The Moulin Valley

Starting point: Junction of the D24 and D643 (formerly the RN43), Place Sainte-Anne in Mercy-le-Bas.

(S/E) Head south-west towards Saint-Supplet (D24). Cross the River Piennes.

(1) Turn right onto the Grand Rue, heading north-west, until you reach St-Supplet.

(2) Turn right and continue along the D24. Drive through the village and out of it – it’s uphill from here! Continue across the plain until you reach a place called La Haute Borne, which marks the former border between the Meurthe, the Moselle and the Meuse.

(3) The spot, at an altitude of 312 metres, is a crossroads (three-way junction). Turn right onto the D125c and head back down towards Han-Devant-Pierrepont.

(4) Just before the village, take a small forest track on the right. Part of the route is on flat ground, part through woodland. At the bottom of the descent through the woodland, you’ll pass under a railway viaduct.

(5) Opposite the buildings of the old Moulin de Charpon and the Minoteri, cross a footbridge, then continue along this road, climbing (be warned: it’s a long, steep climb) up to Boismont.

(6) At the entrance to the village, take the small lane on the right to pass in front of the wash house fountain, then carry on straight ahead until you reach the D643 (formerly the RN43). Follow this road carefully to the right and head back down towards Mercy-le-Bas until you reach the starting point at Place Sainte-Anne (S/E).

Take a water bottle.

In the beautiful forest known as “Charpon”, you’ll pass under an imposing arched railway viaduct built of cut stone.
A few metres further on, you’ll come to a former grain mill and warehouse belonging to the flour mill known as the “Moulin de Charpon”.