De Boult-aux-Bois à La Croix-aux-Bois en suivant les traces des Templiers

de fr

Forest route between Boult-aux-Bois and La Croix-aux-Bois.
Set in a magnificent forest, this route largely follows the Sentier des Templiers (PR®14 of the Argonne Ardennaise Community of Communes). This trail is dotted with large, unusual sandstone blocks. These magnificent blocks mark the perimeter ditch that delimited the forest of the Commandery established in Boult-aux-Bois inthe 12th century.
Along the way, you will pass the Fontaine aux Grès, the Blanche Borne, the Borne de Justice, the Gros Grès and the Malassises. All these places are evocative of Boux's past.

Details

n°34496980
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.33 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 160 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 160 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 237 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 168 m
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Photos

The perimeter ditch
The big oak tree
Stream at the edge of the forest

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the Maison de la Nature in Boult-aux-Bois, join the RD947. Turn left. In the bend, continue straight ahead towards the old fortified house of the Commander. (Information panel no. 1). Continue straight ahead, enter the forest and climb up to the place known as Les Jardins Gascons.

(1) Continue along the small path until you reach information panel no. 2. This is where the boundary ditch of the Commanderie estate begins. Continue to the right along this path, keeping straight ahead until you reach a crossroads.

(2) Take the path on the left, going around the first stone of the Templars' ditch. (Information panel no. 3). Continue along the edge of the national forest. After a descent, cross an area of springs and, continuing in the same direction, you will reach the Fontaine aux Grès. (Information panel no. 4).

(3) Turn left and walk along the Templars' ditch. Continue straight ahead on this narrow path. After the place called La Blanche Borne (information panel no. 5), keep to the left of the ditch until you reach the Route Forestière du Grand Colas.

(4) Leave the PR®14. Turn right and climb gently to an elevation of 220 metres. Shortly before the highest point, turn left to join the Toges au Chêne Bibi road. (Mountain bike trail 15).

(5) Turn left onto the small tarmac road to the D947 and follow it to the right to reach Croix aux Bois.

(6) At the town hall, cross the D947, Rue de la Forêt, and head opposite towards the cemetery and the water tower, then descend in the same direction to the pumping station at Ruisseau du Livry.

(7) Turn left and walk to the bottom of a small valley to rejoin the PR®14. Head right towards Les Malassises (information sign no. 6).

(8) Take the path on the left and continue straight ahead until you reach a small tarmac road. Cross it and continue opposite the Templiers ditch. After a long descent followed by a long climb, turn left into the ditch. Descend 120 m and turn right to join the forest road leading to Gros Chêne.

(9) Take the forest road on the left to Gros Chêne (information panel no. 9).
9 December 2023: this remarkable tree fell to the ground at the end of November: see Practical information.

(10) Leave the forest road and turn right onto a small path that runs more or less alongside the meadows. Leave the woods and rejoin a wide path. Shortly after a hunting cabin, turn right onto Rue de la Héronnière to return to La Maison de la Nature (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 172 m - Boult aux Bois Nature Centre
  2. 1 : km 1.13 - alt. 233 m - Gascon Garden
  3. 2 : km 1.65 - alt. 236 m - First stone of the Templars
  4. 3 : km 3.42 - alt. 194 m - The sandstone fountain
  5. 4 : km 4.05 - alt. 194 m - RF du Grand Colas
  6. 5 : km 5.27 - alt. 208 m - Route de La Croix aux Bois in Toges. Bibi Oak
  7. 6 : km 6.47 - alt. 203 m - The Wooden Cross
  8. 7 : km 7.15 - alt. 169 m - Pumping station
  9. 8 : km 8.98 - alt. 220 m - Les Malassises
  10. 9 : km 11.42 - alt. 193 m - RF leading to the Gros Chêne
  11. 10 : km 12.68 - alt. 180 m - The Gros Chêne
  12. S/E : km 14.33 - alt. 172 m - Boult aux Bois Nature Centre

Notes

Worth a visit

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.

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Reviews and comments

4 / 5
Based on 1 review
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
virgule
virgule

Hello,

you can host your photos on Servimg, for example, and copy their URL (share their address).

You can also set your track to "public" mode and copy its URL here.

Or simply indicate between which waypoints there is a problem.

Machine-translated

Thierry MARTIN
Thierry MARTIN
• Edited:

Hello
I took two screenshots with some illustrations to pinpoint the problem I encountered during my hike.
I have a minor technical issue in that I am unable to copy my images into the message, and when I click to add an attachment, I only have access to a URL that I do not know how to use (I only have local addresses for my images).
Best regards
Thierry MARTIN

Machine-translated

bozierbruno
bozierbruno

A screenshot should suffice.
Thank you

Machine-translated

Thierry MARTIN
Thierry MARTIN

Hello
You can see it quite clearly on my hiking route. I don't know if there's an easy way to send it to you, otherwise I'll make an image from this route and send it to you in a few days..
Thierry Martin

Machine-translated

bozierbruno
bozierbruno

Hello Thierry,
Thank you for your feedback
Could you specify where you encountered difficulties?
Happy hiking!
Bozierbruno

Machine-translated

Thierry MARTIN
Thierry MARTIN

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Part of the circuit is completely impassable because the forest has been cut down and replaced by thick undergrowth that is impossible to traverse..
Otherwise, the boundary ditch of the former Templar commandery is of remarkable historical interest, and there is an impressive collection of remarkable oak and beech trees!

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