The Marfée massif, a promontory steeped in history

Starting point: Frénois Church.

(S) From Frénois Church, take Ruelle de Messe, follow the Ruz stream and emerge onto Rue du Four. Keep to the right to take Rue du Château Renel.

(1) At Chemin de la Linerie, turn right and head uphill along a stony track towards Tue-Chevaux. At the top of the climb, ignore the path to the left (an old Roman road) and the next path (a mountain bike track), and continue to a main track leading down to the right towards Cheveuges.

(2) Head down to the right (beautiful view over the Bar valley) and turn right, passing under the power line, to reach the memorial to Adjudant Carrier, an airman who was killed in action in 1944. Retrace your steps.

(2) Head south again along a path with very little elevation change. The path is badly rutted in places, but parallel tracks have formed. Ignore the paths branching off to the left until you reach the junction with the Chemin de Cheveuges in Chaumont.

(3) Turn left, head towards the edge of the fields and then, at the bottom of a short descent, turn right towards Chaumont. At the next junction, go straight on until you reach the Chemin de la Renardière.

(4) Continue on level ground to Chaumont.

(5) After visiting the village, return to the previous junction.

(4) Turn right onto Chemin de la Renardière and, at the next three junctions, keep right to reach the road from Chaumont to Noyers. (^GR® tarmac) (signposting at this point)

(6) Turn left towards Thelonne to reach the German Military Cemetery at Noyers Pont-Maugis.

(7) A visit to this necropolis, which is open at all times, is a must.
After your visit, head back towards Noyers until you reach the Route de la Marfée.

(8) Head north-north-west, just below this road, along the Chemin de la Belle Volée (an old sign at the corner of a wall). This grassy path overlooks the village.
At the next junction, head left up a small path and join the Route de la Marfée. Continue to the right until you reach the Belvédère, situated near the National Necropolis (signpost at the junction with the^GR®).

(9) Carry on in the same direction, passing a monument in memory of Colonel de Marolles, skirting a meadow then a stand of wild cherry trees, and entering the forest. Stay on the main path to reach a crossroads near the ruins of the Maison Neveux.

(10) Turn right and head down to the Pré des Queues.

(11) Turn right; you’ll soon come across a small path on the left which leads to the edge of the fields before joining a wide farm track that takes you back to Frénois.

(12) At the Chemin des Romains (village entrance), continue straight ahead to return to the starting point (S/E)..

Trail conditions: Some sections of the route may be slippery in wet weather, mainly between (4) and (6). In this case, the^GR® can be used as an alternative between (5) and (6).

Shortcut: It is possible to take a shortcut between the two military cemeteries

Facilities: Tables and benches at the Belvédère

Warstein dedicated to Warrant Officer Carrier.
Visit to the village of Chaumont, with its^13th -century church and its pediments engraved during the ‘Phoney War’.
Visit to the German Military Cemetery.
La Marfée Lookout (viewpoint, orientation table and information panels on the history of this major battleground).
National Military Cemetery.
Colonel Marolles’ memorial