The fiefs of Crouy

Close to the ancient border between Champagne and Ile de France, discover the many fortresses and châteaux in the
of Crouy.

Departure: 1- In Crouy-sur-Ourcq, leave the railway station by bearing right, take the street going left and reach a crossroads.

2- Turn left and after the Manoir aux Quatre-temps manor house, enter the Bois de la Garenne wood. Pass the Notre-Dame-du-Chêne oratory and reach the D102 secondary road.

3- Bear right towards the town centre, turn left onto Rue Geoffroy, and pass the post office and town hall. Before the Place du Marché square, turn left onto the road rounding the church and leading to the holiday cottage
(gîte). Further up, turn left onto Cour Raphaël and climb up towards the stadium.

4- Turn right, cross the D94 and continue along the path. At Château de Bellevue, bear left, cross the clearing and climb left along the path lined with locust trees. Go down the narrow road to the right, climb back up along the second left-hand path, then back down to the right. Turn left onto the D23 secondary road, right again onto the path (becomes Rue Canes), then left onto Rue du puits-d’Amour and bear right.

5- At the crossroads, continue opposite, bear right and climb Grand Rue to the left. After the church, turn right onto Rue des Ménétriers, right again onto Rue des Dames-de-Chelles and finally left onto Rue Pissotte. Continue straight on past the cemetery, then climb to Certigny and reach the old Ferme du Colombier farm.

6- Take the road to the left and at the turn take the path down towards the Bois de Raroy wood. Continue right through the undergrowth, then bear left. Cross the D102 secondary road, skirt the Parc de la Grange park by bearing right, cross the railway tracks and reach the moat of Château de Gesvres. Take the right-hand road to the D102.

7- Follow the road left, then take the path going left. Turn right onto the path crossing the Marais de la Grande-Prairie marsh. After the water station, turn left onto Rue Meuniers, then walk through the Champivert Park to reach the same crossroads as earlier.

Arrival : 8- Return to the Crouy-sur-Ourcq railway station.

Pets allowed : yes

Type : Signposted loop

Audience : Walkers/hikers

Medium gradient : 2m