Fortified farms of Brie - Le Fief des Epoisses

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Mostly dating from the late Middle Ages, fortified farms are a typical architectural feature of the Brie region. This hike connects several of them, including one of the most famous, the Fief des Epoisses. You will follow paths between fields and small roads with little traffic.

Details

n°154286
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.02 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 8 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 8 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 119 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 105 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Mormant (77720)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 48.583557° / E 2.894652°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2416E, 2516O
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Photos

Points of interest along the route
La Brie
The Fief des Epoisses
Fief of Epoisses

Description of the walk

Start in the village of Lady, at the junction of the D227 (from Bréau to Mormant) and D29 (to Saint-Ouen-en-Brie) departmental roads. Park in Rue de l'Eglise.

Unmarked route

(S/E) Turn your back on the Ferme de la Barre (large building on the west side of the D227) and follow Rue de l'Eglise to the northeast. Pass in front of what remains of the church, namely its bell tower. Cross Rue du Lavoir on the right and turn left into Rue Losier.

(1) At the end, turn left onto Rue de la Ferme and walk for about 100 metres to catch a glimpse of Ferme de Lady (beautiful gate). Retrace your steps.

(1) Continue straight ahead on Rue de la Ferme. At the next crossroads, turn left and follow a farm track for about 100 metres.

(2) At the fork (grove on the right), turn left (due north) onto a grassy path. Pass a yellow two-sided sign.

(3) At the crossroads (white two-sided sign no. 13), turn left onto the farm track and head due east. Cross the D227 road (take care) and continue straight ahead on a small road towards Bombon. You will reach the Ferme de Malassise on your left.

(4) Continue east on the road, which has wide grass verges on either side. Turn left with the road and you will see the roofs of the Fief des Epoisses. The road crosses the Ru de la Fontaine (poplar trees), turns right and quickly reaches the entrance to the Fief des Epoisses.

(5) With your back to the entrance, follow the access road straight ahead (south-west).

(6) When the road turns right, take thefirst farm track on the left. Continue straight ahead between the fields, east-south-east, until you reach the D227 road.

(7) Follow this road to the left and cross Rue du Buat on the right-hand side. At the crossroads at the corner of Ferme de la Barre, take thesecond road on the right, Rue de l'Église, and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 113 m - Lady - Rue de l'Eglise
  2. 1 : km 0.33 - alt. 118 m - Rue de la Ferme
  3. 2 : km 0.9 - alt. 119 m - Fourche - Cote 118
  4. 3 : km 1.62 - alt. 118 m - Crossroads between path and farm track
  5. 4 : km 2.63 - alt. 109 m - Malassise Farm
  6. 5 : km 4.38 - alt. 105 m - Fief des Epoisses
  7. 6 : km 4.77 - alt. 107 m - Crossroads
  8. 7 : km 6.85 - alt. 114 m - Route D227
  9. S/E : km 7.02 - alt. 113 m - Lady - Rue de l'Eglise

Notes

This hike is best undertaken in dry conditions (avoid the day after rain). In wet conditions (tested), your feet will get very wet on the grassy paths and stream banks.

This hike takes place on cultivated plains with virtually no shade. In summer, avoid the hottest days and times of day and bring appropriate sun protection. No water sources identified.

Alternative route (if you are concerned about the monotony of walking across cultivated plains):
It is possible to do only the eastern circular route of this hike, starting from the same point (S). Once you reach Fief des Epoisses, turn back and, at the point, turn right along the Ru de la Fontaine to follow the end of the complete route (last two paragraphs of the description). Allow about 7km and 2 hours.

The fortified farms along this hike are private properties and places of daily activity: farms, lodges, reception centres, etc. Please respect these places.

A 1:25,000 map is essential (at least the one accompanying this description). A compass may be useful...

Hike completed by the author on 10 September 2015.

Worth a visit

Fortified farms and other notable farms:
- Ferme de la Barre, with its dovecote (S/E).
- Ferme de Lady, with a long inner courtyard and a gate at each end, Rue de l'Eglise, shortly after (S) and Rue de la Ferme, shortly after (1).
- Malassise Farm (4).
- Fief des Epoisses (13th century) (5).

