In the Ardre valley, starting from Ville-Dommange.

This is a lovely walk in a little-known area, the Ardre Valley. The walk takes you over hills and through valleys, across Champagne vineyards, fields and forests. It starts at the beautiful Saint-Lié Chapel in Ville-Dommange.

Details

n°71670

Creation:
27 Jul 2014

Last update:
11 Nov 2024

Last review:
24 Feb 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 21.25 km
Average duration: 6h 55
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 295 m
Descent: - 300 m
Highest point: 228 m
Lowest point: 101 m

Country: France
District: Ville-Dommange (51390)
Start/End: N 49.204045° / E 3.930219°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2712E
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Photos

The cross at the Saint Lié chapel in Ville-Dommange

Description of the walk

The walk starts from the Chapelle Saint-Lié in Ville-Dommang, where there is a small car park.

(S/E) Take the^GR®142north through the vineyards. Be careful not to take the sunken path on the right that descends towards the village.
For the first ten kilometres, follow the^GR®142. Please note that the current 1:25,000 IGN map (base map used by Visorando) shows a route for^{the GR®142}that is no longer the current route. Do not rely solely on the description; follow the route on the map.

(1) Cross the D980 (be careful, there is a lot of traffic). Do not go straight ahead, but walk 10 metres to the left before rejoining the^GR® on the right.
After ignoring all the paths on the right and left, arrive at Saint-Euphraise (Rue du Moulin) by crossing the D206.

(2) Pass near the church (Rue de la Gare) and continue on the^GR®142(Rue d'Aubilly) to Aubilly, which you cross, passing near the church on your right.

(3) Turn right onto Rue de la Barbe aux Cannes to join the^GRP® de l'Ardre.

(4). Turn left towards Sarcy.

(5) Cross the Ardre and join the D386 (Rue de l'Abbaye).

(6) Turn left to enter the village. Turn left (Rue des Forges), then right (Rue de la Gare) and left again (Rue des Marolles), following the^GRP® markers^. Leave the village and after 500 metres, you will reach the vineyards.

(7) The path crosses the vineyard halfway up the hillside.

(8) When you reach the fork at the edge of the vineyards, follow the path that descends sharply to the left between the vineyards and crops. The path to the right leads to the Italian cemetery, which you can visit, then retrace your steps.
Cross the D386 and continue straight ahead.

(9) Cross Bligny via Rue de la Barre aux Cannes, then Rue des Setiers, following the^GRP® markings^. Cross the D980 (on the left is the national necropolis and the German cemetery of Bligny) and continue straight ahead on the dirt road.

(10) When you see the Moulin de Chaumuzy, leave the marked route and turn left onto the path that climbs towards the woods. Cross the small wood and descend through the vineyards towards Bouilly (Rue des Vignes).

(11) At the church, turn right (Rue Saint-Rémy) and pass by the Commonwealth military cemetery.

(12) Continue straight ahead and, after 100 metres, turn left onto the path lined with a hedge and do not head towards the vineyards.

(13) Turn right and walk behind the Onrézy farm. The path runs alongside ruined buildings and is not always well maintained. Watch out for nettles. Continue through the small wood on the path, which is very muddy in places.

(14) Cross the D6 and continue straight ahead. Cross a small wood via a very steep and very clayey path.

(15). When you reach the small road, turn right, walk 100 metres, then turn left to reach the Saint-Lié Chapel and the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 221 m - Chapelle Saint-Lié (Ville-Dommange)
1 : km 1.03 - alt. 188 m - Crossing the D980
2 : km 4.01 - alt. 131 m - Village of Sainte-Euphraise-et-Clairizet
3 : km 6.2 - alt. 133 m - Village of Aubilly, church
4 : km 7.8 - alt. 130 m - GRP de l'Ardre
5 : km 8.97 - alt. 101 m - Cross the - Ardre (rivière)
6 : km 9.36 - alt. 107 m - Sarcy, junction with the D386
7 : km 10.6 - alt. 151 m - Sarcy vineyard
8 : km 12.14 - alt. 167 m - At the edge of the vineyards, fork, left. Near the - Cimetière militaire italien de Bligny
9 : km 13.79 - alt. 143 m - Bligny. Near the - Nécropole nationale de Bligny
10 : km 15.15 - alt. 134 m - Fork in the road near the Chaumuzy mill.
11 : km 17.8 - alt. 157 m - Bouilly Church
12 : km 18.48 - alt. 147 m - Commonwealth Cemetery - Cimetière militaire britannique de Bouilly
13 : km 19.19 - alt. 159 m - Onrezy farm
14 : km 20.2 - alt. 179 m - D6, cross and take the road opposite.
15 : km 20.66 - alt. 198 m - Cross the small wood.
S/E : km 21.25 - alt. 221 m - Saint-Lié Chapel

Notes

Drinking water is available at the cemetery of the Chapelle Saint-Lié and in the cemeteries of the villages you pass through. Please note that there is no water at the military cemetery in Bouilly.

The part of the route near the Onrézy farm is very difficult in wet weather. Wear high-top shoes and do not wear shorts because of the nettles.

