A walk through the Compiègne Forest and to the ruins of Champlieu

Start from the Hourvari Forest House at the Carrefour Desbouis. Access by car via the Route du Maupaset; parking available on site.

(S/E) With your back to the forest ranger’s house, take the^second left (east-southeast) onto the Route du Grand Octogone. At the junction (elevation 58), turn right (south). Continue to the Carrefour des Prés du Rosoir.

(1) Continue straight on, still heading south. At the next junction, go straight on and climb a steep hill. Continue on roughly level ground until you reach the Carrefour des Grueries.

(2) Then take the^second path on the left, heading due west (red and white markings for^{the GR®} 12 and 655). At the next junction, go straight on.

(2) At the Carrefour d’Acaste, take the^first path on the right. You’ll come out onto a wide path; follow it to the left, still following the^GR® markings^. Keep going straight on and ignore the turn-offs to the left. Cross a small car park (information board), join a small road (Chaussée Brunehaut, an ancient Roman road) and follow it to the right. You’ll reach the Gallo-Roman ruins of Champlieu.

(4) Turn left to walk around the site, noting in particular the well-preserved amphitheatre. Return to the road and follow it to the left until you reach the ruins of a Romanesque chapel.

(5) Continue straight on along the road.

(6) After about 800 m, leave the road and turn right onto a path that leads across the fields towards the forest.

(7) At the edge of the forest, first turn left then right onto a forest track heading north-west. Stay on this track in this direction until you reach a T-junction.

(8) Join the^GR® 12 and 655 trails (marked in red and white) and follow them to the right. Continue straight on until you reach the Carrefour des Gruries, which you took on the way out.

(2) Leave the marked trail and take the^second path on the left, at a 90° angle. Keep heading north-west and, after about 500 m on level ground, descend into the path which becomes a ravine.

(9) At the Carrefour de la Sente aux Poireaux, go straight on (north-north-west). At the next junction, continue straight on.

(10) At the junction that appears immediately, turn right onto the Route de la Sente aux Poireaux. Continue straight on (north-north-east) until you reach the Hourvari Forest House (S/E).

(4) Gallo-Roman ruins at Champlieu.

(5) Ruins of the Romanesque chapel at Champlieu.