An outing is the Créçois Country

A hike through the vast open areas of the Briarde countryside with large rolling hills and views as far as the eye can see, followed by shaded areas in the valley and on the Grand Morin hillsides. Pieces of the architectural heritage along the way, churches, mills and wash-houses, make the trip that more worthwhile.

The hike can be shortened to a 15 km walk, or split into two, one 8 km and the other 12 km (see useful information).

Details

211060
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 20.23 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 217 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 214 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 134 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 45 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start
Saint-Germain-sur-Morin station car park, Rue du Marché.

(S/F) Head north, turn right and cross the railway crossing.

PR Waymarks (Yellow)

Cross the bridge and the crossroads and continue slightly askew to the right towards Coulommiers. Then keep to the left along Rue Pasteur leading to the church.

(1) Go around the church and keep following Rue Pasteur until a passage along a brook next to an EDF sub-station. Head left down the passage and once out go right onto Chemin des Fossés. Cross the next crossroads and head along Résidence du Corbier.

No Waymarks

Keep going straight on Chemin des Caves. Cross the crossroads with Rue de Moulignon. At the next junction (2) keep to the left on the grassy trail roughly following a contour line before heading downhill to the small valley five hundred meters further. It leads to a small degraded road.
After a turn to the right, followed by another to the left, you'll arrive near a tubular tunnel passing under the A4.

(3) The tunnel is horizontally split in two by metal grating: a pedestrian and bike passage above and the stream running below. Go through the tunnel. At the other end, after a left then a right, go through another tubular tunnel, smaller than the first, under the A140 access road.

The path turns left, then right 400 m further next to a water-treatment plant. 400 m further, at the top of the hill, you'll reach a crossing with a path next to a telephone pole with a Yellow FFCT waymark (French Cyclotouring Federation) (4). Ignore the path to the right (this is an alternative route, see useful info). Once you get closer to the village, you'll reach the GR®1 coming from the left near an equestrian centre.

GR Waymarks (Red and White)

Continue straight ahead and turn right in front of the First World War memorial. You'll pass by a wash-house 200 m later (5) "(Go around it as the most interesting part is on the other side)". At the fork head right and at the next crossroads go straight ahead towards Crécy- la- Chapelle. After about 500 m, turn left onto Chemin de Rebais which goes through fields over a kilometre heading south-east.

(6) Head off to the right onto route de Férolles. Carry on until a junction with a bus stop, a shelter and a map of Crécy-la-Chapelle. Turn right onto Rue de Chantrennes which heads downhill reaching a tarmac area.

(7) Go right, then after 300 m, head left down the agricultural track that starts off in front of an electric pole opposite an estate's metal gate. The track leads to a road. Cross over taking a steep trail leading to the edge of the D934. Cross over.

No Waymarks

Turn right, then at the traffic lights, head left towards the town centre reaching the crossing with Avenue de la Gare.

(8) Keep going until the Post Office and head left down the shaded alley. Walk along the canal in front of the belfry which is more pleasant. The alley curves to the right. Cross the road carrying on along the canal and then turn left along Grand Morin. Cross the footbridge to change bank and head right with the sports fields to your left-hand side. The path joins up with the D20 at the entrance to Le Faubourg hamlet. Keep going until the crossroads.

PR Waymarks (Yellow)

(9) Slant to the left onto Chemin Vert along Galerie de Crécy. The path is paved until a group of houses, then becomes a farm trail. At the junction, head left, then right in front of a house with two symmetrical roofs, a few dozen metres later.
At the next junction in front of an electric pole, go left on the path heading up the hill.
The path reaches a crossing with Sente des Brosses arriving from the right.

(10) Turn left onto the road opposite Sente des Brosses (Rue de la ronce) then right onto rue de l'Orme.
Cross rue de Villiers and fifty metres after, head right onto Ruelle du Rondet leading to a road where you'll turn left, then right a few metres further onto Sente de la Mare Pottier.

(11) The small trail becomes a farm trail passing through fields and reaching a wood where it then heads right along the border. After a turn left it reaches a crossroads at the corner of a wall bordering a large estate.

(12) Go straight along the wall and turn right at the crossroads at the next corner and follow a small road leading you to a remote house.

(13) At the corner of the house, turn left on a trail heading down into the small valley going passed "lavoir de Retz" (wash-house). Then, head uphill and go right, along the road, then a few dozen metres further, head left onto Ruelle Isaac. At the end of the paved section, at the corner of the last house, turn left onto the path heading up towards the plateau. 500 m further, at the T junction, head off to the right and turn left onto a large forest trail heading through the housing estate.

