The Enchanted Walk from Belval-sous-Châtillon

(S/E) The route starts from the car park at the Belval-sous-Châtillon cemetery, at 51 Grande Rue. Walk a few metres towards the town hall, then turn left onto the Chemin de la Butte. Continue in the same direction through woods and fields. Please note that the path crossing the field is sometimes ploughed. When you reach the small road, at the corner of the motocross track, turn right. The path passes through a wooded area.

(1) Take the first track suitable for vehicles on the right. The track reaches the vineyards and runs alongside them at the top of the hill.

(2) Pass the Croix du Balai, a wayside cross offering a lovely view. Continue in the same direction to the village of Cuchery.

(3) At the crossroads, turn right onto Rue du Pressoir. When you reach Grande Rue, turn right and then right again onto Rue de la Gayette. Walk until you reach a Fork in the road.

(4) Turn left onto Chemin du Moulin Brûlé. Cross the stream and continue straight on towards the vineyards.

(5) At the vineyards, carry on straight ahead, ignoring the paths to the right and left. Cross the road (D24) and continue straight ahead along the vineyard.

(6) At the T-junction, turn left along the vineyard. The path zigzags through the vines. Turn right, then left, then right until you reach a small road.

(7) At the road, as you leave the vineyards, turn right and walk along this tree-lined road.

(8) At the T-junction, turn right towards the village. Walk to the church at La Neuville-aux-Larris, which is surrounded by sheep pastures.

(9) From the church, cross the large square (car park) and take Rue du Paradis. Walk past the cemetery. Continue in the same direction. Stay on this path through the woods and vineyards and walk to the hamlet of Paradis. Walk through the hamlet without changing direction, until you reach a hairpin bend.

(10) Take the path that branches off to the left at the bend. It runs alongside the vineyards, then crosses a stream and cuts through the fields. Walk on until you reach the vineyards.

(11) When you reach the vineyards, turn left and take the path that runs alongside them up the hill. Walk to the hamlet of La Poterne.

(12) 150 m after the first houses, turn right. Cross the stream and continue to the car park at the cemetery in the village of Belval-sous-Châtillon (S/E).

Water is readily available in the cemeteries of the villages you pass through. There’s a lovely picnic area in Paradis.

Be sure to take the map and the app with you, as the signposts may have disappeared.

During very wet periods, the woods can be difficult to navigate.

A Neolithic polishing stone lies 50 metres from the start of the walk.

The Belval polishing stone is a block of very hard rock dating from prehistoric times, used to polish flint axes. The often-parallel striations seen on the surface of these monuments are the result of repeated polishing of tool edges. The often-oval-shaped hollows, meanwhile, are the result of sharpening the cutting edges.

Winegrowers in every village, Champagne tastings and direct sales.