Vieux-Moulin: Trails, Forest and History

Vieux-Moulin combines two named circular routes with a rich architectural and monastic history. Both hikes are described as moderate, but differ in length, stated duration and starting point. The Ru de Berne and the Étangs de Saint-Pierre also tell the story of the landscape’s former uses, alongside the Priory of Saint-Pierre-en-Chastres and the Church of Saint-Mellon.

Water, forest and special places

The Ru de Berne runs through Vieux-Moulin and once powered the watermill after which the village is named. At 137 metres, Mont Saint-Pierre-en-Chastres is one of the highest points in the Forest of Compiègne. The Promenade des Gorges du Han leads to the Étangs de Saint-Pierre, listed as a point of interest on the route. Their history goes back to the six Warin ponds, which became today’s Étangs de Saint-Pierre.

The Grotte des ramoneurs is located along the Promenade des Gorges du Han. It has been closed to the public since 2000 and serves as a refuge for biodiversity. At least 130 horseshoe bats live in the grotto; their number may change over time. When planning your hike, bear in mind that the cave is not open to visitors.

Another point of cultural and historical interest lies on the northern slope of Mont Saint-Mard: the megalithic monument Pierre qui tourne, also known as Pierre Torniche. A burial chamber was discovered beneath the dolmen during the Second Empire. Both names refer to the same monument; the burial chamber adds an archaeological aspect to its history.

Comparing two circular routes

The Vieux-Moulin hiking route is a moderate 5.3-kilometre circular trail with a stated duration of two hours and 40 minutes. It begins and ends at the Carrefour de la Route Tournante et de la Route Crinquet in Vieux-Moulin. The Promenade des Gorges du Han is also moderate: it is 5.9 kilometres long, with a stated duration of two hours and 30 minutes. The start and finish are at the Carrefour de la Gorge du Han in Vieux-Moulin.

The Promenade des Gorges du Han is therefore 0.6 kilometres longer, but its stated duration is ten minutes shorter. This comparison helps you choose between the two distance and time profiles without assuming that the longer route automatically takes more time. Trail conditions can change, so check them before setting out. The Pavillon Eugénie, built by Viollet-le-Duc in 1857, is also near the starting point of the Promenade des Gorges du Han.

The Priory and Church of Saint-Mellon

The ruins of the Priory of Saint-Pierre-en-Chastres have been protected as a Monument historique since 7 June 1905. Philippe IV le Bel founded the priory in 1309 and affiliated it with the newly established Order of the Celestines. Saint-Pierre-en-Chastres is a rare example of late 14th-century architecture in the region. Its foundation, affiliation with the order and later construction period are distinct stages in the site’s history.

The Church of Saint-Mellon in Vieux-Moulin was rebuilt in 1860 to plans by Grisart, the architect of the Palais de Compiègne. The rebuilding was commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie. Its unusually designed bell tower, which forms the entrance porch, is especially striking: two deeply projecting roofs give it a pagoda-like appearance. The church also houses a carved wooden Stations of the Cross by P. A. Brément, who was parish priest of Vieux-Moulin from 1860 to 1896.

The scenic site of Vivier Frère Robert also preserves traces of earlier uses: it included a fishpond and a mill, which were ceded in 1620 by the Augustinians of Royallieu. Together with the mill on the Ru de Berne, this detail shows how closely water and the historical development of Vieux-Moulin are linked.

Discover more destinations: Froissy, Bresles, Cauvigny, Villers-Saint-Sépulcre, Antilly, Saint-Omer-En-Chaussée, Lacroix-Saint-Ouen, Moliens.

For the broader travel overview: Oise.