Machemont walks

The spectacular Montigny quarries served as barracks for French soldiers during the First World War, who left their mark in the form of sculptures and graffiti. An association, La Machemontoise, is reviving these sites and organising visits. This hike takes you on foot to these quarries, mainly through woods, while exploring the heritage of the commune.

This shaded mountain bike trail starts in the town of Coudun and heads towards Compiègne via the greenway, then runs alongside the Oise river to Jaux. It crosses the Oise via the Jaux footbridge and enters the forest. It joins the Francport at the Aisne bridge, then crosses the Oise again via an unusual bridge on the Oise Canal at the Longueil-Annel locks. It then heads towards Mont Ganelon, descends to Clairoix and ends in Coudun.

This easy circular walk between Choisy-au-Bac and Rethondes will allow you to discover the banks of the Aisne and the beautiful gardens of Francport, then the pretty little village of Rethondes, near the clearing where the 1914-18 armistice was signed, before returning to Choisy-au-Bac via the Laigue Forest and the Château des Bonshommes, ending at the little Chapelle des Trois Chênes, which is awash with wild blue hyacinths in the last fortnight of April.

Starting from two moving military cemeteries, French and German, built simultaneously and side by side in 1918, a short circular route passes by a fountain in the middle of the woods.

A memorial hike starting from a town steeped in history and in a forest that is equally steeped in history. The route alternates between forest paths (mostly), trails, including the one that allows you to "climb" Mont du Tremble, paths along the Aisne river and urban sections rich in heritage.

This walk starts at Compiègne Castle and takes you through its grounds, then on to the remarkable trees near the Allée des Beaux Monts, passing by the Boute des Beaux Monts and its viewpoint over Compiègne. It is a condensed version of the beauty and pleasures of Compiègne and its forest.

Located less than two kilometres from the front line during the First World War, the village of Tracy-le-Mont saw many soldiers passing through on their way to the front and wounded soldiers returning. This memorial hike brings those difficult years back to life and passes through moving places such as the former temporary cemetery and the national necropolis that replaced it.

This easy walk in the Laigue Forest allows you to discover the charming forest village of Saint-Crépin, admire the Laigue Forest, twin sister of the Compiègne Forest, less visited but just as attractive, and enjoy beautiful views of the wooded hills. A picnic in the shade of the trees with a view is recommended. Circular route.

The Bois des Loges was the scene of fierce fighting at the beginning and end of the First World War. Starting from the monument that pays tribute to the soldiers who fell in the area, as well as a stele in honour of a soldier who was shot there as an example, this hike, mainly through fields, retraces the painful history of these places.

This list includes several hikes that pay tribute to soldiers of all nationalities who fought in the First World War. More than a century later, certain remnants still bear witness to the appalling conditions in which they lived. In the list, these hikes are classified according to the front line, from north to south and then from west to east.

A family walk through the forest where you can discover the flora and fauna of the Compiègnois region. Starting from Lacroix-Saint-Ouen.

This route through the Compiègne Forest will take you to the charming village of Saint-Jean-aux-Bois, a candidate for the TV show "The Most Beautiful Village in France", its abbey and, during a lovely, easy hike in the forest, the village of La Brévière and the Étang Sainte-Pérrine.

During the First World War, the front line divided the commune of Autrèches in two! This memorial hike recounts the lives of the combatants on both sides as well as those of the inhabitants during those four difficult years.

Petite randonnée historique en passant par Orrouy et la forêt de Compiègne.

In December 1914, six French soldiers were shot as an example in the village of Vingré. This memorial hike retraces these events from the beginning of the First World War. The route is first marked by a transcription of the last letter written by these unfortunate men and by the sober monument that pays tribute to them. We pass by the Broken Cross, then the ruins of the Farm and the quarries of Confrécourt, all of which bear witness to the unprecedented violence of this war.

Discover the rich heritage of the Automne Valley and its surroundings, Gallo-Roman ruins and the ruined Romanesque chapel of Champlieu, the churches of Béthencourt and Orrouy, and more. In addition, the route from hill to hill offers beautiful views of the countryside and the valleys you cross.

A beautiful walk in the Valois region between the forests of Retz, Compiègne and Senlis.

