Esternay lies on the banks of the Grand Morin. Highlights of a stay include the Château d’Esternay and other traces of the past, routes through the village centre, and activities on a former railway line. When planning your visit, you can choose between short circular trails, a longer route and a hands-on craft experience, depending on how you would like to spend your time.
Cultural history and crafts
The Château d’Esternay is a 16th-century building. Parts of the building are classified and listed as a Monument historique. Its construction period and protected status give the visit a specific historical context; the classification applies to parts of the building.
The château’s history is also connected with a particular episode in the village’s past: during the Battle of the Marne on 5, 6 and 7 September 1914, the IX Corps of the German First Army, commanded by Von Klück, occupied the château and park for three days. This historical episode adds a clearly dated First World War chapter to the building’s history.
Another historic site is the Château de l’Armée. The Raguier brothers built it on Esternay’s north-eastern slope, near the edge of the Bois de l’Armée. Saint-Remi Church also houses a chandelier with crystal pendants that is listed as a protected heritage object; it has been protected since 5 December 1977.
Esternay was once known for its crafts, particularly porcelain and basketry. Today, the Lames du Ramu workshop makes knives as one-off pieces or in very small batches. A one-day knife-making course gives participants the chance to make a knife themselves. If you would like to include the course in your travel plans, confirm its availability before you arrive.
Trails through Esternay and along the Grand Morin
The walking trails by the washhouses let you explore the village centre while discovering its heritage. Two signposted circular trails start at Place du Général de Gaulle, by Saint-Rémi Church: the Circuit d’Esternay-Le-Franc is 3 km long and marked in red, while the Circuit de Viviers is 3.5 km long and marked in blue. The latter passes the Lavoir de l’Étang de l’Aître. On the way back, you can catch a glimpse of the Château d’Esternay.
The distances make it easy to compare the routes when planning: the two signposted trails differ by 500 metres, while the Circuit autour d’Esternay is considerably longer at 13 km. This route is also listed as taking 3 hours and 15 minutes. This makes it easy to decide whether you want a shorter circular walk or to set aside more time for a longer route. Check the latest route details before setting off.
Explore by rail bike
The Cyclo-draisines du Grand Morin start in Esternay and/or Joiselle and follow a former railway line through a natural setting. The Cyclo-draisines du Grand Morin offer three routes, providing a distinctive way to explore the landscapes of the Grand Morin. This activity offers a different way to discover the area than walking; coordinate your departure with the operator’s arrangements.
For group planning, each rail bike can carry a maximum of four people, and an adult must accompany each bike. You can take this requirement into account when planning. Combined with the different route lengths, this gives you a clear choice between walking trails, a longer route and a ride along the former railway line—without implying that these activities offer the same kind of outing.
Discover more destinations: Montmirail, Sept-Saulx, Saint-Just-Sauvage, Avize, Ambonnay, Cuchery, Moiremont, Jonquery
For the overview of the wider area: Marne.
