Saint-Imoges - Courtagnon - Chamery - Sermiers

A hike on paths that are accessible in all seasons. You will pass through magnificent forests and vineyards, with a beautiful view of Reims. Stone paths, small roads with no traffic and single-track trails. The route is easy, as it follows the^GR® (^GRP® de l'Ardre and^GR®142) in their current version (not the one on the maps), and is well marked for over half of the way.

Details

n°39781

Creation:
22 Aug 2013

Last update:
12 Sep 2021

Last review:
18 Aug 2024

Activity: Walking
Distance: 16.03 km
Average duration: 5h 20
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 267 m
Descent: - 267 m
Highest point: 271 m
Lowest point: 147 m

Country: France
District: Sermiers (51500)
Start/End: N 49.128142° / E 3.99042°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2712E, 2713E, 2812O
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Description of the walk

The walk starts at the Maison Forestière du Cadran car park, where you can leave your car.

(S/E) Go to the southern end of the car park and cross the RN51. Please note that depending on the time of day, there may be traffic. Take the^GRP® (yellow and red markings) which passes in front of the Maison Forestière du Cadran (Route de la Mer Rouge).

(1) After crossing the Ardre, leave the path on your right, which will be the return route, and follow the^GRP® through the woods, ignoring several other paths on the left and right, until you reach the village of Courtagnon.

(2) Pass in front of the remarkable "Chêne à cavités" oak tree.

(3) Continue to follow the^GRP®, which turns right then left to pass by the Château farm. At the corner of the farm, turn right at a 90° angle to climb through the vineyards. Pass close to a reservoir on the right and continue north until you reach a crossroads (elevation 260).

(4) Turn left and continue through the woods until you reach the D22.

(5) Cross over, turn right and continue for about 200 m along the road (take care).

(6) Leave the road and follow the^GRP® on the left.

(7) Head straight ahead towards the Écueil farm (do not take the first path on the right, which joins the route a little further on) and continue to follow the^GRP®, which is incorrectly marked on the map at this point. Opposite the farm, turn right.

(8) At the crossroads, continue straight ahead, pass in front of a calvary and follow the path that leads through the woods on the heights of Chamery.

(9) Enjoy the magnificent view of the city of Reims and its cathedral, then continue on the^GRP®, which descends steeply through the vineyards to the church of Chamery.

(10) Pick up the^GR®142(white and red markings) on the right, opposite the church. From there, carefully follow this^{GR® trail} as it winds through the vineyards to reach the hamlet of Montaneuf.

(11) Turn right to cross the hamlet. Turn left, then right, and continue straight ahead to the D22.

(12) Cross and continue opposite on the^{GR® trail}, which follows a small road reserved for residents. Cross a small wood and arrive at a crossroads (elevation 202).

(13) Leave the^GR® by turning right. Climb between vineyards and forest on a fairly steep hill.

(14) At the crossroads, turn right onto the Route de la Noëlle for about 350 metres.

(15) Take the carriageway on the left and follow it straight ahead for 2 km until you reach the Route de la Mer Rouge.

(1) Turn left onto the RN51. Cross the road and head for the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 271 m - Car park at the Maison Forestière du Cadran
1 : km 1.08 - alt. 223 m - Crossroads of the circular - Ardre (rivière)
2 : km 1.55 - alt. 220 m - Arbre remarquable le chêne à cavités
3 : km 3.77 - alt. 176 m - Courtagnon
4 : km 4.88 - alt. 261 m - Crossroads, on the left
5 : km 5.53 - alt. 251 m - D22, on the right
6 : km 5.69 - alt. 258 m - Follow the GRP to the left.
7 : km 6.7 - alt. 261 m - Crossroads, opposite
8 : km 7.34 - alt. 259 m - At the crossroads, go straight ahead.
9 : km 7.84 - alt. 190 m - Viewpoint over Reims
10 : km 8.36 - alt. 153 m - Chamery Church, junction with GR
11 : km 10.47 - alt. 181 m - Montaneuf, on the right
12 : km 11.2 - alt. 198 m - D22, opposite
13 : km 11.58 - alt. 202 m - Crossroads, on the right
14 : km 12.61 - alt. 266 m - Crossroads, on the right
15 : km 12.95 - alt. 266 m - Driveway on the left
S/E : km 16.03 - alt. 271 m - Car park at the Maison Forestière du Cadran

Notes

There is a fountain with non-potable water in the hamlet of Montaneuf.

There are numerous picnic tables in the car park, well arranged under the trees. The parking spaces at the back are shaded by trees.

