Courtieux walks

A hike through the hills and valleys around the Saint-Martin fountain.

A walk retracing the period from September to November 1914 and June 1916. This marks the end of the war of movement and the transition to a war of position in the north of the Aisne. We will visit Lieutenant-Colonel Reboul’s command post (June 1916), the monument to those executed at Vingré (November–December 1914), the Broken Cross, the ruins of the Confrecourt farm and the quarries (September 1914).

During the First World War, the front line divided the commune of Autrèches in two! This memorial hike recounts the lives of the combatants on both sides as well as those of the inhabitants during those four difficult years.

In December 1914, six French soldiers were shot as an example in the village of Vingré. This memorial hike retraces these events from the beginning of the First World War. The route is first marked by a transcription of the last letter written by these unfortunate men and by the sober monument that pays tribute to them. We pass by the Broken Cross, then the ruins of the Farm and the quarries of Confrécourt, all of which bear witness to the unprecedented violence of this war.

Starting from the village of Fontenoy, climb up to the plateau between fields and woods. The start of the descent is marked by the passage to the Guésot quarries, which served as barracks for French troops during the First World War. The end of the hike takes place in the Aisne valley and along the edge of ponds.

The route begins with a grassy path that climbs 60 metres, offering a beautiful ascent at the start. It then continues on flat terrain, following agricultural paths that are ideal for enjoying the surroundings while walking at a leisurely pace. After this section, a descent leads to the picturesque village of Saint-Pierre-Aigle, a charming place to take a short break. The rest of the route takes you into the forest, with 8 kilometres of forest paths, pleasant and varied terrain, perfect for nature lovers. You then cross the village of Montgobert, adding a touch of diversity before returning to the plain. The return journey is along farm tracks, offering wide views and unobstructed vistas of the surrounding countryside. Finally, a last descent takes you to ValseryAbbey, a historic site that provides a beautiful conclusion to this route.

We invite you to discover an itinerary combining history and nature, offering exceptional panoramic views of the village of Saint-Pierre-Aigle. A grassy path will lead us towards the Dommier quarry, before we take a farm track that will take us to Saint-Pierre-Aigle. Here, we will have a magnificent view of the village's central square and church. The hike continues through Chafossepour to reach the surrounding forest. After this immersion in the rural world, we will continue our journey through the undergrowth for about 2 km, sheltered by the coolness of the trees. Nature will then reveal the place known as Le Trou Madelon, where we will gradually emerge from the forest and enter the plain. From there, we will walk along the edge of Saint-Pierre, on the edge of the woods, before beginning our descent towards Valsery Abbey.

A lovely, easy walk through nature and heritage, best enjoyed in good weather. Peace, tranquillity and fresh air are its main attractions , culminating in a visit to Valsery Abbey. Guided tours are available at weekends in summer. The passage in front of Montgobert Castle also invites you to visit the Wood Museum. At the end of the route, enjoy rural scenery and a magnificent view from the highest point of the plain over the Mont de Valsery farm. The route is very shaded between the various points (2) and (3) by large trees. You pass near the Ferme de Saint-Agnan (3), one of the first properties of the Abbey of Valsery, 2 km away, then near the Château de Mongobert (4) and at the end of the route near the Ferme du Mont de Valsery (6). The path is wide and pleasant throughout.

This easy walk in the Laigue Forest allows you to discover the charming forest village of Saint-Crépin, admire the Laigue Forest, twin sister of the Compiègne Forest, less visited but just as attractive, and enjoy beautiful views of the wooded hills. A picnic in the shade of the trees with a view is recommended. Circular route.

The Retz Forest was the scene of intense fighting during the two battles of the Marne, in September 1914 and during the summer of 1918. Numerous monuments retrace this history, and this hike offers the opportunity to discover several of them, including a replica of a tall observation tower and a moving military cemetery. Starting from a pretty village with a charmingly simple church, the route is mainly through forest.

Located less than two kilometres from the front line during the First World War, the village of Tracy-le-Mont saw many soldiers passing through on their way to the front and wounded soldiers returning. This memorial hike brings those difficult years back to life and passes through moving places such as the former temporary cemetery and the national necropolis that replaced it.

This lovely forest walk takes you to the small village of Vieux Moulin and the beautiful spa town of Pierrefonds, known throughout France for its 19th-century medieval castle! Also worth seeing on the way back are the Priory of Mont Saint-Pierre, the Pavillon Eugénie and the Étang Saint-Pierre.

A beautiful, easy, flat walk around Mont Saint-Mard in the Compiègne forest. You can enjoy views over the forest from several vantage points, discover remarkable trees and quench your thirst at the Fontaine Maitre Jean fountain. There are two access points by car, one of which is next to a shaded picnic area.

The route begins under the majestic beech trees of the Retz National Forest. It then passes through typical villages with a rich architectural heritage. The path overlooks the valleys of the Ourcq and its tributaries. You will discover the beginning of the Ourcq Canal. The Donjon du Houssoy welcomes you at the end of the route in Crouy-sur-Ourcq.

Fourteenth stage, entirely in the Aisne department, of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France via the GR®11, between the stations of Villers-Cotterêts and La Ferté-Milon. During this stage, we switch to the eastern side of Île-de-France, leaving the Oise basin to reach the Ourcq valley and the Marne basin.As the stage is short, a small (optional) circular in Villers-Cotterêts is suggested at the start, to discover the magnificent park of its equally magnificent château. It can be done after the previous stage completed the day before, with an overnight stay in Villers-Cotterêts.

The Retz Forest was the scene of intense fighting during the two battles of the Marne, in September 1914 and during the summer of 1918. Numerous monuments retrace this history, and this hike, which starts at the foot of the ruins of Longpont Abbey, passes by a memorial built in 1938. Beech and pine forests, with beautiful fern undergrowth, await you on this mainly forest trail.

A beautiful walk in the Valois region between the forests of Retz, Compiègne and Senlis.