From Crouy-sur-Ourcq to Isles-lès-Meldeuses between Ourcq and Marne

Access: Crouy-sur-Ourcqstation on the Meaux - La Ferté-Milon branch of the Transilien P.

White and red markings (GR®11)

(S) From the station square, turn right and follow the tracks. Turn right to cross the level crossing, then the Ourcq, and continue straight on along the road that crosses the marshes to the Canal de l'Ourcq.

(1) Turn left to follow the canal along its towpath. Pass the bend to the right and reach the Ferme de Gesvres.

(2) Continue along the canal, follow its bend to the left and continue to the bridge.

(3) Leave the canal by crossing the bridge on the right, and a little further on, take the path that climbs to the right of the road.

(4) At the top, at the entrance to May-en-Multien, at a calvary, take the Rue de Chevaupierre path on the right. Pass to the left of the sports facilities and a school, and head for the church opposite.

(5) Go around the church on your left and follow Rue de Crouy until you reach the crossroads with Ruelle du Pressoir.

(6) Turn left and follow the road, then after 50 metres, take the path on the right. This will take you to the roundabout at Place de l'Ancien Calvaire.

(7) Continue straight ahead on Rue du Pré Gault, which turns to the right. Follow it to the right until you reach the perpendicular Rue de Lizy, at the edge of the village.

(8) Turn left onto this road (D147, fairly busy), and after 300 m, turn off onto a smaller road. Follow this road for about 2 km, first on the plateau, then downhill with a left-hand bend, then a right-hand hairpin bend, to reach the hamlet of Vernelle in the valley.

(9) Cross the hamlet and reach the bridge. Cross it and rejoin the canal towpath on its left bank.

(10) Follow the canal to the right, which curves sharply to the left, passing under the LGV Est viaduct. Follow a tighter bend to the right, pass behind a business park at the entrance to Lizy-sur-Ourcq, and continue to the town.

(11) Cross the road (D401) to continue along the canal for about 100 metres. Then turn left onto Rue du Canal and arrive at Place de Verdun.

(12) Continue straight ahead on Avenue de la Gare, cross the bridge over the Ourcq, then continue straight ahead to the junction with Avenue Carnot, the third on the right.

(13) Take this road, going around the sports area on Place de la République on the right. Continue right onto Avenue Benoist, then immediately left onto Rue du Stade.

(14) At the end, turn right to cross a bridge over a branch of the Ourcq, then continue straight ahead, passing two other branches.

(15) Take Rue de l'Ourcq on the left, then Rue du Vieux Château as it continues, until you reach Rue Jean Jaurès, where you turn left and come to a street.

(16) Take the street on the left towards the church, then turn right onto Ruelle des Morts.

(17) Go to the end of the car park and follow the path into the woods. Continue until you find yourself between the river (on the left) and the Canal de l'Ourcq (on the right, slightly elevated), both running parallel.

(18) Continue between the two waterways until you reach the confluence of the Ourcq River and the Marne.

(19) Now continue between the Marne and the Canal de l'Ourcq.

(20) Find the canal towpath and reach a road after 600 metres, at the entrance to Villers-lès-Rigault.

(21) Continue along the canal for another 400 m until you reach the outlet of the water supply canal from the pumping station located below.

(22) Turn left and follow the underground canal downhill. You will arrive at the gates of the Villers-lès-Rigault pumping station.

(23) Turn right onto Rue du Grand Voyeux, then left towards the bridge over the Marne.

(24) Cross the bridge on a footbridge separate from the road and head towards Isles-lès-Meldeuses opposite.

(25) At the first crossroads, take Chemin des Islettes on the right, and immediately turn left, following the path that climbs between the houses to the church. Continue right along Ruelle de l'Église and join Route de Trilport (D17).

(26) Take the road on the left, then turn right after 200 metres to reach the station 200 metres away (E).

Return: Isles-Armentières-Congisstation on the Meaux - La Ferté-Milon branch of the Transilien P.

(S) Crouy-sur-Ourcq station, the last station in the Paris region on the Meaux - La Ferté-Milon branch of the Transilien P. Paris region fare available. One train per hour in each direction. Connection required at Meaux from Paris-Est.

(E) Isles-Armentières-Congis station on the same Meaux - La Ferté-Milon branch of the Transilien P. Same frequency and same connection required at Meaux for Paris-Est.

See theÎle-de-France Mobilités website for timetables.

Another easy stage along the Canal de l'Ourcq, then the Marne, except for the climb to May-en-Multien on the western plateau. But it is possible to avoid this detour and continue along the canal between (3) and (9).

It is possible to split the stage in two at Lizy-sur-Ourcq station at (13), although this is already three-quarters of the way through the stage.

Hike completed on¹ March 2025 with the aim of covering the entire GR® 11.

• Ourcq Canal from (1) to (3) then from (9) to (22).
• Château du Houssoy in front of Crouy-sur-Ourcq station (S).
• The village of May-en-Multien and its church, from (4) to (8).
• Lizy-sur-Ourcq and the banks of the Ourcq River, from (11) to (18).
• Confluence of the Ourcq and Marne rivers (19).
• Villers-lès-Rigault pumping station on the banks of the Marne (23), and its water supply canal to the Ourcq canal, between (22) and (23).
• The Marne, between (19) and (20) and on the bridge at (24).
• Saint-Caprais Church in Isles-lès-Meldeuses (26).