The Abbaye du Reclus via Bannay and Belin

This is a short hike with lots to discover: the Abbaye du Reclus, the Château de Belin and the Reclus dolmen. You will hike through woods and pastures where cows graze. There are no particular difficulties, but avoid this hike in wet weather.

Details

126146
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.24 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 147 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 147 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 220 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 137 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S) The start is at the car park of the fishing lake on the Talus Saint-Prix road in Corfélix, just after the Abbaye du Reclus (D43).
With your back to the lake, turn right onto the D43 and continue to the Abbaye du Reclus.

(1) Leave the road and take the small sunken path that leads into the woods opposite (GRP®, red and yellow markings). Follow this path through the woods. Be careful, it is not very well maintained, with branches and undergrowth. Stay on this path, which leads to a pasture area and then to a small road.

(2) Turn left. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead towards the village of Bannay.

(3) After the church, turn left and follow the GRP® signs. The trail runs alongside houses, then enters the woods.

(4) Cross a ford and follow the path without entering the pastures. It leads to the village of Belin, where you stop following the red and yellow markings. Turn right and then immediately left towards the hamlet of Les Pisserottes. Cross the hamlet and continue to the last building.

(5) Continue straight ahead along the woods, cross another ford and continue along the path.

(6) At the edge of the woods, you will pass close to the Dolmen du Reclus. The path arrives in a cultivated area and joins the Petit Morin.

(7) Cross the stream and continue to a small road.

(8) Cross it and take the road opposite.

Continue on the path that climbs into the woods, to the left. After 1 km, you will come to a crossroads where you will meet the Compostela trail.

(9) Turn left to arrive at a gently sloping path leading to the pond where you will find your car (S/E).

Please note that there are no signposts in the woods, so you will need to use the map. Alternatively, you can follow the road by turning left at point 8 until you reach the starting point (yellow signposts). This road is not very busy and there is enough space on the left-hand side to walk.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 139 m - Parking at the pond
  2. 1 : km 0.35 - alt. 149 m - Start of the trail
  3. 2 : km 2.46 - alt. 220 m - At the junction with the small road, turn left
  4. 3 : km 3.06 - alt. 195 m - Turn left
  5. 4 : km 3.54 - alt. 184 m - Fording
  6. 5 : km 6.5 - alt. 169 m - Go straight ahead into the woods
  7. 6 : km 7.27 - alt. 138 m - You will pass close to the menhir
  8. 7 : km 7.41 - alt. 137 m - Bridge over the - Petit Morin (le)
  9. 8 : km 7.79 - alt. 141 m - Turn left and follow the small road
  10. 9 : km 9.55 - alt. 192 m - Junction with the Compostela trail, on the left
  11. S/E : km 10.24 - alt. 139 m - Parking at the pond

Notes

In the hamlet of Les Pisserottes, there is a very friendly dog running loose.

You can refill your water bottles at the Bannay cemetery.

(8) Please note that there are no markers in the woods, so you will need to use a map. Alternatively, you can follow the road, turning left until you reach the starting point (yellow markers). This road is not very busy and there is enough space on the left-hand side to walk.

Worth a visit

The Abbaye du Reclus is open to visitors. See website.

In Bannay: pretty wash house.

In Belin, you can make a small loop to see the castle and rejoin the circuit where you left it.

Dolmen du Reclus: This is actually a covered passageway built between 2500 BC and 1800 BC, which served as a collective burial site. The passageway, which was probably longer than it is today, formed a veritable tumulus. Excavations carried out in 1931 by Abbé Favret uncovered tools and intertwined bones. Source: Wikipedia.

The small town of Sézanne is only a quarter of an hour away and is well worth a visit. See the tours offered by the tourist office.

Champagne producers in Sézanne and the surrounding villages.

To see the dolmen, as you leave the woods, turn left onto the path marked by a wrought iron sign. Please respect the site.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 23 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 24338465

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and easy walk, except for the last part in the woods where there were many obstacles with fallen trees and huge ruts caused by logging.

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virgule
virgule

Thanks for the review

I see that you did the tour two weeks ago. With all the rain that fell (more than 50 mm in a week), I think the ford is now difficult to cross and there is mud.

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guiboun
guiboun

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike thanks to its tranquillity, varied surroundings and lack of difficulty

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virgule
virgule

Thanks for the feedback.

Initially, my route was along the road, but some people found that there was too much tarmac. So I changed it to go through the woods.

When it rains heavily, the ford after Bannay can be quite challenging.

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PatocheJLD
PatocheJLD

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We walked at a good pace and, due to the rainy weather, we shortened the route by taking the road between CORFELIX and Le Reclus, covering 9.4 km in 2 hours and 20 minutes. A very pleasant hike, mainly through woodland with a few pretty, quiet and well-kept villages along the way. I highly recommend it!

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klem77
klem77

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike. Bannay is a charming village in Champagne
Very beautiful views of the hillsides. Relaxation on arrival around the fishing ponds of Les Forges

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virgule
virgule

The pond and refreshment bar will reopen on 19 May.

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ulyssia
ulyssia

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike through diverse landscapes with lots to discover (abbey, pretty villages, dolmen).
It was a shame that we couldn't visit the abbey, which was closed due to Covid.
The path is quiet and well marked, but you should still follow the map and recommendations.
The time indicated and the level of difficulty are accurate.

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CloGlo
CloGlo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike that passes through pretty hamlets and offers varied landscapes.

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virgule
virgule

Thank you for your review. The Abbaye du Reclus is a wonderful place; I had the opportunity to visit it. I'm happy for them that they have guests at the moment.

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Uskamaya
Uskamaya

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

During a weekend at the Abbaye du Reclus lodge (a must-see!!!), we got some fresh air with this lovely hike. Well marked and hilly but without any major difficulties (except for the mud... 3 weeks of rain). The Reclus dolmen is a must-see.
Peace and quiet guaranteed!

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virgule
virgule

Thank you for your review. It really is a beautiful spot, a real change of scenery for city dwellers. And very quiet.

I start at the fishing pond, because for me and my fellow hikers, enjoying a cold beer at the pondside bar when we arrive is a real bonus.

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Carterando2
Carterando2

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, best done in summer, as many of the paths are shaded or run through the woods.
In winter, some paths may be wet as the soil is clayey and logging has left deep ruts in the forest.
Beautiful landscapes of the Brie region of Champagne.
You can start from Le THOULT-TROSNAY, which is 3 km further, and take the flower-filled route past the châteaux and Saint-Nicolas priory.

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BERNARD77320
BERNARD77320

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Quads between the 5th, 6th and 7th kilometres, unpleasant.

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virgule
virgule

Thank you for your review

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