The Chamery circuit (hike C)

Marked ‘C’

The route starts at the bottom of Rue Quentin Roosevelt (D14), by the small fountain, before the bend at the entrance to the hamlet when coming from Coulonges.

(S/E) Head south-east along the path to the right of the fountain. Walk uphill, skirting a horse pasture, ignore a path on the right and enter a small wood.

(1) Turn left at the edge of the copse, keep the copse on your left and continue along the edge of the copse. In the clearing just beyond the copse, you’ll find the memorial stone in honour of Quentin Roosevelt. Then take the^first path on the left and head down to the D14.

(2) Cross the road and follow it to the right. Take the^first path on the left, which climbs up the other side of the hill. Roughly at the top of the hill, turn left with the path. At the T-junction, turn right.

(3) Take the^first path on the left to reach the hamlet of Moncel on the heights of Chamery. You’ll come out onto a road; follow it to the right.

(4) At the cross, turn left onto a small track. Head south-south-west through the fields and then along the edge of the woods. Join the Route de Sergy and follow it to the left until you reach a junction.

(5) Take the^first road on the left that leads down towards Moncel. Once you reach the hamlet, turn right. As you pass by, you can take a look at the Moncel washhouse. Feel free to push open the door to have a look inside. At the T-junction, turn right again to reach the village of Chamery.

(6) At this junction, turn right to see the fountain dedicated to the memory of Quentin Roosevelt, situated about a hundred metres away. Then retrace your steps.

(6) Follow the street and note, immediately on the left, a second remarkable wash house. Then turn right. At the bottom of the street is the finish line (S/E).

To recharge your batteries, there’s a bar-restaurant in the village of Coulonges.

Along the route, there are several lovely views of the village of Coulonges and the Orillon valley

You’ll pass the memorial marking the spot where Quentin Roosevelt’s Nieuport 28 was shot down during an aerial battle on 14 July 1918; for several decades, this was the site where his remains lay before being transferred to the cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer (Normandy) to rest beside one of his brothers. A fountain donated by the Roosevelt family, situated on the outskirts of the hamlet, towards Cierges, commemorates Quentin Roosevelt.

The Moncel washhouse is tucked away behind a door – don’t hesitate to open it to discover it (remember to close it behind you when you leave).

Other walks are available in the commune of Coulonges-Cohan: coulongescohan.free.fr