Airion can be explored through several distinct themes: the wetland of the ru d’Airion, the Ruisseau d’Airion, the GR® 124 A trail that runs through Airion, equestrian activities and the church of Notre-Dame et Sainte-Anne. The waterscape, outdoor pursuits and church art each offer a different focus. When planning your stay, it helps to ask a simple question: would you most like to focus on habitats, a hiking route, horse-related activities or a striking architectural and artistic feature?
Wetland and watercourse
The wetland of the ru d’Airion covers 9,650 square metres. Its habitats include poplar stands with a herbaceous layer of tall-herb vegetation, ash stands, meadows and bodies of water. This combination sets the area apart from a single body of water: it includes trees, herbaceous vegetation, meadows and water.
The Ruisseau d’Airion is a small watercourse 260 metres long, fed by groundwater re-emergence. In 2015, its downstream half was restored using live vegetation techniques. If you are planning a visit to the wetland, check current visiting arrangements in advance.
On foot or on horseback
The GR® 124 A runs through Airion. It is a 51.6-kilometre GR/GRP hiking trail with a cumulative elevation gain of 688 metres. The total distance and elevation gain provide two different indications of the trail’s scale. Check current trail notices before setting off.
Le Moulin d'Airion is an equestrian centre offering riding lessons for all levels as well as introductory activities. If you are more interested in a horse-related activity than a walking trail, this offers a distinct way to explore Airion. The two options differ in their focus: one centres on riding lessons, the other on a hiking route.
Church of Notre-Dame et Sainte-Anne
The church of Notre-Dame et Sainte-Anne combines a striking spire with a carved altarpiece. The bell tower is tall and slender, and its spire leans at an unusual angle. The church’s first construction phase dates to the last quarter of the 12th century.
The church also contains an exceptional carved Crucifixion altarpiece from the early 16th century, fully preserved and intact. The early construction phase and the altarpiece therefore belong to different periods. For culture enthusiasts, this span of time offers a particularly distinctive perspective: 12th-century architecture and a later work of woodcarving meet in the same church.
Two different scales
The lengths of the Ruisseau d’Airion and the GR® 124 A answer different questions: 260 metres describes the watercourse, while 51.6 kilometres is the hiking trail’s total distance. The first figure gives a sense of the size of a watercourse; the second describes a longer walking route. The 688 metres of elevation gain add the route’s cumulative ascent to its distance. This makes it possible to consider the water-related features and the hiking trail as different focuses when planning a trip.
Discover more destinations: Vez, Orry-La-Ville, Caisnes, Villers-Saint-Sépulcre, Coye-La-Forêt, Conchy-Les-Pots, Canny-sur-Matz, Jonquières.
For the overview of the wider area: Oise.
