In the Neufchâteau forest

This walk is simply intended as a chance to recharge your batteries in the forest, in this case the Neufchâteau forest. Passing through the Forges de Mellier and the Étang du Cul de l'Oie.

Details

863183
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.69 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 158 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 156 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 447 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 372 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking is available near the Notre-Dame du Chenel Chapel on Rue du Chenel in Marbehan.

(S/E) Opposite the chapel, take the road on its left. Follow the road, which becomes a forest track, until you reach a crossroads.

(1) Take the path on your right, which becomes a track. Stay on it until you reach the forest road.

(2) At a place called "Le Chenel", turn right and go down to the N897. Cross the national road and continue along the path opposite. Cross over the river "La Mellier" and then at a place called "Forges Basses".

(3) At the T-junction, turn left. Walk to the right of the buildings and follow the Étang des Forges Basses. Pass under the railway bridge and continue.

(4) Take the path up to your right. Pass through the hamlet of Forges de Mellier and continue along the path until you reach the tarmac road.

(5) Turn left and go down the road, passing over the railway line. Walk along the Étang des Forges Hautes. Turn right at the corner of the lake and head towards the main road. Cross the N897 and take the path opposite, turning right. At the first two crossroads, continue straight ahead.

(6) At the third crossroads with a picnic table, turn left and go down the forest path.

(7) Further down, ignore the path on your right. Pass a shelter with a table and walk along the Étang du Cul de l'Oie lake. At the bend, continue to the left, go up the path and walk for 1 km.

(8) At the crossroads, turn right (GR® markings). Stay on the main forest track and cross a ford.

(9) At the bend with a wider path, continue straight ahead. A path will join you on your right; continue straight ahead. Follow the main path, which makes an S-bend at a clear-cut area.

(1) Turn right to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 378 m - Notre-Dame du Chenel Chapel
  2. 1 : km 0.51 - alt. 392 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 1.42 - alt. 409 m - Le Chenel
  4. 3 : km 1.9 - alt. 374 m - Forges Basses, on the left
  5. 4 : km 2.39 - alt. 377 m - Path climbing to the right
  6. 5 : km 3.39 - alt. 404 m - Tarmac road on the left
  7. 6 : km 5.15 - alt. 447 m - Crossroads with picnic table
  8. 7 : km 6.12 - alt. 409 m - Path on the left
  9. 8 : km 7.21 - alt. 438 m - On the right, GR markings.
  10. 9 : km 8.09 - alt. 411 m - Wider path
  11. S/E : km 9.68 - alt. 378 m - Notre-Dame du Chenel Chapel

Notes

Picnic table at Forges Hautes and at (6).
Shelter and table at the Étang du Cul de l'Oie.
Various markings will be used, but only for a short distance, so I have not indicated them.
From October to December, check the hunting dates. We take part of the Forges de Mellier walk (Tarpan Habay) and the Cailloux Blancs walk (Tarpan l'Eglise).

Worth a visit

During

Notre-Dame du Chenel Chapel in Marbehan.
Forges Basses and Hautes de Mellier.
Cul de l'Oie pond.

Near

Brasserie de la Rulles.

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.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Nicolas Sélenium
Nicolas Sélenium

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk in the forest with a few water points, benches and tables for breaks.

(At the end, the clear-cut area is now colonised by birch trees, a pioneer species.)

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User 10519849

Thank you, I thought I had done so...

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lemarcheur65
lemarcheur65 ★

Hello User 10519849
As long as there is network coverage (Wi-Fi, data), before each hike, remember to download the map for your chosen hike.
This will allow the app to work without a network connection once you are on site. The smartphone's GPS chip works without any network connection.

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User 10519849

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Technical problem???
When I arrived at the site, I was unable to retrieve the description of the hike I had planned on my smartphone. Even though I had a list of hikes in the Neufchâteau area, when I selected the hike I wanted, a different one appeared. As a result, I was unable to use the visorando guidance service
I had to make do with the map I had printed out beforehand, which meant I got lost because the description I had printed out was wrong. There were several places where I should have found picnic tables, but I never found them. I don't know if they're still there.
Question: does the system work offline?
I'm going to try again, because it's worth the trip.

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Ardin Midré
Ardin Midré

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful route after several days of rain, varied and through magnificent forests. Highly recommended and known by several of our walking friends: to be repeated soon.

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randomiquinqua
randomiquinqua

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk offering a symphony of beech and oak trees, each one more beautiful than the last. Passes by several points of historical interest as well.

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grandin
grandin ★

Thank you for the information.

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mdepaifve
mdepaifve

Hello,

Unfortunately, a case of swine fever was detected in the area last week and the walk has been closed since the weekend of 23/24 February.

I advise anyone wishing to walk in the area to check with the tourist information office of the relevant municipality before setting off to see whether the walk is accessible or not... Tourist information offices and tourist offices are generally well informed.

Michel

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spj
spj

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice hike.

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lazzerini
lazzerini
grandin
grandin ★

Thank you, Carla.

I have added this information to the description. I will leave it to you to delete it once the issue has been resolved.

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lazzerini
lazzerini

Hello,
For your information
there is a major outbreak of African swine fever in the hiking area.
There is a total ban on movement in an area of at least 63,000 hectares until 14 October 2018
See map of the area:
http://www.lalibre.be/actu/belgique/pest...
As this hike is on the edge of the affected area, it is best to avoid it for the time being.

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dobb
dobb

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, varied terrain, easy paths: definitely worth doing again!

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