Long circular walk between Jouarre and Signy-Signets

Park in the car park at the Jouarre industrial estate, Rue de la Croix de Mission, opposite the cemetery.

(S/E) On leaving the car park, turn right onto Rue de la Croix de Mission. At the junction, where the road bends to the left, turn right (west) onto a path marked in yellow. At the T-junction, turn right onto the^{PR® trail.}

(1) At the end, turn left and walk alongside the D114p. After about a hundred metres, take a path on the left. The path turns right, heading due west. You’ll come out onto a road; follow it as it continues.

(2) Walk alongside the Étang de Péreuse, situated on the left behind the trees. You’ll arrive opposite the gate to the Château de Péreuse.

(3) Turn sharply right. At the next junction, turn left and leave the^{PR® route.} Walk alongside a copse on your left and continue to the end of the wall surrounding the château grounds.

(4) Turn left to quickly reach the military cemetery. Return to the previous junction.

(4) Turn left to reach the village of Signy. At the junction, go straight on into Rue du Petit Montguichet. Continue to the junction with Rue de la Dhuis.

(5) At the junction of the paths, take the left-hand path along the embankment of the Dhuys underground aqueduct. Stay on this winding embankment and follow the^GR®11and 14A (red and white markings). Cross the D21 with care and continue along the^GR®. You will reach a road at the entrance to Signy-Signets.

(6) Cross the road and continue along the aqueduct embankment. Further on, cross another road and continue along the GR^®. Enter a woodland.

(7) As you emerge from the woodland, turn right (north-north-east; leave the^GR®). Walk alongside the woodland on your right and keep clear of the cultivated fields on your left. Stay on the edge of the woodland and take a series of right-hand bends. After a sharp left-hand bend, head between the fields until you reach a T-junction.

(8) Turn right. You’ll soon reach a road bordered by the Ru de la Bécotte; follow it to the right.

(9) After about 250 m, turn left onto a path at the edge of the woods. After a few bends, the path heads north-east and rejoins the^GR®14Aat a riding centre. Follow it to the left for about 200 m and, at the entrance to Sammeron, you’ll reach a crossroads of paths.

(10) Leave the^GR® and turn right onto a path. Join a small road and follow it as it continues. Cross the D21 with care. At the first Fork in the road, take the left-hand path (east). Cross the Ru de Péreuse.

(11) At the three-way junction (marker 73), veer right (south). The path turns left (east). Return to the tarmac road and join the D21a in the village of Sept-Sorts.

(12) Follow the road to the right. Shortly after the town hall, take the^first street on the right. Turn left to pass in front of a wash house and continue south. Turn left, leaving a sports ground on your right, and climb the path that leads through the woods to the Dhuys aqueduct.

(13) Turn left onto the^{GR® path} on the embankment of the underground aqueduct. Cross three small roads in succession.

(14) Cross the D402 – be careful as it’s a very busy road – pass a barrier and continue along the embankment (off^{the GR®}). Then go over the barrier and continue along the Dhuys for about a hundred metres. You’ll reach a T-junction.

(15) Turn right here (^PR® marked in yellow). Return to the tarmac and continue straight on along Rue de Comporté. Cross the D402 again and carry on opposite along Rue Bicètre. At a cheese shop, join Rue Cécile Dumez and follow it to the right. On your left, you’ll find the car park for the Jouarre industrial estate (S/E).

Make sure you bring plenty of water and something to eat, as there are no shops along the route;
also make sure you have good walking shoes, as the route can become very slippery in wet weather.

Étang de Péreuse Bird Reserve.
Signy Military Cemetery.
and (13) the Briard washhouse at Sept-Sorts and the Bois de Foy.
From to (7) and from (10 to) 15:: Dhuys Aqueduct, an underground water supply canal, and its distinctive siphons.
The views over the Marne valley.
(S/E) The crypts of Jouarre and its medieval keep.