The Oise flood control dam from Malzy

Park at the side of Rue du Général de Gaulle in Malzy, about 50 metres above the church (a small semi-circular lay-by, marked out by logs). Free of charge.

(S/E) Head towards the church, and, 150 metres further on, turn right into Rue des Marichoux. Walk down this street for 80 metres.

(1) Turn left onto Chemin de Proisy and follow it for 160 metres (the village hall is on the right). At the next junction, turn left onto an unpaved track (Rue David) and follow it for 100 metres to return to Rue du Général de Gaulle (D 462).

(2) Turn left, then immediately right onto the country lane known as the ‘Chemin de Lavaqueresse à Malzy’. Follow this lane for approximately 700 metres until you come to a wayside cross: the Calvaire de Notre-Dame des Champs.

(3) Turn right and take the country lane known as the ‘Malzy to Crupilly’ track; follow it for 950 metres until you reach the first junction. Turn right onto Rue d’Hurtebise (a tarmac road) and follow it down for 250 metres.

(4) Turn left onto a poorly maintained country lane and follow it down (230 metres) to the Brûlé stream, which you must fords. Once you have crossed the stream, turn right onto Rue du Lavoir and continue for 600 metres until you reach its junction with the RD 461 (Rue des Gards – the hamlet of Brûlé).

(5) Turn right and follow this road for 450 metres. At the next T-junction, turn left towards Proisy. Continue for 80 metres.

(6) Turn left and take the path at the top of the embankment. After 600 metres, go down a flight of steps, cross the River Oise, and immediately after crossing the bridge, go up a second flight of steps to rejoin the path at the top of the embankment for 350 metres.

(7) Turn right onto a tarmac path (a former railway line that has become the Scandibérique (or EuroVelo 3)). After 200 metres, turn left into Rue Bernard Rousselle (RD 461). Follow this street for about 120 metres, passing the church, until you reach a junction with several roads

(8) Turn right onto Rue de Verdun. After 150 metres, ignore Rue Julien Leroux on the left. At the second junction, turn left onto a grassy country lane between two houses built of brick and flint.

(9) At the end of this, cross the RD 31 and continue opposite along a country lane (known as Chemin Neuf) which climbs up the hillside. Turn right twice before rejoining the RD 31.

(10) Turn left, and after 150 metres, head down to the right onto a grassy country lane which leads back to the RD 461 (Romery: Rue des Fontaines). Turn right, then immediately left into Rue des Prés: there is a bench on the left and a wash house on the right. Continue along this track for 200 metres before rejoining the cycle route mentioned earlier.

(11) Cross this road and head straight ahead onto the country lane known as ‘du Pont’, cross the River Oise, then turn left onto the country lane known as ‘du Cheminet’. Follow it for 700 metres

(12) Turn right onto Rue des Marichoux, and continue to the junction you passed on the way out.

(1) Turn left and return to the car park (S/E).

After (4): a poorly maintained country lane; the path is made difficult by brambles, nettles and so on (see photo). Furthermore, at the bottom of the path, the ford is difficult to cross in wet weather. Wear high-top shoes or wellies.
An alternative route, to avoid this tricky section, is to continue straight on from (4), so as to rejoin the walking route at the bottom of the descent, at point (6)

Sainte-Aldegonde Church in Malzy

The reservoir: donated by Pierre Larue in 1896. Malzy became the first village to have running water from the tap in every house, as well as from the five fountains placed in the streets (Edouart: Larue’s^middle name; Furcy: the servant’s surname; Louise and Marie: Mrs Larue’s first names; Aldegonde: the village’s patron saint).
The front of the reservoir is still visible: from the starting point, turn your back on the church and walk 150 metres.
One of the fountains is situated just past the landmark (2), on the right, before turning onto the country lane.

The Proisy flood control dam
Some figures:
* completed in 2009
* 1,000 metres long
* 100,000 m³ of material used
* 4 million m³ of storage capacity
* up to 55 centimetres reduction in the water level downstream
* €8.2 million investment

The dam’s role during the 2011 floods: some images