The tour of Mont Saint-Mard

A beautiful, easy, flat walk around Mont Saint-Mard in the Compiègne forest. You can enjoy views over the forest from several vantage points, discover remarkable trees and quench your thirst at the Fontaine Maitre Jean fountain. There are two access points by car, one of which is next to a shaded picnic area.

Details

n°5382414

Creation:
21 Feb 2021

Last update:
18 Feb 2025

Last review:
08 Sep 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 4.59 mi
Average duration: 2h 10
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 33 ft
Descent: - 33 ft
Highest point: 413 ft
Lowest point: 367 ft

Country: France
City: Vieux-Moulin (60350)
Start/End: N 49.400806° / E 2.932014°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2511OT
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk assessment bulletin

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Photos

Description of the walk

Coming from Compiègne, take the RN 31 towards Soissons, then the D547 towards Pierrefond. At the junction for Vivier Frère Robert, turn left onto the tarmac road that climbs to the top of Mont Saint-Mard.
Park at the top in the car park.

(S/E) Follow the Route Tournante heading west. Continue to the Carrefour de la Descente, a viewpoint overlooking the forest, the beautiful hills and Choisy-au-Bac.

(1) Turn right to quickly reach a viewpoint near Carrefour du Geai.

(2) Continue along Route Tournante and make a circular loop to reach Le Guetteur, a large conifer and remarkable tree overlooking the Aisne valley and the village of Rethondes.

(3) Continue on to reach Carrefour Mont Saint-Mard.

(4) Keep left, still on the Route Tournante. Continue to the Carrefour Lambin crossroads.

(5) Continue southwards to reach the alternative car park and picnic area, after passing the Fontaine Maître Jean fountain, see § Practical information.

(7) Continue along Route Tournante, which from this crossroads follows the red and white marked GR®12A trail. After the Carrefour du Requêté crossroads, you will reach a new viewpoint at Vieux Moulin.

(8) From here, head north and then turn left to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 381 ft - Departure
1 : mi 0.43 - alt. 381 ft - Carrefour de la Descente
2 : mi 0.74 - alt. 410 ft - Viewpoint near the Geai crossroads
3 : mi 1.07 - alt. 400 ft - Le Guetteur, a remarkable tree
4 : mi 1.43 - alt. 381 ft - Mont Saint-Mard crossroads
5 : mi 2.46 - alt. 384 ft - Lambin crossroads
6 : mi 2.86 - alt. 384 ft - Fontaine Maitre Jean
7 : mi 2.92 - alt. 384 ft - Picnic area
8 : mi 3.66 - alt. 384 ft - Viewpoint over the forest on the Vieux Moulin side.
S/E : mi 4.59 - alt. 381 ft - Arrival

Notes

(7) Alternative departure point: continue along the D547, pass Vieux Moulin and, at the Étang de l'Étot, turn left onto the tarmac road. At the top, you will find a car park near a picnic area.
Near (7): you can quench your thirst at the Fontaine Maitre Jean fountain, which is not regulated but is known for its good taste and purity.
(7) A shaded picnic area that is very pleasant in summer.
Good walking shoes are all you need for this easy walk.

Worth a visit

Restaurants:
- in Vieux Moulin, in the village: Auberge du Mont Saint-Mard, Auberge du Mont Saint-Pierre, Auberge du Daguet.
- In Rethondes: Auberge du Pont.
- In Pierrefond: L'Embarcadère, Le Triskell, Auberge Aux Blés d'Or has been replaced by an Italian restaurant, Le Castello.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5

Route interest
4.1 / 5

User 22016857

08 Sep 2025 at 18:27 7200 • Edited: 08 Sep 2025 at 18:28 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A great way to get started on discovering the treasures of the Compiegne Forest. Or rather, a way to whet your appetite.

Machine-translated

Brigitte01

17 Mar 2025 at 09:52 3600

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Few signposts, so you need a good sense of direction... Nice walk with beautiful views.

Machine-translated

petite hélène

18 Feb 2025 at 20:25 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

In the descriptive text, it says "Carrefour du Mont St Médart", but it is actually St Mard.
At the crossroads of the quarries, take the time to admire the tree called "Le veilleur du Mont St Mard" (The Watchman of Mont St Mard) then descend via a small path (AR) to the Torniche stone; here we are below the tree and we see it differently.

A very beautiful route and, in winter, a beautiful view of the Aisne valley between the crossroads of the quarries and the descent.

In the "Nearby" section, the "Aux Blés d'Or" inn has been replaced by an Italian restaurant called "Le Castello".

Machine-translated

Emmanuelgirard2412

12 Sep 2024 at 09:48 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Easy to follow and very well maintained route with wide paths; we passed a few cyclists.

Machine-translated

ovil

19 Jul 2023 at 22:52 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

We set off from the alternative starting point (pt 5) after completing the route entitled "forest circular between Vieux-Moulin and Pierrefonds" at the start of the day.
An easy hike, pleasant at the end of the day when the heat had subsided.
Our only regret was that we didn't find the Fontaine Maitre Jean fountain.
We only saw one jogger on the way.

Machine-translated

fl60200

03 Jul 2023 at 08:40 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

As its name suggests, the trail goes around Mont St Mard. Nothing particularly spectacular, but it's a pleasant and very easy walk (no elevation gain).

Machine-translated

Coralie Géraldine

22 Feb 2023 at 08:15 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk in the forest. However, the trees prevent you from enjoying the beautiful views...

Machine-translated

Julien de Trosly

18 Oct 2021 at 10:49 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I passed a few hunters' cars and two hikers.
The route is well maintained and the paths are wide.

Machine-translated

vivierois

20 Aug 2021 at 19:57 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

For experienced walkers, it takes 1.5 hours to complete, but there is nothing of interest to discover along the route. Pleasant, flat, excellent trail.

Machine-translated