From Avenay-Val-d'Or to Rilly-la-Montagne via the Via Campaniensis

This is a lovely 21 km hike through vineyards and forests. It follows the^GR®141(the old Roman road Via Campaniensis) and the^GR®14, which makes it relatively easy to follow. There is no return to the starting point. Leave your cars at Avenay-Val-d'Or station and return by TER train from Rilly-la-Montagne.
Although you are following the Camino de Santiago, it is wonderfully peaceful. During the week, apart from one or two foresters, you will only encounter deer.

Details

n°52383

Creation:
20 Feb 2014

Last update:
03 Jan 2024

Last review:
08 Jun 2023

Activity: Walking
Distance: 21.29 km
Average duration: 6h 40
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: No
Ascent: + 216 m
Descent: - 165 m
Highest point: 272 m
Lowest point: 108 m

Country: France
District: Avenay-Val-d'Or (51160)
Start: N 49.064338° / E 4.043592°
End: N 49.166867° / E 4.04106°
Accessible from the train station Gare d'Avenay.
IGN map(s): Ref. 2713E, 2812O, 2813O
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Description of the walk

The hike starts at the Avenay TER station, which can be reached by train from Épernay or Reims, or by car, parking in the station car park (free).
From the station car park, head towards Mutigny (D201) by crossing the tracks at the level crossing. After 50 metres, take the path on the right that climbs through the vineyards.

(1) Follow it to the edge of the woods. Do not enter the woods, but take the path on the left, between the woods and the vineyards. You will soon reach the^GR®14.

(2) Take it to the left towards Mutigny. In Mutigny, you will pass in front of the church.

(3) Nice view. You can get water at the cemetery next door. Continue to follow the^GR® towards Rilly-la-Montagne (towards the top of the village). It follows the route of the old Roman road through the woods. Wear high-top, waterproof shoes if it has rained.

After a kilometre through the woods, you will come to a signpost indicating Rilly straight ahead and Champillon on the left. Continuing straight ahead will shorten the hike.

(4) The full hike (marked on the map) takes the path to Champillon on the left.
You will pass a pretty manor house (La Malmaison).

(5) Continue towards Champillon. When you reach the first houses in Champillon, do not go down into the village.

(6) Follow the^GR®14variant between the houses and the woods (you will arrive at Rue de Bel Air, which you follow, a flat route). You will pass by the water tower.

(7) Continue and pass by the skate park and tennis courts. You will arrive at a wider path.

(8) Turn right towards the Neuville en Beauvoir lodge. Flat, carriageway with very few cars.
Arrive at the lodge.

(9) Take the path that branches off to the left behind the small square. After one kilometre, you will pass a pretty pond.

(10) Continue straight ahead until you reach the old Roman road, where you will rejoin the^GR®141.

(1) Follow it slightly to the left. After one kilometre, you will cross the Germaine road (D71 tarmac road).

(12) Follow it for 300 metres to the right.

(13) Return to the^GR® which enters the woods on the left (follow the markers). Take care when crossing.
Then follow the^GR® to Rilly-la-Montagne, first on a dirt track, then on a forest road. There is no traffic, except for the occasional forest ranger.
Towards Rilly-la-Montagne, there is a fairly steep descent.

(14) Cross the Route du Champagne (watch out for cars) and at the corner of the church, take Rue Carnot on the left to the station (S/E).

Waypoints

S : km 0 - alt. 108 m - Avenay railway station - Marne (la)
1 : km 0.1 - alt. 111 m - Path on the right
2 : km 0.84 - alt. 158 m - GR14
3 : km 1.91 - alt. 211 m - Mutigny Church
4 : km 3.61 - alt. 248 m - Carrefour voie romaine - Rilly
5 : km 5.81 - alt. 261 m - Château de la Malmaison
6 : km 6.58 - alt. 256 m - Champillon, GR14 variant
7 : km 7.41 - alt. 264 m - Water tower
8 : km 7.8 - alt. 266 m - Carrefour lodge Neuville en Beauvoir - Point de vue de Champillon
9 : km 9.49 - alt. 267 m - Lodge Neuville en Beauvoir
10 : km 9.8 - alt. 265 m - Grand Etang
11 : km 10.73 - alt. 257 m - GR141 (Roman Way)
12 : km 11.7 - alt. 260 m - D71
13 : km 12.09 - alt. 261 m - GR141 (Roman Way)
14 : km 20.59 - alt. 170 m - Rilly la Montagne
E : km 21.29 - alt. 157 m - Avenay railway station

Notes

This hike can be done from Reims or Epernay (or even Paris) by train, which can be convenient if you don't have a car or if you prefer to use public transport.

There is a water source at the Mutigny cemetery. Cafés and shops can be found in Avenay and Rilly la Montagne.
Trains between Rilly and Avenay around 6pm and 7pm, even on Sundays (check for details). It is possible to do the hike in the opposite direction from Rilly, but the start will be steeper.