The route begins with a grassy path that climbs 60 metres, offering a beautiful ascent at the start. It then continues on flat terrain, following agricultural paths that are ideal for enjoying the surroundings while walking at a leisurely pace. After this section, a descent leads to the picturesque village of Saint-Pierre-Aigle, a charming place to take a short break. The rest of the route takes you into the forest, with 8 kilometres of forest paths, pleasant and varied terrain, perfect for nature lovers. You then cross the village of Montgobert, adding a touch of diversity before returning to the plain. The return journey is along farm tracks, offering wide views and unobstructed vistas of the surrounding countryside. Finally, a last descent takes you to ValseryAbbey, a historic site that provides a beautiful conclusion to this route.

We invite you to discover an itinerary combining history and nature, offering exceptional panoramic views of the village of Saint-Pierre-Aigle. A grassy path will lead us towards the Dommier quarry, before we take a farm track that will take us to Saint-Pierre-Aigle. Here, we will have a magnificent view of the village's central square and church. The hike continues through Chafossepour to reach the surrounding forest. After this immersion in the rural world, we will continue our journey through the undergrowth for about 2 km, sheltered by the coolness of the trees. Nature will then reveal the place known as Le Trou Madelon, where we will gradually emerge from the forest and enter the plain. From there, we will walk along the edge of Saint-Pierre, on the edge of the woods, before beginning our descent towards Valsery Abbey.

A lovely, easy walk through nature and heritage, best enjoyed in good weather. Peace, tranquillity and fresh air are its main attractions , culminating in a visit to Valsery Abbey. Guided tours are available at weekends in summer. The passage in front of Montgobert Castle also invites you to visit the Wood Museum. At the end of the route, enjoy rural scenery and a magnificent view from the highest point of the plain over the Mont de Valsery farm. The route is very shaded between the various points (2) and (3) by large trees. You pass near the Ferme de Saint-Agnan (3), one of the first properties of the Abbey of Valsery, 2 km away, then near the Château de Mongobert (4) and at the end of the route near the Ferme du Mont de Valsery (6). The path is wide and pleasant throughout.

The Retz Forest was the scene of intense fighting during the two battles of the Marne, in September 1914 and during the summer of 1918. Numerous monuments retrace this history, and this hike offers the opportunity to discover several of them, including a replica of a tall observation tower and a moving military cemetery. Starting from a pretty village with a charmingly simple church, the route is mainly through forest.

Fourteenth stage, entirely in the Aisne department, of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France via the GR®11, between the stations of Villers-Cotterêts and La Ferté-Milon. During this stage, we switch to the eastern side of Île-de-France, leaving the Oise basin to reach the Ourcq valley and the Marne basin.As the stage is short, a small (optional) circular in Villers-Cotterêts is suggested at the start, to discover the magnificent park of its equally magnificent château. It can be done after the previous stage completed the day before, with an overnight stay in Villers-Cotterêts.

Hike in a forest massif located on a hill and composed mainly of beech and oak trees. The southern and northern edges offer beautiful panoramic views of the Valois agricultural plateau and the Oise Valley.

This loop, starting from Villers-Saint-Frambourg, takes place in the Forêt d'Halatte. The paved forest roads follow the dirt tracks. We climb Mont Pagnotte via the south face. After a long descent, we go around the mountain to climb it again, but this time via the north face. The ascent is less difficult as it follows a beautiful path. After a long descent, we return to our starting point.

Short walk in the Halatte National Forest from Fleurines via Mont Pagnotte and the hamlet of Saint Christophe. The former priory of Saint-Christophe is now the main feature of Fleurines' architectural heritage and is listed as a historic monument . The commune also boasts a rich natural and landscape heritage and is part of a natural area of ecological, faunistic and floristic interest (ZNIEFF). Since its creation in 2004, Fleurines has also been part of the Oise Pays de France Regional Nature Park.

This hike is long enough to showcase all aspects of the Halatte forest: tall beech and oak trees, coppice with oak trees and lime trees in the undergrowth, and large cultivated clearings, the largest of which is Fleurines. Most of the route follows the beautiful forest roads that were built several centuries ago.