The Crécy Forest circular starting from Mortcerf

Access via Mortcerf station (Transilien line P).

(S/E) Exit the Mortcerf station car park, turn right to cross the railway line, then take the first path on the left. When you reach the small tarmac road, turn left to cross over the railway line. Continue left along the D216, then cross and take the grassy path that runs alongside the hedge of the first house.

(1) At the T-junction of farm tracks, take the one on the right. When you reach the edge of the forest, continue along the forest track. The track turns into a path that is rarely used, except by hunters. Further on, the path becomes a track again and joins a very good forest track, which you should take on the left. When you reach the tarmac road, turn right. On the left is a memorial to Max Néraud, a hero of the Resistance who was shot on 12 August 1944.

(2) Continue to the crossroads. Cross and take the forest track slightly to the left, which bisects the D231 and a small tarmac road. Pass the first path and take the second one on the right just after a triple chestnut tree trunk. You will come to a good track; follow it to the left. At the Valois crossroads (an 8-pointed star), take the second path on the right at a right angle until you reach the Route Tournante.

(3) Take it on the right to the village of Crèvecœur-en-Brie. Arrive at Place St-Jean (two picnic tables).

(4) Take the road on the right. The castle is not very visible, but you can see a beautiful farm building near Place Saint-Jean.
Continue to the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste (13th century). Then take the one-way street on the left (at the end of the built-up area sign). After 100 metres, take the first road on the right (Route Tournante) which runs alongside a ditch. At the crossroads: information sign. The Route Tournante was built by Louis XV in 1751 as a 32 km dyke, with 437 milestones, one for each turn. Continue along the Route Tournante on the left side of the ditch (see a royal milestone) to its end and turn left.

Yellow PR® markings

(5) At the crossroads, take the PR® on the right. At a T-junction, turn right, then left after 100 m. When you reach a road, turn right, cross the railway line, then immediately turn left onto the grassy path that runs alongside the horse paddocks. When you reach a large farm, turn right, then left onto the road until you reach the corner of the cemetery.

No signposts

(6) Continue straight ahead; at the fork, keep left, cross a road that becomes a path. At the bench, there is a good view of the Prieuré Saint-Martin. When you reach a major road, turn right. Take a break at the memorial to the poet Étienne Jodelle (1532-1573), then visit the Priory, whose grounds appear to be open to the public. Continue to the town centre. The Château de La Houssaye-en-Brie can be seen through the gates. There is a table and two benches for picnics next to the church.

(7). Continue to the town hall, take the first street on the right (Av du Gal Leclerc), then at the bend take the narrow stone path on the left, passing between two masonry boundary walls. When you reach a green space, follow the path, then turn left onto a concrete path. Then turn right onto the dirt path running along a wire fence on the left. At the tarmac road, take the D216 on the left, then quickly go opposite Rue du Stade.

(8) At the end of the tarmac road, continue along the grassy path that branches off to the right. When you reach a crossroads, take the road on the right that leads to a few scattered houses. At the last house, the tarmac road ends and turns into a grassy path between the fields. The path turns right, then left to reach the forest.

(9) At the crossroads with Route Tournante, continue straight ahead on a path that turns left to reach the Croix Sainte-Marthe equestrian centre. Note the beautiful oak tree on the left (estimated diameter approx. 2 m). Opposite the equestrian centre, take the right track on the left. Then turn into the second track on the right (cut no. 29 marked on a tree). Leave a track that cuts diagonally across and take the next one on the left at a right angle. At the diagonal crossroads with a forest track, take it on the right.

(10) Cross the D231 and continue straight ahead on the path along the wire fence (on your right). After 600 m, you must turn left, then after 100 m turn right. Continue for about 500 m before following the bend to the left. At the T-junction, turn right. Continue until you reach the tarmac road at the bottom of the valley, among the crops.

(11) Turn right and pass under the railway viaduct. On the left is a tower that was used for lime production; further on are the remaining arches of the five lime kilns. Shortly after the tower, leave the tarmac road and take the path on the right which leads back to the Mortcerf station car park. (E)

Some sections can be very muddy in wet weather.
Two picnic areas (4) and (7).
Café-restaurant in La Houssaye-en-Brie (7).

See description.