Meaux, WWI bike loop

N330 77124 Cregy-les-meaux

Penchard

After the gravelled lane, the road once again becomes tarred. Continue straight on, then left at the stop sign. In the town centre, make a sharp right along the town hall. The narrow road climbs steeply up to a path that snakes its way through the Penchard wood. You’ve entered the nature reserve of La Butte de Montassis. This hill was a strategic position during the Great War. The setting of a bloody battle early in the war, the site is today a peaceful 46-hectare nature reserve and paradise for birds. After a steep drop, make a right-left at the landmark illustrating a soldier from the Moroccan brigades that fought here. Pedal down the road, then turn right at the intersection. Admire the panoramic view of the plain, with its rolling fields dotted with villages. At the end of the road, continue straight on to the railway. The rough path provides a glimpse of what the soldiers had to deal with.

Unnamed Road 77165 Chauconin-neufmontiers

Iverny

Turn left after the SNCF railway tunnel. Head towards Iverny via the grassy track on the other side of the road.

32 Rue du Fresne 77165 Iverny

Villeroy

Next, to the left you come to Villeroy. There, follow Rue Saint-Pierre. In the village centre, turn left onto Rue Charles Péguy. The façade of the WWI Museum of Villeroy is covered by a Great War soldier. The museum collection focuses on the Battle of the Marne of 1914, presenting objects found on the battlefield and diverse documents.

Villeroy’s Charles Péguy memorial

Upon exiting the village, at the end of the tree-lined road, don’t miss the viewpoint indicator pointing out the French and German positions during the Battle of Villeroy. The indicator is situated at the foot of the Charles Péguy Memorial, paying tribute to the great French writer and poet who died a hero’s death nearby.

D129 77410 Chauconin-neufmontiers

Villeroy’s Great Tomb

You can also visit the Great Tomb located a few hundred metres further on. There, a vast mosaic gathers together the names of hundreds of men killed in battle in the surrounding fields (with “Charles Péguy” to be found in the upper righthand corner). Afterwards, continue straight on along the tractor track next to the sports ground. Pedal along the farmstead’s pockmarked walls and turn left. In the middle of the field, you can still see the well that last refreshed the soldiers of the 276th Infantry Regiment. After Chemin de Puiseux, regain the road on your right.

2-6 Rue Fortière 77165 Iverny

Iverny

In Iverny, turn right onto Rue Fortière, then take the first left. Continue on until the foot of the great tree and the war memorial. To the left, following along the cemetery, you can see the graves of soldiers killed here in battle. At the bottom of the road, turn right towards Le Plessis-L'Evêque, then right again onto Rue du Moulin. Continue straight on along the wide gravelled track, then turn right at the farm. The path snakes its way across the agricultural plain on the edge of the Bois des Sables wood. The path is at times rutted and stony.

Chemin de la Fossé Gérard 77122 Monthyon

Monthyon

In front of you, the village of Monthyon. On your right, you’ll be surprised to find the Étang de la Grue pond hidden behind the hedge. Pedal up Rue de Thiers to the village centre. Pass by the town hall and turn left at the end of the church wall towards the small roundabout. Now turn your back on the church by coasting down Rue de la République. As you descend, you’ll easily understand the strategic importance of this hillock overlooking the two vast plains on either side. Cross at the traffic light and head towards Varreddes. In the hamlet of Pringy, turn right onto a street that becomes a tractor track.

Barcy

On your left, the Barcy belfry comes into sight amidst the rapeseed fields. A metre before the secondary road, take the grassy path that almost makes a U-turn. Cross Barcy via the RD 97 and come to the large statue of Notre-Dame de la Marne, raised in honour of the soldiers who fought in the region’s first Great War battle. Follow the straight country road all the way to Chambry.

D38 77910 Barcy

37 Rue d'Ortheuil 77910 Chambry

Chambry

At the entrance to the village, climb the facing embankment. The overhanging lane on the right will lead you to Chemin des Dames de Fontaine. Then, turning right onto Ruelle de la Jaquenne and left onto Rue de Reuilly, you return to the agricultural plain below a wide road. On this path, you’ll be able to glimpse Saint-Etienne Cathedral.

