follow in the footsteps of the Battle of the Marne, with this completely revised circuit

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Follow the Marne

Since 2019, the Pays de Meaux Great War Museum, and the Tourist Office, with the Society of Friends of the Great War Museum (Sam2g), have offered a circuit through the Pays de Meaux and to the Pays de l’Ourcq to leave for the traces of soldiers from the Battle of the Marne of 1914.

This major battle of the Great War conflict plunged the north of Seine-et-Marne into long days, from September 5 to 12, 1914, of fighting to prevent the Germans from reaching Paris. Since the outbreak of war in August, enemy troops have crossed Belgium and are heading straight for the French capital.

Everything suggested that Paris was going to be in the hands of the Germans. But that was without counting on the «miracle of the Marne»a battle which allowed rpush back the enemy. Even today, traces of this conflict remain in the territory and can be visited throughout the Battle of the Marne 1914 circuit. In September 2024, this course of 55 km across the territory, has been modified with new stopping points.

The first cannon shot

The starting signal is given to Great War Museum from the Pays de Meaux. We take the car towards Monthyon, for the first stopping point, a new feature for 2024. Nothing could be easier, just follow the panels on the road to reach our first spot. We pass along fields.

“You have to imagine that the route we are taking was taken by English soldiers on September 3 and 4,” shows Jean-Christophe Ponot, president of Sam2g, our guide during this walk. We arrive behind the Veolia incineration center. Here, a small path has been made to reach La Saulorette, and more particularly a stele erected high up with breathtaking views for miles over the fields.

It is here that the first cannon shot of the Battle of the Marne was fired. “In 1976, we found this location thanks to testimonies.” A memorial stele was therefore installed, and a poplar visible for miles was planted. On September 5 at 12:30 p.m., German soldiers positioned from Monthyon to Saint-Soupplets saw the French response and decided to open fire in the direction of Iverny.

In one afternoon, more than 2,000 shells are fired. The circuit now begins with this stopping point. “This is where it all started. This allows us to understand the following points. And we have a view of the entire route,” continues Jean-Christophe Ponot.

A trench in the middle of the forest

We're sending the car back. The route then takes visitors to Saint-Soupplets, in the Montgé forest, to discover a true trenchone of the new points on the circuit since September. This was discovered by Philippe Braquet, manager of the 14-18 museum in Villeroy, who found traces of a trench in the forest. He will succeed in locating it precisely.

Dug at the end of 1914, this trench was intended to prevent the return of enemy troops around Paris. She finally didn't never used. “It’s not really a trace of the Battle of the Marne since it was carried out afterwards, but it was important to highlight this forgotten heritage.”

If the route tells us to visit it after Monthyon, our guide advises us to go see it at the end of our walkto follow the chronological order of the conflict.

The national necropolis of Étrépilly

We then quickly go through the stele of Charles Péguy in Villeroy, the Great Tomb from Chauconin-Neufmontiers, Notre-Dame de la Marne to Barcy, all historic stopping points of the circuit, before lingering on the national necropolis d'Étrépilly, the latest addition to the route.

It is in this village that one of the most famous attacks of the Battle of the Marne took place. During the night of September 7 to 8, the Zouaves head towards Étrépilly, a central point which protects the German artillery. “The big artillery is in Trocy-en-Multien. We must kick the Germans out of Étrépilly. »

The Zouaves benefit from the effect of surprise and the night to attack the enemy. They are only 800 but managed to repel the Germans who ended up take refuge at the top of the village. The fights put the fire in a barn. “With the fire, it was daylight in the middle of the night. The Germans numbered 3,000 and realized that they greatly outnumbered the Zouaves. They are taking over again.”

Many soldiers died that night and are buried here in the national necropolis. But the Germans move back definitively. “They have understood that they will not have Paris,” adds our guide. The journey continues with the French necropolis and the German necropolis of Chambery, the municipal cemetery from Chambry before returning to Meaux, and more precisely to the cathedral.

The circuit of the Battle of the Marne 1914 could continue to develop in the years to come, in particular with stopping points in the Country of Ourcq. “There are lots of things to develop. For example, we had major battles in Puisieux,” concludes Jean-Christophe Ponot, who is full of ideas to always highlight the history of the territory.

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