In wet weather, waterproof hiking boots are recommended. Mosquito repellent in summer.

Please note that the^GRP® tends to change from year to year. None of the maps are up to date, so please refer to the description and the attached map.

Worth a visit

There are several very pleasant wash houses in Sermiers. A beautiful place to picnic in the shade.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5

Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5

Route interest
4.1 / 5

virgule

18 Aug 2024 at 20:24 7200

Hello,

The GPS track is very good, with no possible errors.

The GPS track is all the better because it is not a GPS track, but a route created with the mouse. This is what I do for all my routes, which allows me to be exactly on the paths and to be able to correct them easily. I find the routes created with the app a bit messy and very difficult to modify, as there are far too many points.

Thank you for your kind review.

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AK18

18 Aug 2024 at 11:02 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Contrary to one of the latest comments, the GPS track is very good, with no possible errors.
I completed the route today without any problems or hesitation about the direction to take. You do need a GPS, but that's true of all hikes, to be honest.
Thank you for sharing your trails; it's always good to have tracks to follow.

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virgule

18 Jul 2024 at 10:33 7200 • Edited: 18 Jul 2024 at 10:35 7200

Hello,

I think you must have got lost, because a large part of this route is on forest tracks that are accessible by vehicle, so they cannot be overgrown with brambles.

I see that you didn't use the app. That's a shame, as I could have seen where you went wrong and possibly added to the description.

We are in a region where few paths are marked. This may be regrettable, but it means that there are few visitors and it is peaceful. If you do this route again, please use the app. With it, it is impossible to get lost.

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Cricri et didith

18 Jul 2024 at 08:09 7200

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Not worth the effort! Virtually no signposting except at the start and finish. Poor maintenance: bushes, brambles, etc. We got lost twice: 21 km instead of 16 km - not recommended unless the route is signposted and maintained, as it could be an interesting route.

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W001814

23 Aug 2023 at 11:39 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, nicely shaded (at least half of the route). And what a beautiful view when you come out of the woods and arrive in Chamery!
I think the path must be busier in the afternoon.

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berthomas

22 Dec 2020 at 10:56 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike, an easy route to follow... suitable in all weather conditions, although the views are best appreciated when the sky is clear. A change is necessary at the end of the route due to the presence of hunters... mutual respect is required.

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virgule

11 Feb 2020 at 22:30 3600

I did part of this route today, after heavy rain. At point 3, you need boots.

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ccaz

23 Sep 2019 at 17:10 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Very precise descriptions,

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virgule

15 Aug 2019 at 14:48 7200

The Calvary of Chamery is like the Lutzelbach Fountain. You have to pass by several times to notice it.

It is set back from the path. You can see it when you know it's there.

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ovil

14 Aug 2019 at 23:51 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We set off from Germaine station and headed for the Cadran car park.
It was a pleasant walk along beautiful paths.
Whether due to a mistake in the route or a momentary lapse in concentration, we missed the calvary at point 7. However, we did pass the viewpoint and the church at Chamery.
The GR trail markings in the vineyards are poor.
In Montaneuf, follow the description carefully. The GR markings suggest turning left (back to the fountain), but you need to turn right to reach the D 22.
In Montaneuf, opposite the fountain, there is an old wash house with two benches where you can take a break. There is even a book hotel for a more cultural break.

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virgule

02 Jan 2019 at 16:44 3600

Route taken today. Everything is passable, but in the vineyards above Chamerry, it is quite muddy.

The GR trail is marked randomly.

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virgule

27 Apr 2018 at 21:03 7200

Very good idea. Indeed, hikers coming from Reims can start the hike at another location and skip the Cadran car park.

Besides, there hasn't been a chip shop in the car park for a long time.

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Malouga

27 Apr 2018 at 17:47 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant walk.
Knowing the area quite well, I don't like crossing the D951 (formerly the RN 51) either by car or on foot.
Coming from Reims, we therefore decided to start and finish the hike in Sermiers and access point 12, then continue the walk as described. I think this shortens it a little (less than a kilometre, in my opinion).
There were no difficulties and the landscapes and paths were quite varied.
We walked for 4 hours to complete this circular.

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virgule

11 Sep 2016 at 11:19 7200

Honestly, I'm happy when people hike my trails, and I feel sorry when they get lost.

I tried to figure out the route our hiker took, and I think I've found it. She left the GR trail, which is why she couldn't see the markers anymore. I took the opportunity to take a photo of the Calvary, and I'll add it to the hike.

Be careful, on the dirt tracks (off the route), there is corn put there by hunters. During hunting season, do not leave the stone path. Or even choose another hike.