Meaux

At the large roundabout, cross by foot to reach the bike path going down to Meaux. You can see the Museum of the Great War, Pays de Meaux. If you haven’t yet visited it, now’s the perfect opportunity to explore this remarkable building.

D405 77470 Poincy

Rue Saint-Etienne 77100 Meaux

Points of interest

Saint Etienne cathedral basilica

A worksite 350 years old…Construction of the Cathedral Saint Etienne began in the 12th century and was completed three centuries later with the construction of the north tower (60 metres high). The structure thus combines the various phases of Gothic architecture, from the classical style dating back to the end of the 12th century up to the flamboyant style of the 15th. The two first eastern bays of the nave are the oldest parts of the cathedral. The choir, a splendid piece of architecture constructed and completed a century later by the architect Gautier de Varinfroy, is famous for its luminosity, the delicacy of the architecture and the height of the vaults. Visitors admire the many ornamental sculptures decorating the spandrels of the five portals of the Cathedral -- mute witnesses to the violence of the Wars of Religion which shook Meaux to its foundations, particularly, in June 1562. Also to be noted are the stained glass window depicting the Crucifixion (16th century), the great western Rose Window (15th century) and the magnificent Organ, work of Valéran de Héman (12th century).

5 Place Charles de Gaulle 77100 Meaux

Episcopal City

The Episcopal City, Jewel of the Heritage of Meaux.Come to Meaux and take a stroll through history, from the Cathedral to the Palace of Bishops, past the Old Chapterhouse and the magnificent Bossuet Garden -- it’s a fascinating pastime! In the Middle Ages, the Episcopal district of Meaux extended from the Cathedral to the ramparts or ancient city walls. As indicated by the name, the Episcopal district was reserved for the Bishop, the chapter of the cathedral canons and their lay or ecclesiastical entourage. The Episcopal city, in its present condition, remains largely unchanged since the 18th century. The variety of architectural styles, dating back to different historical periods, form a prominent part of the city’s architectural heritage. The Episcopal City of Meaux retained its religious function par excellence until the French Revolution, as an ecclesiastical city adjoining the lay city. In the 19th century, the Episcopal Palace of Meaux was disputed between the lay power and the Church. Finally, the Law of 1905, on the separation of Church and State, completed the transfer of this historical heritage into the hands of the State. Today and since 1927, the former palace of the bishops houses the Bossuet museum.

5 place Charles de Gaulle 77100 Meaux

Museum Bossuet

The former episcopal palace, located in the centre of the remarkable ensemble of the Episcopal City, has housed the Bossuet Museum since 1927.The city's historical collections were assembled in the 19th century through donations, bequests, archaeological excavations and some state deposits. In the 20th century, two donations from eminent scientists considerably expanded the painting collections. The bequest of Henri Moissan's son, received in 1914, made it possible to present works by Jean-François Millet, Jean-Léon Gérôme, Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps and Charles-François Daubigny. Since 1983, the museum's collections have been regularly enriched by Jean-Pierre and Annie Changeux with 17th and 18th century paintings by Mathieu Le Nain, Claude Vignon, Jacques Blanchard, Sébastien Bourdon and other artists... Temporary exhibitions are held in the lower medieval rooms, while the first floor is devoted to the permanent collections and the bishops' flat, whose study is dedicated to the famous bishop Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet.

Rue Lazare Ponticelli 77100 Meaux

The Museum of the Great War

An essential collection on the First World War.With a collection of nearly 70,000 objects and documents tracing the paths of daily and military life in the 14-18 war, the Great War Museum, which opened its doors on November 11, 2011 on the territory of the First Battle of the Marne in Meaux, is the largest museum in Europe on the First World War. It presents, on 3 000 sqm, one of the richest and most diversified collections of the 14-18 war in the heart of an attractive and innovative scenography. The Great War Museum is an ideal place for a family visit. A real educational treasure through the collection: see, hear, touch, handle.... A playful tour accessible from 5 years old: projections of archival images, reconstructions of trenches, a video space in which visitors are immersed among the soldiers in the trenches or on the battlefield, games to discover the composition of uniforms, the sounds of war, the geographical evolution of the conflict zones ... Several audio tours are available free of charge on your mobile phone or tablet, ask at the reception for instructions.