Other built heritage:
- Remains of Lady Church, shortly after (S/E). The remaining arches of the nave have been filled in and a house has been built against the bell tower.
- Throughout the hike, in the distance, the bell towers of the churches of Mormant and Bombon.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 8 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
3 / 5
rouelibre77
rouelibre77

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Easy route with no difficulties. Not very interesting, lots of tarmac. Not recommended in hot weather as there is no shade.

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Richard17
Richard17

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

Very long and very tedious crossings of the plain through fields in damp grass. Fortified farms that are difficult to make out behind a curtain of trees. A hike of no interest whatsoever. Keep walking...

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garrigle
garrigle

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Negative:
Rather monotonous hike through rectangular fields, consisting of four long straight lines to cover.
Positive
We passed through the Epoisses region, the weather was fine and we were lucky enough to see a few hares chasing each other.

In conclusion, it's an okay walk if you live nearby, but not worth going out of your way for. Otherwise, the description is spot on.

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Netra
Netra ★

Thank you, lenny77, for these clarifications!

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lenny77
lenny77

Hello Etienne,
I saw the "private property" signs at point 4 towards Lady along the stream, as well as at point 5 to reach the stream towards point 6, and halfway between 5 and 6, again to block the passage along the stream. I did not pass between 7 and 8.
I was coming from Bombon and reached Lady via the path about 300 metres south of the stream. On the Geoportail website, by superimposing the cadastral map and the IGN topographic map, you can see that the path along the stream is private. The vertical path south of point 6 is public.
Best regards
lenny77

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Netra
Netra ★

Hello lenny77, and thank you for your feedback.

I have noted that the banks of the Ru de la Fontaine, between points (4) and (12), are private property. Hence the forgotten warning.

To make sure I understand you correctly,
- Between the points (5) and (6), is it private?
- Between (7) and (8) as well?
Thank you in advance for your reply.

I will post a warning not to undertake the hike before the detour route.

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lenny77
lenny77

Hello,
I can confirm the "Private Property" signs along the Ru de la Fontaine on both sides of the Fief des Epoisse, on both banks, as well as on the section between the fief and the Ru on the west side. I checked the land registry: these are indeed paths created by the owner to manage the fields. I therefore think it would be difficult to keep this passage on a hiking site. It's a shame, because the fief is worth a visit, as is the hamlet of Lady, which is worth a little detour. I didn't do the rest of the route, so I didn't fill in the section to be noted. I therefore used the path south of the stream, but it's less pleasant.
Best regards, lenny77.

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Netra
Netra ★

Re-

Thank you for your detailed reply. I will post a warning about the hike and look for an alternative route.

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webmarc
webmarc

There are two 'private property' signs on either side of the road.
I took the path as indicated in the description and a 4x4 drove towards me and a very unhappy man told me that it was private property.
After discussing it, he allowed me to continue on the path and told me that the prohibition was mainly for vehicles.
Nevertheless, I would advise hikers not to go that way.
It's a shame that all these paths are being privatised.

Marc

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Netra
Netra ★

Hello webmarc, and thank you for your comments.

When I did this hike, there were no signs indicating the status of these paths along the stream, and in particular, there was nothing to indicate that passage was not permitted.

Is the private status now indicated on site? Is there a physical barrier preventing access?

Thank you in advance for your response. Depending on the answer, I will see whether or not it is necessary to change the route, and if so, how.

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webmarc
webmarc

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

An easy hike with the Fief des Epoisses as your reward
However, on the way back to point 4, the two paths that run alongside the stream are private.

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em77
em77

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

A walk through endless fields, a very monotonous landscape.
The real point of interest is the stronghold of Epoisses.

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fcaf91
fcaf91
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Average interest, but the Fief des Epoisses alone is worth the trip. Unfortunately, none of the farms are open to visitors. They are private estates.
Two points to change in the description.
1. The street you take in the village of Lady is called Rue du Closier, not Rue Losier (this applies to both the outward and return journeys).
2. In point (2), you do not head due east on the farm track, but due west.

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sedef
sedef

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The theme of the route is original.

The hike took place in ideal conditions: no blazing sun or rain, which is a good thing because you are always out in the open.

We should also mention the Rouvray farm. It appears to be abandoned.

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nellychemins
nellychemins

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike, done in good weather. The grassy paths do get your feet wet, but they allow you to avoid the mud.
The hamlet of Lady is superb, with beautiful stone houses and an original bell tower. The fortified farms are worth a visit.
The description is perfect, impossible to get lost. Thank you.

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