Oulchy-le-Château walks

Near the Ourcq Valley, on a hillock in the middle of fields, stands a monument commissioned to celebrate the victory of the Second Battle of the Marne but which, instead of glorifying the victors, pays tribute to those who died or went missing in the Great War. This work by sculptor Paul Landowski is the main destination of this memorial hike. Three beautiful churches, dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, complete the picture.

A hike through the woods to discover bluebells, the village of Villeneuve-sur-Fère where Paul Claudel lived, and a visit to the Hottée du Diable (a unique rock erosion site).

A stroll through peaceful countryside just an hour from Paris, where you will find fortified castles, a 12th-century church and an American cemetery from the First World War.

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, which starts at the foot of the ruins of Longpont Abbey, passes by a memorial built in 1938. Beech and pine forests, with beautiful fern undergrowth, await you on this mainly forest trail.

Along the way, you will pass through the charming villages of the Clignon Valley, the Moulin de Brisé in Monthiers, the wash house in Licy Clignon, the fountain in Torcy en Vallois, the American and German military cemeteries in Belleau, and the Bois de Belleau.

In the footsteps of Léon-Augustin-Lhermitte, painter of the peasants of Champagne, late 19th century. Walk up Mont-Saint-Père, passing by the Gland orientation table, then stroll along the Marne to finish up on the Chartèves hillside, a nature reserve where you can find around thirty plant species (orchids, etc.) and invertebrate fauna (spotted salamanders) and insectivorous birds.

This hike takes place largely under the tall trees of the Retz Forest. It also passes through the village of Oigny-en-Valois, nestled in a vast clearing with its rich monumental heritage: the castle, the church and the Charpentier Mausoleum, in particular.

Fifteenth stage of the Grand Tour of Île-de-France via the GR®11, between La Ferté-Milon station in Aisne and Crouy-sur-Ourcq station in Seine-et-Marne. A relatively easy stage that follows the towpath of the canalised Ourcq River to Mareuil-sur-Ourcq, then the Ourcq Canal, which separates from the river at that point.A short detour is suggested at the start of the stage to the Château de La Ferté-Milon on the heights of the town, offering a magnificent view of the surrounding area. Similarly, at the end, the GR® offers a short detour through the woods to the oratory and then the Chapelle Notre-Dame du Chêne before reaching Crouy-sur-Ourcq station.

This hike is the first stage of a project to walk the entire length of the Canal de l'Ourcq.Departure from La Ferté-Milon station. The first part can be done as a circular route with return to the same station (9.4km, easy).A pleasant trail through the hills overlooking the valley. Beautiful views followed by the canal with its pretty winding and shaded sections.

With a history stretching back two thousand years, the city of Soissons boasts a wide variety of architecture: Gallo-Roman ruins, Gothic abbeys and churches, Renaissance and Louis XIII pavilions, Art Deco buildings, and more. This urban hike invites you to discover this rich heritage! There are also several memorials in this city, which was on the front lines of the First World War.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The route begins under the majestic beech trees of the Retz National Forest. It then passes through typical villages with a rich architectural heritage. The path overlooks the valleys of the Ourcq and its tributaries. You will discover the beginning of the Ourcq Canal. The Donjon du Houssoy welcomes you at the end of the route in Crouy-sur-Ourcq.

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.

A circular walk starting from Passy-sur-Marne, taking in vineyards, châteaux, villages, the banks of the Marne and wash houses, not forgetting the military cemetery and the Dormans Memorial 1914-1918. A busy day steeped in history.

At the gateway to Champagne, Montreuil-aux-Lions invites you to take a walk among well-tended vineyards and bubbling streams. In addition to its imposing town hall and listed Saint-Martin church, there are numerous footpaths where you can appreciate the preserved local heritage. Montreuil-aux-Lions is full of hidden gems, some of which have been forgotten, waiting to be rediscovered.

Starting from the village of Fontenoy, climb up to the plateau between fields and woods. The start of the descent is marked by the passage to the Guésot quarries, which served as barracks for French troops during the First World War. The end of the hike takes place in the Aisne valley and along the edge of ponds.

This is a unique little hike that will allow you to discover the Dhuis aqueduct and visit Condé-en-Brie, its castle and its historic centre.

A bucolic walk between the Marne and the vineyards around Nogent-l'Artaud, visiting a few wash houses, some of which evoke La Fontaine's Fables.

Discover the south-facing hillsides on the right bank of the Marne, covered with Champagne vineyards, then those on the north-facing left bank with their deciduous woods and the Dhuys Aqueduct. The journey is enhanced by passing through several pretty wine-growing villages.

Between fields and woods, a hike in the western sector of the ill-fated Chemin des Dames offensive of April 1917. Several memorial sites invite reflection on the absurdity of the massacres that wars cause.

The three only communes in Île-de-France located in the Champagne appellation area are nestled in a circular loop of the Marne. This is a very pretty route through the vineyards and along the Dhuis Aqueduct, punctuated by beautiful views and places to stop for a break on the banks of the Marne.

A hike from station to station (easily accessible by train), shaded between balconies overlooking the Marne, meadows and fields along the river, alternating between woods and vineyards. The route follows a relatively wild and quiet circular loop of the Marne. Ideal in dry and sunny weather. (!) Be aware of hunting days. Check with the town hall for hunting days (every other Sunday).

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.

A hike through the hills and valleys around the Saint-Martin fountain.

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.