The Douaire, Lazareth and Bouillonnais paths

This route follows a variety of paths through a forest with a wide range of tree species. It is located almost entirely within the Sedan National Forest.

Details

283295
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.27 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,257 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,250 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,316 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 751 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in Givonne near the Étrier Ardennais equestrian centre.
Note: the Route Forestière de la Piste Cavalière taken at the start of the route is known locally as the Route Forestière de l’Hermitage.
This route uses many forest roads. For simplicity, these roads will be marked RF in the description.

(S/E) Head north along a path that runs alongside the archery range.

(1) After a gate and the ditch marking the boundary of the state-owned forest, turn right onto the Hermitage Forest Road until you reach the Lazareth Forest Road.

(2) Turn left, ignore the first major track on the left and, following the forest road, continue to the RF du Pommier.

(3) Turn right onto it and follow for about 200m until you reach a mountain bike track that branches off to the right just at the bottom of a small valley.
Follow the MTB track up to the RF du Douaire (tarmac)

(4) Turn left and continue to the second path on the right (signposted ‘Le Bois du Douaire’)

(5) Turn right to descend to the bottom of the Givonne stream valley. (Note: between (5 and 6), the most clearly marked path curves to the right. Do not turn right but keep going straight on)

(6) Turn left along the stream, then further on cross a ford at the confluence of the Givonne and the Belle Fontaine stream. Join the Route du Douaire at an old quarry. (There is an information board here).

(7) Head left, then take the first path leading uphill to the right. The path climbs, changes direction and overlooks a small valley. At the top of the valley, keep to the right and follow a path not shown on the map to join the RF du Pain de Sucre.

(8) Turn left and then immediately right onto the first forest track.
Go past the first cross-path to reach, at the bottom of the Ruisseau des Dix Frères valley, a second well-marked path (MTB track in the opposite direction).

(9) Head up to the right at the bottom of the valley, following the MTB track to the RF du Douaire.

(10) Turn left, pass by a pond before joining the Chemin du Bouillonnais, the old railway line between Sedan and Bouillon.

(11) Turn left at the hairpin bend, pass a small pond and continue along the "Bouillonnais" until you reach another junction with a mountain bike track.

(12) Turn right to join a wide forest track bordering plots 272 and 273.
At the end of this lane, turn left (MTB track no. 7) then take the first path on the right to continue following MTB track no. 7. Cross the start of a small valley and head down towards the route of the old Bouillonnais railway line.

(13) Turn left, cross the valley via the bridge (barely visible from above) of the old railway line, then turn immediately left onto a very narrow path.
Go under the bridge and descend to a stony track. Turn left, pass a isolated house, then follow the Hatrelle stream at a distance along its left bank to Olly.
As you approach Olly, where you join theGR® 14, head right, pass in front of the castle, cross the stream and reach the RF du Lazareth on the left before the D129.

(14) Turn left onto the Route du Lazareth. Cross the bridge over the Givonne. After the bridge, continue straight on up an ascending path and join the Route Forestière. Follow this road for 1 km until the first forest road on the right (RF du Petit Terme).

(15) Head down the RF du Petit Terme to the first path on the left (the start is slightly set back from the path, beyond an area used for storing wood).
At the end of the track, turn right onto a stony path and, 50m further on, keep as far to the right as possible to join a small path leading to the bottom of a small valley (Ruisseau des Fraichis). This path, used by mountain bikers, runs along the bottom of the valley on the right bank of the stream and, after crossing the stream, leads to the end of a fitness trail.

(16) Start by taking a flight of steps, then, keeping in the same direction, follow the ditch that marks the boundary of the national forest until you reach the path you took at the start (first gate).

(1) Turn right to reach the Étrier Ardennais area and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 778 ft - Ardennes stirrup
  2. 1 : mi 0.28 - alt. 833 ft - Barrier
  3. 2 : mi 1.66 - alt. 1,070 ft - Lazareth forest road
  4. 3 : mi 2.26 - alt. 1,047 ft - RF du Pommier
  5. 4 : mi 3.05 - alt. 1,207 ft - Douaire forest road
  6. 5 : mi 3.3 - alt. 1,211 ft - Signposting in the Bois du Douaire
  7. 6 : mi 3.6 - alt. 1,033 ft - Stream - Givonne (rivière)
  8. 7 : mi 3.77 - alt. 1,014 ft - Douaire forest road
  9. 8 : mi 4.29 - alt. 1,207 ft - RF du Pain de Sucre
  10. 9 : mi 4.53 - alt. 1,109 ft - Mountain bike trail
  11. 10 : mi 5.25 - alt. 1,263 ft - Douaire forest road
  12. 11 : mi 5.46 - alt. 1,316 ft - Bouillonnais Path
  13. 12 : mi 6.76 - alt. 1,148 ft - Mountain bike trail
  14. 13 : mi 8.01 - alt. 892 ft - Bouilonnais Path
  15. 14 : mi 9.04 - alt. 755 ft - Lazareth forest road
  16. 15 : mi 9.79 - alt. 1,050 ft - RF du Petit Terme
  17. 16 : mi 10.84 - alt. 768 ft - Fitness trail
  18. S/E : mi 11.27 - alt. 778 ft - Ardennes stirrup

Notes

Small shelter 100m away with benches to the west of (7) along the Givonne and the Douaire forest road.
Table by the pond located between (10) and (11).
Small shelter with benches at (15).

Worth a visit

During the walk:

The old railway line between Sedan and Bouillon and the information boards at Olly.
The bridge of the old Bouillonnais railway line. This bridge is situated between two remarkable passages carved into the schist.
Olly Castle, a former spinning mill (not open to visitors).
World War II memorial.
War memorial from the 1870 war.

Nearby:
The Bannet leisure area.
Sedan Castle.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
ArinaTomberg
ArinaTomberg

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A beautiful walk through shaded paths and sunny clearings. Ideal for a hot summer's day. The ascents and descents are gentle and do not require excessive physical effort.
In addition to the benches and shelter mentioned above, there is also a rest area with benches and a table at point 14.

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bozierbruno
bozierbruno

Hello
Thank you for your comment and clarification.
Happy hiking
Bozierbruno

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horizon.2017
horizon.2017

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, I went for a walk on frozen ground; there was still plenty of water in the stream to cross at point 6, but it was possible to follow the stream slightly to the left as far as point 7. There was still timber being hauled out; there’s a table next to the pond at point 10 where you can eat and drink. A very beautiful route, though a bit of a challenge.

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vegodog
vegodog

Yes, definitely!
This extra challenge added a bit of spice to the route...
I mentioned it for the next group of hikers... as we were all adults, it wasn’t a problem for us... it doesn’t detract from the quality of this hike at all!!! You really shouldn’t let this minor detail put you off...

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bozierbruno
bozierbruno

Thank you for your feedback on this route and the suggested alternative.
Since the start of the month, 184 mm of rain has fallen.
I understand that the stream is impassable.
The disruption caused by the logging operations, however, is less predictable.
Happy hiking
Bozierbruno

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vegodog
vegodog

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

There is an impassable section between points 5 and 6 because of logging operations… and the stream is currently impassable without getting your feet wet…
At point 5, I recommend continuing straight along the path; you’ll reach point 7 without having to cross the stream...

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