Please note: to avoid getting lost at the Onrézy farm, do not reverse the direction of this hike.

There is a café-restaurant with a very pleasant terrace in Sarcy.

Worth a visit

Two First World War military cemeteries can be visited on this route.
The villages you pass through are in the Champagne wine-growing region, so you can visit vineyards and enjoy a glass of bubbly.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5

Route interest
4.3 / 5

Karen24

24 Feb 2025 at 08:26 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Trail route, beautiful route despite a few tarmac roads that take you out of nature and could leave you without shade in summer. The paths were very muddy with large ruts, but that's to be expected at this time of year. The route is really well defined with the app, so there's no difficulty there.

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virgule

27 Mar 2024 at 14:05 3600

If you are available this summer, we would love to have a local guide with us.

Hello, yes, why not. It's a good choice, the region is very beautiful and not too crowded. You can walk around very peacefully, and there's lots to see.

But I won't be there all summer.

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POULIN Gérard

26 Mar 2024 at 13:00 3600

Hello sev62520,
I have deleted your email because it is not advisable to leave your contact details on websites.
Virgule will reply via private message (PM).

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sev62520

26 Mar 2024 at 12:08 3600 • Edited: 26 Mar 2024 at 12:57 3600

Hello Virgule
I am organising a 5-day hike this summer around Epernay. I have based it on your Visio Rando hikes.
If you are available this summer, we would be delighted to have a local guide with us.
If you are interested,
Kind regards,

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virgule

30 Aug 2023 at 15:55 7200

Hello,

I went back to Onrezy Farm today. The path has been mowed, but there is a wet patch and some nettles near the farm. Nothing insurmountable.

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virgule

16 Jun 2021 at 07:31 7200

Thank you for this review. The fact that the path to Ferme d'Onrezy has been mowed is excellent news.

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neronis

15 Jun 2021 at 14:42 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A fairly long hike that gives a complete overview of what Champagne has to offer in terms of scenery: vast fields of grain, a few woods, tiny charming villages, vineyards and wide open views that make it fairly easy to find your way. In this regard, the description is excellent, as is the route marked on the map. The only point where I really had doubts was not the Onrézy farm (the nettle-covered path had been recently mowed when I passed by, although it was indeed damp), but the exit from Sarcy. At the top of the street, there is a fork between two paths and no GRP marker: you have to take the left-hand path, which climbs steeply. Ultimately, the real downside is the nature of the route itself. There is quite a lot of tarmac (small roads, admittedly, but tarmac nonetheless) and ultimately few woods, so little shade: sunglasses and a hat are absolutely essential in good weather in summer, even if you are not particularly sensitive and even in moderate heat.

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DEUTZ

19 Oct 2020 at 15:24 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very smooth route with no difficulties.

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virgule

28 Jun 2020 at 22:22 7200

For km 9 in Sarcy, you're right. I think the GR must have moved. I was there last week and took the same route as you, via the little bridge.

At km 21, that's where I go too, but the route on my map is easier to explain.

It's a magnificent valley, not very well known. And the café-restaurant in Sarcy is a really nice place.

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virgule

28 Jun 2020 at 22:11 7200

Thank you for your review.

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jlucgentil

28 Jun 2020 at 18:05 7200

Returned this morning and completed the entire hike/run in a group of nine. 2 hours 57 minutes for 21.112 km and 371 m elevation gain on my GPS.
A beautiful, varied route for runners: dirt, stone and grass paths, a little road and the famous passage behind the Onrézy farm, which is not to be missed. "A little muddy but not too much, and a path where you have to make your own way through the undergrowth – we loved it!" We also loved the path that followed the tall, uncut grass.
We made two changes to avoid the roadside and crossing a village.
1/ At around km 9, turn left onto the GRP de l'Ardre towards Sarcy just before leaving the GR142 on the right, cross the bridge over the Ardre and cross (D386) Rue de l'Abaye, then turn opposite Rue de la Gare to rejoin the route.
2/ At around km 21, when you reach the small road (D6), turn slightly left opposite the vineyards and a little further on to the right to return to the starting point.
My route on OpenRunner: https://www.openrunner.com/r/10976069
Thank you for this route.

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virgule

11 Feb 2020 at 20:28 3600

We'll have to go back, it's the highlight of the hike. The Koh Lanta of the Marne

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jlucgentil

11 Feb 2020 at 12:16 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We avoided this section, near the military cemetery in Bouilly, after three hours of running in the storm. Some of us couldn't take it anymore, so we finished the remaining 2–3 kilometres along the D980.

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virgule

10 Feb 2020 at 19:18 3600

Were you able to get to the Onrézy farm without getting your feet wet?

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jlucgentil

10 Feb 2020 at 12:31 3600 • Edited: 10 Feb 2020 at 12:38 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Did this route yesterday at the start of Storm Ciara, trail running with my training group.
We strayed from the route twice, due to our own lack of attention to changes in direction.
But we easily found our way back to the original route and the total mileage was almost identical.

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Author

virgule
79 Walks

Visorando member

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