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From Compiègne, take the RN31 towards Soissons. Cross the Aisne at Rethondes and take the D547 to Saint-Crépin-aux-Bois. Park in front of the church (if it is open, take a look inside; every year at the beginning of July, the Festival des Forêts stops there for a classical concert preceded by a bucolic and musical walk along the surrounding paths).
(S/E) Head north-east and cross the village following the main street.
(1) Leave the small country road and turn left, cross the Fourchon stream and join Rue Chaude at the edge of the forest.
(2) Continue right on Rue Chaude until you reach Étang d'Offémont. On your left, you can see the house of the caretaker of Château d'Offémont (private estate) and the château itself overlooking the valley.
(3) At the pond, turn left between the wall and the forest to reach the ruins of Sainte-Croix Abbey, which was dismantled stone by stone during the French Revolution to build individual houses.
(4) At the abbey ruins, take the path that climbs to the left, then bends to the right and continues straight ahead to the great Sainte-Croix oak tree.
(5) The great Sainte-Croix oak tree was remarkable for the natural prop between its trunk and a low branch, but unfortunately it has lost this feature. It remains a very beautiful tree, several hundred years old, and stands out in the middle of this important six-way crossroads. Head towards the Carrefour de Diane (2(e) on the left) following the signs on the central post.
(6) At Carrefour de Diane, continue straight on towards Carrefour du Mont des Singes. Between these two points, the forest is clear and the path offers a continuous view for about a kilometre. The view plunges down over the forest hills to the Oise valley to the north.
(7) At Carrefour du Mont des Singes, turn left and continue straight ahead to join the tarmac Rue de Briançon at the crossroads of the same name.
(8) Follow the tarmac road on the left to return to the village.
(9) At the bottom of the hill, continue straight ahead, cross the Fourchon, then take a look at the recently restored old wash house and finally return to your starting point (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Difficult 
