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Start at the exit of the village of Chenay, park on Place Boisseau, where you will find a pretty fountain decorated with a cherub.
(S/E) With your back to the fountain, head right off the square towards Trigny and take the path that climbs up through the vineyards and into the forest. A sign from the Marne Tourist Board shows you the route: the entire trail is marked in yellow. Follow this path along the hillside of the Massif de Saint-Thierry, with the Vesle valley and the Champagne vineyards in the background. You will come to the edge of the forest.
(1) Take the path that descends into the woods. It is marked in yellow and becomes hollow, rugged and steep. After 500 metres, you will come to a carriage road.
(2) Turn right. A few metres further on, leave the pond and the barrier blocking access to it on your left. Continue to the right along a sandy path through a forest of tall Scots pines. At a clearing, a sandpit gradually being colonised by trees, take the main path down to the left, which is still marked in yellow. You will come to a small three-way junction.
(3) Take the middle path and continue along the marked path. Further on, two yellow crosses prevent you from taking the main paths: you are invited to take a narrow path through hazel trees, brambles, clematis, etc. Leave the path on your right (marked with a cross) and continue following the yellow signs. Keep climbing until you come out onto a wider path.
(4) Turn right (yellow sign). You are now on a flat path on the hillside below the Source de Bécuzon. It is paved with limestone.
After 500 m, leave the path on your left and continue following the yellow signs. After 130 m, you will find a path on your right. Leave it and turn left (still following the yellow signs). You will come to a wide white path: this is theGR®145"Via Francigena".
You can take advantage of being just 5 minutes from Fort Saint Thierry to visit its ruins (please note that access is prohibited!)
(5) A sign invites you to continue to the right, heading south, on the "Circuit du Massif de St-Thierry" (PR®20). The signposting is mixed: red and white on one side (GR®) and yellow on the other (PR®). In wet weather, large puddles make the path difficult in places. Continue to a clearing near a field that you will see behind you on your right (elevation 192).
(6) A red and white cross invites you to leave the main stone path and take a small path on your left. Walk gently down this very pleasant section of the circuit. When you reach a new clearing (elevation 162), you will come to a large sunken path: take it on your right until you leave the forest and arrive at Merfy.
(7) Take a lane closed to traffic in this direction: Chemin des Hurcoteaux. Go around Place des Nochets, keeping it on your right. There is a table where you can stop for a picnic. Follow the yellow markings to continue along the streets of Merfy (Chemin des Nochets, etc.), keeping the vineyards on your right. You will come to the D26 at an iron cross.
(8) Leave the yellow markings and continue straight ahead on the path (vineyards on your right, fields on your left). Keep walking on the flat and, at the crossroads, continue straight ahead. When you come to a right-hand bend, take it and leave the path that goes downhill opposite you: you should be able to see the antenna above Trigny. You are now approaching the houses of Chenay. Take the path on the left to pass under a large old walnut tree.
You will then arrive at a paved road (a dead-end street that extends Rue des Roizes). Take it, heading north. At the intersection, on your left, Rue des Guides (lined with walls of earth and stone tiles) will take you back to the starting point (S/E).
Association / Club / Walk leader
Easy 
Visorando member
Difficult 
Very difficult 
