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Access: Coming from either Charleville or Nouzonville, after the chapel, take the street on the left towards the factories 150 metres further on, continue north-east for 1 kilometre and join the car park on the left at the entrance to the woods. Departure from the car park in Neufmanil.
(S/E) Take the path heading south-east through the woods.
(1) At the fork, turn left, go straight ahead at the next two intersections and continue straight ahead, staying at the same level, towards Gespunsart.
(2) At the junction with a wide path, go down a few metres to the right, then turn left onto the path, continuing in the same direction (south-east).
(3) As you approach La Goutelle, the path disappears. It reappears a few metres further on after an uphill stretch and heads north-west. The path runs alongside a deforested and sometimes marshy area. Continue straight ahead, ignoring the paths branching off to the left and right.
(4) At the first houses in Gespunsart, turn right onto the downhill streets of Belle Vue, then Helle, passing the Fontaine du Zouave fountain on your right (water not drinkable). Pass the church and continue straight ahead on Rue de la Barrière to reach the village centre at the fountain in the roundabout at the intersection of the Charleville and Pussemange (Belgium) roads.
(5) Turn right onto Rue de la Gare and, after 200 metres, follow the sloping street on the right (Rue de l'Abattoir) towards the factories and the cemetery.
(6) At the cemetery, cross Route de Neufmanil, head straight ahead and take the forest road that climbs upwards, which is paved at the beginning. On the right below, make a quick detour to Chapelle Saint-Lieu (picnic table). Go back up the path and turn right. After 250 metres, still on the right, make a round trip to the Three Crosses and then continue along the forest road.
(7) Be careful, 500-600 metres from the crosses, take a path on the right towards the ditch marking the boundary of the commune. Continue up the path marked with red painted cement markers for the safety of mountain bikes.
(8) The path runs alongside the forest road and then moves away from it. Continue uphill to the right (west), still in the ditch marking the boundary between the municipalities, following the curves of the terrain. After a series of climbs and descents, sometimes steep but short, you will reach a low point, an open area and the beginnings of a stream. Along the way, there are beautiful views of the valley.
(9) Turn right at a 90° angle into the wetland area and follow the path on the left. Then go straight ahead, descend and cross the wide path coming from the left. Enter Neufmanil, go straight ahead, leaving the cemetery on your right and passing to the left of the church.
(10) Turn left, then right onto Rue Jean Jaurès towards the factories. After 50 metres, leave this street, take the first street on the left and continue straight ahead to the bridge over the Goutelle.
(11) After the bridge, ignore the road on the left and take the path opposite between the houses, which climbs slightly. It joins the path you started on, which you should take to the left to return to the car park.
It's not the Zouave fountain... it's one of the Gespunsart wash houses called Malbrought! But never mind, it's forgiven!
Visorando member
Difficult 
Easy 
