Mont Bonneil and the Champagne vineyards

Azy-sur-Marne (Aisne) is approximately 7km from Château-Thierry and 2km from Chézy-sur-Marne station.

(S/E) From the church car park, head up towards the town hall and turn left onto Rue de Gramont.

(1) Turn left after the houses and follow the blue-and-yellow signposts. At the next junction, turn right and then left.

(2) After the second junction, turn right and follow Rue de Bonneil for about a hundred metres. Take the first path on the left and carry straight on. After the cemetery, turn right onto Rue de la Francotte. Walk past some underground cellars. At the T-junction, turn left onto Grande Rue. After the town hall, turn right onto Rue de Rullion.

(3) At the end of the street, turn right and head up through the vineyards (steep slope).

(4) Halfway up the slope, follow the blue and yellow markings to the right (the slope remains steep).

(5) At the next junction (a lovely viewpoint over the vineyards and the Marne Valley), turn sharply right, following the same markings.

No signposting

(6) At the crossroads, leave the signposted^{PR® route} and take the second path on the right, the Chemin des Madeleinettes. At the junction with the Route de la Vallée, turn right and continue for about 300 metres.

(7) Leave the road and turn left to reach the orientation board. Turn left onto the concrete path going uphill, then turn right at the first junction. Continue straight on and pass a crossroads. At the Y-junction, head downhill to the right.

(8) Shortly afterwards, turn left and continue straight ahead along the path.

(9) At the junction, rejoin the^GR®11Aand turn left. Follow the red and white markings.

(10) At the junction, turn left and head uphill.

(11) At the edge of the woods, at the junction, turn right and head into the woods. Follow the^GR®11Aand carry on straight ahead, passing under a power line.

(12) When you reach the junction just past the viewpoint overlooking the abbey church and Château-Thierry on the outskirts of Essomes, turn right downhill and join the Chemin des Godaux. Turn left and continue along Rue de l’Observatoire. Cross the road and take Rue de l’Abbaye to reach Place de l’Abbaye.

(13) On your left, you’ll see the wash house; then leave the^GR®11Aand join the^{PR® trail} marked in blue and yellow. Walk past the Abbey, cross the D969 at the traffic lights, then turn right along the Ru des Rochers. Follow the^PR® markings^.

Off the marked trail

(14) Leave the^PR®, turn right and follow the Marne along the towpath to reach the village of Azy. Pass under the Azy road bridge at Chèzy.

(15) At the picnic area, turn right onto Rue du Bac, then left onto the D969 and head for the church car park (S/E).

If you’re travelling by train on the Paris-Est line to Château-Thierry (one train per hour), you’ll need to add an extra 4 km to the walk, which you’ll find at (15) by following the D151.

Make sure you wear good walking shoes; the paths can be muddy in wet weather.
This walk can be done by mountain bike; there is a steep gradient between points (3) and (5) (14%).
Picnic area (15).
You can shorten the walk by taking a shortcut from (8) to (1).

Essômes: the wash house featuring illustrations based on La Fontaine’s Fables.
L’Abbaye: construction began in the 11th century and was completed in the 13th century.
Château-Thierry: the medieval town.
The Jean de La Fontaine Museum.