Via the Prés de Buire

In Celles-lès-Condé, you can park near the Church of the Nativity, on Place de l’Église, close to the tourist sign for the Surmelin Valley.

(S/E) Walk down the main street and turn left onto the D85 towards the town hall. At the Stop sign, take Rue de Nogent opposite and walk alongside the orchard on your left. After the bridge, continue for 1.2 km along the path through fields and orchards.

(1) At the first farm, the track joins the road. Follow it straight on to the crossroads and turn straight ahead (leaving the bridge over the Surmelin on your right). Continue for 500 metres along the road leading to the hamlet of Montchevret.

(2) When you reach the first houses, head down Rue Principale to the right. As you leave the hamlet, head straight on towards Malaquais. Follow the road to the Malaquais farm. Then continue along the farm track, with the Surmelin on your right, for about 1.3 km to Baulne-en-Brie.

(3) At the junction with Rue de la Chapelle, head towards Saint-Barthélemy Church and the Mur de la Mémoire Vivante on the right. Walk down this street to the Auberge de l’Omois, where you’ll find the Gate of the Petite Roquette Prison. At the bottom of the village, turn left and take the street on the right, following the arrow towards Condé-en-Brie. Cross the bridge over the Surmelin. At the crossroads, cross the D4 and head up the gravel path into the forest opposite.

(4) On emerging from the woodland, on the plateau, turn right and follow the path along the edge of the woodland. After 600 metres, the path curves round an oak tree. Continue to the right, still along the edge of the woodland. After 100 metres, the path briefly enters the woodland. Turn left to come out again and continue along the edge of the woodland.

(5) Follow the farm track for 1.8 km between the woodland and the fields. At the edge of the woodland, head down towards the village of Condé-en-Brie.

(6) Leave the track and, before the small chapel, go round the cemetery on the left. Head down into Condé-en-Brie via Rue de l’Ormet and continue to the market halls.

(7) Take Rue Saint-Rémy on the right, alongside the market halls, following the arrow towards Celle-lès-Condé. Continue to the end of the street and carry on straight ahead along the grassy path. Along the path, a sign explains the battle of 3 June 1918. Before the bridge crossing the Surmelin, you’ll find a picnic area; head back up towards the village. At the end of the path, follow the arrow to the right onto the D85 towards Celles-lès-Condé and continue to the car park (S/E).

You can also complete the route by mountain bike.

Make sure you bring sturdy walking shoes, a water bottle and cereal bars.

Points of interest along the route

Celles-lès-Condé: Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin.

The Battle of 3 June 1918.

Baulne-en-Brie: Gate of the Petite Roquette prison.

Wall of Living Memory.

The ‘Lavoir des Fables’ (the milkmaid and the milk jug).

Condé-en-Brie: the Market Halls and their^15th-century Doric columns.