For hikers who would like to walk out from Avenay or do the Montagne de Reims circuit, there is a very well-regarded stopover lodge in Avenay:

https://www.tourisme-champagne-ardenne.c...

Worth a visit

Champagne cellars in Avenay-Val-d'Or and Rilly-la-Montagne.

You can make a detour via Germaine, where there is a bakery and a water source (the wash house in the hamlet of Les Haies). You can also take the train if you want to shorten the hike, as Germaine is on the Épernay-Reims TER line.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5

Route interest
4.3 / 5

virgule

08 Jun 2023 at 22:50 7200

Hello,

thank you for this advice.

The Haute Borne road will soon be used for intensive tree felling. The Nature Park suggests avoiding this road, but this is only a recommendation. There is likely to be a lot of lorry traffic.

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Isabelle Godfroy

08 Jun 2023 at 21:06 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route is almost entirely through forest, except for the climb through the vineyards at the start and the village of Mutigny. Beautiful views over the Marne valley. Variety of paths: forest tracks or narrow footpaths.
Pleasant break near the Neuville pond.
Option to shorten the route by a few kilometres by taking the train at Germaine station instead of Rilly (turn right at Chemin de la Haute Borne = GRP).

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virgule

15 Jul 2022 at 19:37 7200

The tap at Germaine's wash house was dry in April 2014, and it is still dry in April 2019.

There is a tap at Germaine's picnic area. If there is no water there, there is water at the cemetery, which is not far away.

The Three-Legged Deer grocery store is now open

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

It's a very nice place.

https://le-cerf-a-3-pattes.fr/

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virgule

15 Jul 2022 at 19:33 7200

Last week, we met five pilgrims. A French couple, a Belgian couple, and a Serbian man living in Belgium.

This is only possible when walking from south to north. Very pleasant encounters.

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virgule

05 Dec 2019 at 12:53 3600

In Rilly, they go hunting on Sundays.

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virgule

02 Aug 2019 at 19:23 7200 • Edited: 02 Aug 2019 at 19:24 7200

For hikers who would like to walk out from Avenay or tour the Montagne de Reims, there is a very well-regarded stopover lodge in Avenay:

https://www.tourisme-champagne-ardenne.c...

At least one Visorandonneur member has already stayed there and was very satisfied. Open all year round, except during the grape harvest.

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picoteuse

03 Jun 2019 at 10:51 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Beautiful hike, varied, slightly long stretch of forest road in full sun, but thanks to the GPS track, everything went well.

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ovil

09 May 2019 at 23:00 7200

Since the GR 141 no longer appears on the latest edition of the IGN map, should this reference be removed? However, the GR markings still exist on the descent to Rilly and across the town.
Indeed, with the map and a few signposts, it is easy to find your way around.

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virgule

09 May 2019 at 09:05 7200

Thank you for this review

The signposting in the area is random and inconsistent, so it's best to rely on the map. Should I change the description?

You chose your day well, yesterday, 8 May, was disastrous.

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ovil

08 May 2019 at 23:39 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 07, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We took the first train from Paris (6:36 a.m.) to catch the 8:02 a.m. TER train in Epernay so we could start the hike in Avenay. The next train (7:06 a.m.) would have forced us to start from Rilly and do the hike in reverse. Otherwise, there is the TGV and TER trains from Reims.
There were some supply issues, as the bakery in Avenay is closed on Tuesdays and the grocery store that delivers bread doesn't open until 9 a.m.
In Champillon, a motorist kindly drove us to the bakery in Dizy, but we had to walk straight back through the vineyards to Royal Champagne, where we found our way again.
Be careful, when you reach the old Roman road after the pond, you are on a yellow and red GRP marked trail called GRP Montagne de Reims on the IGN 2813 SB 2018 edition map, which turns right at the junction with the GRP de l'Ardre. The GR 141 seems to no longer exist.
From there and on the forest road, there are no GR markings. They only reappear on the descent and when crossing Rilly.
It was a pleasant hike, even though we didn't see any deer, but the birdsong accompanied us as we made our way through the forest.

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virgule

20 Apr 2019 at 09:23 7200

Very good idea, Ay station. This alternative route makes for a pleasant climb.

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LaurentM78

20 Apr 2019 at 08:39 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The tap at Germaine's wash house was dry in April 2014, and it is still dry in April 2019.
We took a different route, starting from Aÿ station and climbing through the vineyards towards Mutigny.
We didn't encounter any foresters, but we did see two deer, as promised.

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virgule

12 Nov 2018 at 19:29 3600

Thank you for this review

In our region, you shouldn't rely too much on signposts, which are often missing, intermittent or even completely wrong. The upside is that the hiking trails aren't crowded.

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Luc Geiregat

12 Nov 2018 at 16:01 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We missed white/red in the village of Mutigny and leaving the village of Dizy.

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virgule

23 Aug 2018 at 17:53 7200

Thank you for this review.

This hike isn't very popular, I suppose because it's not a circular route. However, it's very easy to get there by TER train, either from Rilly or from Avenay.

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virgule
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