(14) Head right onto Sente des Gains at the first crossroads. It heads downhill through woods and meadows along a brook reaching Villiers at a crossroads. Take a sharp left onto Chemin Vicinal N°1 (leave the waymarks for a moment). It turns into a small narrow trail ending up at a road, cross over and then turn right heading straight along Chemin des Roches at the next crossroads (getting back to the waymarks). It heads off to the right before reaching a T junction.

(15) Head left onto Chemin des Carreaux twenty odd metres before the crossroads. Turn right at the next crossing keeping to Chemin des Carreaux. It ends up near the A4 on a large trail.

(16) Take a right passing under a frame, then, a dozen metres later head right down a trail into the small valley. You'll go passed a large wash-house leading to the extended part of Rue de la Picardie at the bottom of the hill (it's the D8a). Turn left and head under the A4 bridge.

(17) 300 m later, turn right to pass under the railway tracks. Keep to the trail heading along the railway tracks until the D934 at Saint-Germain-sur-Morin between the level-crossing and Grand Morin Bridge.

Turn left, cross over the level-crossing and turn left again onto Rue du Marché (S/F).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 47 m - Car park at St-Germain-sur-Morin station
  2. 1 : km 0.58 - alt. 57 m - Church of Couilly-Pont-aux-Dames
  3. 2 : km 1.55 - alt. 80 m - Fork, keep left on the grassy track
  4. 3 : km 2.91 - alt. 64 m - Tunnel under the A4
  5. 4 : km 3.79 - alt. 91 m - Telephone pole, FFCT signposting
  6. 5 : km 4.51 - alt. 91 m - Semicircular wash-house
  7. 6 : km 6.4 - alt. 134 m - Bus shelter, turn right
  8. 7 : km 7.17 - alt. 107 m - Electric pylon and gate
  9. 8 : km 8.28 - alt. 52 m - Crécy-la-Chapelle station
  10. 9 : km 9.81 - alt. 51 m - Crécy Gallery
  11. 10 : km 11.63 - alt. 93 m - Sente des Brosses
  12. 11 : km 12.69 - alt. 127 m - Mare Pottier path
  13. 12 : km 13.56 - alt. 112 m - Corner of a property wall
  14. 13 : km 14.23 - alt. 79 m - Start of the path at the corner of the house
  15. 14 : km 15.89 - alt. 123 m - Sente des Gains, turn right
  16. 15 : km 17.24 - alt. 92 m - Chemin des Carreaux, take it
  17. 16 : km 17.93 - alt. 101 m - Portico, go under
  18. 17 : km 18.94 - alt. 49 m - Railway bridge, go under it
  19. S/E : km 20.23 - alt. 47 m - Car park at St-Germain-sur-Morin station

Notes

Couilly - Saint-Germain - Quincy du Francilien station being at the beginning of the route, you can reach the hike by public transport. For train schedules, check out Transilien.

Hiking shoes, hats and drinks.

This long hike can be made into three shorter ones:

About an 8 km hike:

Start from Saint-Germain-sur-Morin station car park and once you get to Crécy-la-Chapelle station (8) take the train back (E).

About a 12 km hike:

If you're driving, park your car at St-Germain-sur-Morin station car park (E), take the train to Crécy-la-Chapelle and start the hike from waypoint (8).

About a 15 km hike:

At waypoint (4), turn right onto the path. Ford the stream at the bottom of the small valley then once you get Montpichet hamlet head right down onto a road between numbers 18 and 20. Carry on for 500 m until you get to number 31.
"(If fording is not possible, go back and continue along the road until Bouleurs village then turn right onto the D125 then right again onto the D33E 500 m further. You'll arrive at Montpichet hamlet. Carry on until the house at N°31. This increases the hike by about 1.2 km)."
Take a left and head down the kilometre long farm trail leading to a T junction next to a fenced hedge. Head right onto another trail due west then south-west reaching another junction on the outskirts of Montbarbin hamlet.
Locate the PR® waymark (Yellow) and take the path opposite down a steep slope then turn right onto a road 250 m further down.
After fifty metres, head left onto Rue du Tertre. It's a concrete path which passes next to Montbarbin wash-house. It leads to the D934 near traffic lights and a level-crossing.

