyards (we had to rely on the route description and GPS to find our way)

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virgule
virgule

The magnificent menhir was struck by a piece of farm machinery, which knocked the top off. What a disaster!!!!! I hope it can be repaired.

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gegemomo
gegemomo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk

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virgule
virgule

It’s because of the pond on the right, behind the trees.

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Beaphil10
Beaphil10

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant walk with varied scenery. An easy route with some lovely views. The only slight downside is the presence of horseflies between points 9 and 10 – so avoid wearing shorts.

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virgule
virgule

Today was the Congy Festival Committee’s walk. It was great fun, as usual.

Make a note of the date: it’s always the last Sunday in June.

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virgule
virgule

Thanks for the photos. In the same area, there’s the hike to the Reclus dolmen.

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ffrantz
ffrantz
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 02, 2017
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk with a variety of landscapes: forests, plains, vineyards and beautiful views from the higher points.
The section through the vineyards is lovely, with sweeping views.
The final section from point 8 is a bit long.
Before heading back into Congy, a donkey in its pen... Photo to prove it
We didn’t use the route description as we have a GPS, and since we’ve got the hang of it, we hardly look at them anymore. However, the map is very useful for getting an overview of the route.
Thanks to whoever suggested this lovely walk to us.

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virgule
virgule

Change made.

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virgule
virgule

I went on the walk again today with some friends. I’ll have to tweak the route a bit, as it goes through some private woodland where walkers aren’t welcome.

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virgule
virgule

It really is a hike not to be missed. In my area, I’ve seen it all: refreshment stations that disappear before the last hiker has passed, stations where there’s nothing left, unclear signposts, signposts being removed whilst there are still people on the route, entry fees that don’t entitle you to anything, and so on...

In Congy, for €3, you get access to two refreshment stations for the 14km or 21km routes. At the first one, there’s a ham or pâté sandwich, all sorts of drinks , and they check in the people as they pass. At the second station, there are drinks, cake and fruit. They check you in again. At the finish line, there’s a welcome drink, and the chance to have a chilled lunch under the market hall.
Another detail that shows proper organisation: the three routes start together, and you can decide at the refreshment stations whether to do more or less than planned.

In short, make a note of this hike, which takes place every year around the last Sunday in June.

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virgule
virgule

Organised hike in Congy on 28 June 2015. I usually steer clear of organised hikes, but this time I’m going along with my hiking friends, as it really is a region worth exploring

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virgule
virgule

Hello,
few people in the Marne region are aware of these Neolithic remains. There are others in the area; I’ll post the routes online as soon as I’ve mapped them out.

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