Discover Airion: Wetland, Hiking Trail and Church Architecture

Airion offers a range of things to explore during a stay: the ru d’Airion wetland, the short Ruisseau d’Airion, the GR® 124 A, horse-riding activities at Le Moulin d'Airion, and the Notre-Dame et Sainte-Anne Church. Nature, outdoor activities and architectural history reveal different sides of the area.

Wetland and watercourse

The ru d’Airion wetland covers 9,650 square metres, just under one hectare. Its habitats include poplar stands with a tall-herb layer, ash stands, meadows and open water. Alongside the water, trees and shrubs, herbaceous vegetation and meadows also shape its ecological character. The area and habitat types offer two different ways to understand the site: the figure in square metres indicates its spatial scale, while the vegetation and open water show its ecological composition.

The Ruisseau d’Airion is a small watercourse, 260 metres long, fed by groundwater re-emergence. Its downstream half was restored in 2015 using live vegetation techniques. This offers nature enthusiasts two perspectives: the wetland can be understood through its habitats and area, while the Ruisseau can be viewed in terms of its water source, length and restoration.

Hiking and horse-riding activities

The GR® 124 A passes through Airion. It is a 51.6-kilometre GR/GRP hiking trail, with a cumulative elevation gain of 688 metres. These figures refer to the route as a whole, not to a local section in Airion. Taken together, the distance and elevation gain give a clearer idea of the route’s scope. Before setting out, check for current trail notices, as updates may be important when planning your specific outing. The kilometre figure indicates the trail’s length; cumulative elevation gain, by contrast, adds together the uphill metres along the route to give a total.

Le Moulin d'Airion complements the hiking option with a different kind of activity: the centre offers riding lessons for all levels as well as introductory activities. The GR® 124 A focuses on distance and cumulative elevation gain, while Le Moulin d'Airion offers riding lessons and introductory activities. This means there are two distinct ways to explore—on foot and on horseback.

Notre-Dame et Sainte-Anne Church

The Notre-Dame et Sainte-Anne Church is another distinct point of interest in Airion. Its bell tower is tall, slender and unusually crooked—a striking architectural feature. The church’s first construction phase dates from the last quarter of the 12th century. Inside is an exceptional carved altarpiece of the Crucifixion from the early 16th century, which remains completely intact and undamaged. The first construction phase and the altarpiece therefore belong to different centuries. For culturally curious travellers, the church offers two perspectives: the distinctive shape of its tower and the history of its altarpiece.

Discover more destinations: Fresnoy-Le-Luat, Villembray, Romescamps, Froissy, Allonne, Ully-Saint-Georges, Maulers, Auteuil

For the wider travel overview: Oise.