Two walks begin at the Maison de la Nature in Boult-aux-Bois and differ in their length and character. The Sentier des Templiers is a moderately difficult 13.2-kilometre circular walk, which takes about four hours. At 8.3 kilometres and around two and a half hours, the Sentier de la Linette is the shorter option. Its themed trail leads to Étang de la Linette and connects the route with local history.
Trails with distinct themes
The Sentier des Templiers starts and ends at the Maison de la Nature on Rue de la Héronnière. The route follows the Fossé des Templiers, which was created to mark the boundary of the former forest of the Commanderie de Boult-aux-Bois. So the walk combines physical activity with the historic landscape. The stated moderate difficulty and approximate duration help you estimate how much time to allow.
The Sentier de la Linette also starts at the Maison de la Nature, but leads to Étang de la Linette. Along the way, nine information panels explain the history of glassmaking in Boult-aux-Bois. The two trails therefore differ in more than just length and duration: the Templiers focuses on a circular walk along the historic Fossé, while the Linette has a pond as its destination and the history of glassmaking as its theme. No difficulty level is given for the Linette, so compare the trails using their stated distances, durations and features.
Explore nature and plan your dates
The Maison de la Nature is housed in a former forester’s house. Its work is aimed at schoolchildren as well as the general public, raising awareness of the environment and sustainable development. Public nature outings are a good fit: the Maison de la Nature publishes a calendar of these outings, and guided tours take visitors into the forest and to a pond. If you have a particular event in mind, check the dates before your trip.
Guided forest outings on gyropods are another way to explore the local fauna and flora. The activity is suitable for people with reduced mobility. These tours are a separate activity from the walking trails: they let you explore nature on a guided outing, rather than measuring the experience by the length of a hiking route. You can choose among the nature activities according to which kind of exploration suits your stay.
Local culture throughout the year
Seasonal and cultural offerings also add to a visit. From May to September, Croc Local takes place on Fridays in Boult-aux-Bois as a market for local organic producers. As this is a seasonal offering held on a specific day of the week, it is worth checking the dates before making firm plans to visit the market. In summer, the Boult-aux-Bois & Cordes festival adds to the program, combining an artist residency with public concerts.
Local cultural life also includes crafts and publishing. Vannerie d’Ardenne operates a workshop and shop in Boult-aux-Bois. The magazine La Hulotte is also connected with the village and continues to be conceived and illustrated there. These links add contemporary culture and local craftsmanship to the themes of the walking trails, without implying a set program of events on specific travel dates.
When planning a stay, you can weigh up longer and shorter walks, guided nature activities and seasonal events. The route distances provide a concrete basis for comparing how much time to allow, while the market and festival have their own dates. If you choose Boult-aux-Bois as your destination, check in advance for the nature outings and seasonal events you would like to attend.
Discover more destinations: Joigny-sur-Meuse, Carignan, Charleville-Mézières, Ham-Sur-Meuse, Houdilcourt, Monthermé, Fagnon, Girondelle.
See the regional travel overview: Ardennes.
