A former quarry, marked walking trails and a church with construction phases dating from the 12th and 13th centuries offer different ways to explore Saint-Vaast-Lès-Mello. Les Glachoirs combines the history of stone extraction with a natural setting, while walking trails also lead to a viewpoint overlooking a quarry. When planning your visit, it is worth keeping the different destinations and trail conditions in mind.
Les Glachoirs: Quarry Landscape and Geology
Les Glachoirs is a former quarry that has become an Espace Naturel Sensible (Sensitive Natural Area) and has naturally regenerated over time. The site is suitable for walks and has distinctive geological features. Stone extraction has shaped the landscape and the history of the site from Gallo-Roman times to the present day. Here, a long history of use meets the natural transformation of a former extraction site.
Hiking and Climbing at the Quarries
La randonnée des carrières (the Quarry Walk) is a signposted and waymarked PR hiking route. The round trip to Les Glachoirs along this route takes about 45 minutes; the terrain is steep and rocky. There is also a viewpoint overlooking a quarry along the route. The Chapelle Saint-Nicolas is another feature of the route. In 2025, its information panels, signposts and furnishings were completely renewed.
Climbing is another activity available at Les Glachoirs. It has been managed by the FFME, the Fédération Française de Montagne et d’Escalade (French Federation of Mountain and Climbing), since 2019. A digital FFME climbing guide lists more than 260 routes and 100 boulders. As route numbers may change, check access conditions and site rules before your visit.
To find your way to the climbing car park: from Creil, follow the D123 towards Beauvais for five kilometres to the entrance to Saint-Vaast-Lès-Mello. After turning off, the car park is another 200 metres ahead on the right. Check the conditions at the site before setting out.
Church and Building History
The church of Saint-Vaast-Lès-Mello was listed as a Monument historique (Historic Monument) by decree on 11 September 1906. Its main construction phases date from the 12th and 13th centuries. Its listing and building history offer two different points of interest for a visit: the building’s formal recognition and its medieval construction phases.
The hamlet of Barisseuse is also home to a remarkable former farmhouse, built of dressed stone in the 18th century. As well as church architecture, rural building styles are therefore another cultural feature of the area.
Wetlands and Other Trails
At the Marais de Chantraine, a 2.8-kilometre landscaped trail loops around the pond. Along the way, you can observe the species that live there; information panels introduce the typical flora and fauna of wetlands. The Marais can be visited independently, without a guide, at any time. Check local conditions before your visit.
Another hiking route offers a different focus: La randonnée des Sources (the Sources Walk) runs from Rousseloy to the Chapelle de Saint-Vaast-Lès-Mello, passing the ponds and marshes of Mello along the way. By contrast, the key planning details for la randonnée des carrières are the roughly 45-minute round trip to Les Glachoirs and the steep, rocky terrain. The two descriptions thus offer different guidance when choosing your route.
Canoeing and kayaking are possible on the River Le Thérain in Saint-Vaast-Lès-Mello. Check water conditions and local access rules before taking part.
Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests
When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: the quarry and climbing, church architecture or wetlands. Then compare the location of a specific accommodation with the places you plan to visit. This allows you to choose where to stay based on the outings you actually have planned, without forcing the different trails and visits into a fixed itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Silly-Tillard, Saint-Germer-De-Fly, Thieuloy-Saint-Antoine, Le Vauroux, Trie-Château, Saint-Quentin-des-Prés, Canny-sur-Matz, Abbecourt.
For the overview of the wider region: Oise.