Cross the D934 at the traffic lights, cross over the level-crossing and continue down the D406 towards Villiers-sur-Morin. Cross Grand Morin River and head left onto Rue du Bas de Villiers.
A hundred metres further, take a right onto a paved road along a steep-sided stream. Shortly after the church, you'll cross a bridge to the left then take the road heading uphill. At the corner, take a left onto Chemin des Coudrets. At the end of an estate's fence with two figures on top of the gate's columns, the path comes to an end. Take a sharp right turn down the path which is pretty much horizontal. A hundred metres further, turn left up towards a junction at the corner of a large estate's wall. Regain the main route and waypoint (12).

Worth a visit

Themed tours of Vallée des peintres du Grand Morin.

L'église Saint-Georges in Couilly-Pont-aux-Dames.

L'église Saint-Rémy in Villiers-sur-Morin.

The wash-houses.

Moulin Nicole and others

Collégiale Notre-Dame-de--l'Assomption in Crécy-la-Chapelle.

 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

4.3 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
jmpourcher
jmpourcher

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
I did this walk on 25/05/24 and the weather was fine. On the other hand, avoid wet terrain, lots of muddy sections, especially on the return between point 16 and the passage under the A5, slippery on a slope with a stream below. At the start, between 3 and 4 along the track, the path is poorly marked and slippery. The route is interesting overall.
JMP

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Françoise G9.
Françoise G9.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A sunny walk, and fortunately so, as section 3 is still very dark and the next section is likely to be very wet in wet weather... A pleasant walk, with a very nice picnic table in Crécy along the Morin,

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portaclem
portaclem

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a pleasant route in good weather, less difficult than forecast, with many wooded sections

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Emilie Alibert
Emilie Alibert

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little stroll through the Seine-et-Marn countryside. From station to station. Perfectly described, with no room for error. To do and do again.

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yagdom
yagdom

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk in the sunshine and through luminous countryside.
Route very well described.
Varied scenery.
Not a very popular route, probably because of the date (21 December) and despite the sun it was cold.

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tvistur.85
tvistur.85

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk with relatively little change in altitude. The description and map make it easy to get your bearings.

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Mirage3R
Mirage3R

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Quite a challenging walk with a few changes in altitude. However, from a tourist point of view, apart from the walk along the Crécy la Chapelle Mall, there was nothing particularly interesting. The three wash-houses seen along the way would benefit from being cleaned.
In conclusion, a moderately enjoyable walk.

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Murielcachou
Murielcachou
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk through fields, woods and villages in glorious sunshine ..... After a 3-hour walk, we took a lunch break in the shade along the Grand Morin and completed the walk in 5 hours.

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ovil
ovil

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant walk with no major difficulties. A few climbs, paths that are sometimes a little "greasy" and an interesting heritage.
No problem crossing the motorway, the tunnel is accessible.
One detail at point 3, on the telephone pole there is only a small square of sheet metal, the FFCT signposting has disappeared.
I had to ask for directions to find the road to Rebais (point 5). On the Crécy road, the GR markings are non-existent. The paving at the crossroads between the route de Crécy and the chemin de Rebais is white and can be seen from a distance. You just have to be aware of it.
I couldn't find the Grains path (point 14). So I crossed the hamlet of Dainville and joined the Chemin des Roches at its exit.
On the road leading to Dainville there is a path that goes off to the right, but it has a yellow cross on a tree. If this is the sente des Grains, the indication to temporarily leave the signposting is wrongly placed. It should be just after number 14.

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gazok54
gazok54 ★
• Edited:

Thank you PiedCrotte for this important information, as the closure of this tunnel prevents us from doing the hike.
Let's wait for the author to take note of this post and possibly insert a warning in the introduction to this hike.

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PiedCrotte
PiedCrotte
• Edited:

Hello ,
We had planned to do this walk on Monday 30/10, shortening it towards Bouleurs to 12 to 15 km.
but arriving at point 3, it was impossible to go any further.
The tubular tunnel under the A4 motorway is under construction for several months.
There was no alternative but to make a long diversions via Quincy-Voisins.

So we improvised by staying on the left-hand side of the motorway:
Charny , Moulignon then at junction 123 we took the track on the left to join the GR and descend to Couilly and St Germain .
This walk is about 9kms and is very pleasant.

I hope I've been helpful.

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marmo89
marmo89

for 2018

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nanou7794
nanou7794

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

The landscape is arbitrary. I had a different image of the landscape.
The road on the Bouleurs side is closed following the construction of new housing estates.
You have to go along the railway line for quite a while. You end up next to Crecy La Chapelle.

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marmo89
marmo89
• Edited:

already used in 2010

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panache93150
panache93150

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

Interesting ride but disappointing for me as I had another image of the Cretan country after having done a ride organised by the Magny le Hongrie mountain bike club "la val d'europe".

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