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Departure from the ruins of Vauclair Abbey. There are two car parks along the D886. Park in the small car park on the left-hand side of the road before the Étang des Moines if you are coming from the Hurtebise farm, or on the right-hand side of the road if you are coming from the village of Bouconville-Vauclair. If the small car park is full, park in the large car park on the other side of the road.
Unless otherwise indicated in the description, the route follows blue circular markings. The circles are painted either on tree trunks in the forest or on dedicated signs marked "Saint-Victor". In some places, there are other types of markings, which are only indicated when necessary.
(S/E) From the small car park (several information boards), head south-west, pass through a forest barrier and take a wide grassy path (signposted "Chemin des Dames", red and whiteGR®®12markings). At the fork, take the forest track on the left (sign with orange arrow; the blue trail continues straight ahead but then returns via a tarmac road).
(1) Cross a tarmac road, pass through a forest gate and rejoin the blue markings. Leave the Étang de la Fontaine on your right and continue straight ahead uphill. At the crossroads, turn left (north-east). Ignore a path on the right, go downhill and note the former site of an artillery battery on the left (information sign).
(2) At the next junction, turn right onto a good path (no markings here). Stay on this main path, which climbs and winds slightly in a south-easterly direction. Ignore a turn-off on the right at forest plot no. 55 and continue straight ahead at the next crossroads. The slope becomes steeper and the path turns right. At the next junction, continue straight ahead and climb more gently. At the end of the path, follow the tarmac road on the left.
(3) After about 300 metres, leave the blue markings for a moment, cross the road and follow the path that leads to the Napoleon monument (beautiful view, information panel). Retrace your steps and cross the road again.
(3) Two paths lead off from the side of the road; follow the one on the right (north-north-east) which enters a spruce wood. At the first junction, continue straight ahead and, at the second junction (plots nos. 58 and 59), take the first path on the right. At the end of the path, turn left downhill into a wide forest lane.
(4) At the bottom, at the junction where the slope breaks (plots nos. 45 and 46), turn right and walk eastwards through a beech forest.
(5) At the crossroads (information board), turn right at a right angle (south). At the bottom of a short descent, turn left to reach a viewpoint with wooden railings.
(6) Go down the steps to the right of the viewpoint, cross the road and head for the orientation table (information panels). Retrace your steps.
(6) Continue east along the Chemin de Ronde towards the observation tower. Stay under the pine forest on the main path, which is marked with several information panels. Ignore a "shortcut" on the left and, in the open terrain, note the view of the village of Craonne on the right. Reach the foot of the observation tower.
(7) Turn left and begin the ascent of the monumental observation tower (superb panorama). Retrace your steps.
(7) Pass the picnic tables on your left and the remains of an old blockhouse on your right, and descend steeply.
(8) At the T-junction, leave the blue markings for a moment and turn right. After a slight descent, you will reach a car park located on the site of the former Place de la Croisette in the razed village of Craonne. Cross the D18CD road, follow the former Rue du Bloc and you will arrive at the site of the former Saint-Martin Church.
(9) Retrace your steps to the junction at the bottom of the descent from the observation tower.
(8) Find the blue markings and continue north, walking alongside the former Craonne cemetery on your right. Continue along the edge of the woods on your left, pass a forest barrier and descend into a sunken path in the undergrowth. Ignore a vague path on the right and continue to a fork.
(10) Then turn left and head west.
(11) At the next fork (plots nos. 51 and 49), turn right and leave a clearing (unused in March 2017) on your left. Then cross a tarmac forest road and continue north-west then north.
(12) At the next crossroads, turn left, go through a forest barrier (red and whiteGR®® marker) and follow a good path discreetly stabilised by stones. Walk west or west-southwest, ignore all the side paths and walk along forest plots nos. 23 to 16 on the left and nos. 7 to 5 on the right.
(13) At the crossroads following a forest barrier, continue slightly to the right into plot no. 4 (do not take the first path on the right). Then follow the D886 road to the left. Before the pond, turn left and cross the conservatory garden. Then turn right and visit the ruins of Vauclair Abbey (indicative route on the map). Join the D886 road, turn left leaving the pond on your right and return to the car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Association / Club / Walk leader
Easy 
