Forêt de Villers is an expansive forest region in France, spanning over 13,000 hectares and located approximately an hour from Paris. This area is characterized by ancient woodlands, featuring cathedral-like high forests of centuries-old beech and oak trees. The terrain includes gentle hills, a plateau of rich loamy soils, and some elevated views, alongside numerous ponds, fountains, and streams. The diverse landscape of Forêt de Villers provides opportunities for several sports like hiking, road cycling, mountain biking, touring cycling, and…
110
Routes
4.3
(208)
Average rating
1153
People visited

4.2
(47)
157
hikers
12.1km
03:21
210m
210m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(12)
63
hikers
7.28km
02:00
120m
120m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(5)
14
hikers
6.92km
01:54
110m
110m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
20
hikers
7.59km
02:01
80m
80m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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3.8
(50)
158
riders
47.6km
02:45
210m
210m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

27
riders
48.0km
04:09
740m
740m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

5.0
(1)
10
riders
51.5km
03:16
630m
620m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.5
(2)
7
riders
36.0km
02:11
330m
330m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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3.0
(1)
43
riders
70.6km
05:56
990m
990m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.2
(6)
16
riders
37.1km
03:07
610m
610m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
11
riders
39.5km
03:24
520m
520m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5
riders
24.9km
02:05
370m
370m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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19
riders
37.4km
01:37
340m
340m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
28
riders
51.4km
02:26
640m
640m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

16
riders
31.9km
01:27
130m
130m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

13
riders
39.0km
01:47
390m
390m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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10
runners
8.25km
00:54
80m
90m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

8
runners
8.51km
01:03
140m
140m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
runners
14.8km
01:32
100m
100m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
runners
7.30km
00:50
120m
120m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.
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4
riders
30.7km
01:41
130m
130m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
riders
34.3km
01:58
240m
240m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
4
riders
31.9km
01:54
160m
160m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
31.6km
02:16
480m
480m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Forêt de Villers offers a variety of outdoor activities including Hiking, Road cycling, Mountain biking, Touring cycling, Jogging, and Gravel biking. The region features an extensive network of 60 kilometers of forest roads and 560 kilometers of forest paths. More than 11,000 visitors have shared experiences, resulting in an average rating of 4.23 out of 5 stars on komoot.
The Forêt de Villers, also known as Forêt de Retz, spans over 13,000 hectares (approximately 32,000 acres). It is one of France's largest and most renowned forests, located about an hour from Paris. This vast area provides diverse terrain for various outdoor pursuits.
Forêt de Villers offers 17 hiking routes, catering to various skill levels. A notable trail is the "Charlemagne Spring Loop," which explores natural springs. For more options, explore the Hiking around Forêt de Villers guide.
Yes, Forêt de Villers provides several easy and family-friendly hiking options. Some trails are specifically designed for shorter distances and gentler terrain. Information boards help visitors learn about local flora. Find suitable routes in the Family-friendly hikes around Forêt de Villers and Easy hikes around Forêt de Villers guides.
Forêt de Villers offers routes for road cycling, mountain biking, and touring cycling. The forest's extensive network includes 60 kilometers of forest roads and 560 kilometers of forest paths. Guides like Road Cycling Routes around Forêt de Villers and MTB Trails around Forêt de Villers provide specific options.
The forest is known for its "futaies cathédrales" of centuries-old beech and oak trees. It features diverse terrain, including gentle hills, a plateau, and the Butte du Faîte, which reaches elevations of 800 feet (245 meters). Numerous ponds, fountains, and streams, along with the ruins of the Cistercian Longpont Abbey, are also present.
Yes, Forêt de Villers can be accessed by public transport. Specific hiking routes starting from bus stations are available. Consult the Hikes from bus stations around Forêt de Villers guide for detailed information on these routes.
Forêt de Villers supports a rich biodiversity, including protected species such as red deer, black woodpeckers, and black storks. Roe deer are also present, particularly in areas like the Germaine forest. During late summer, the forest is known for the sounds of deer rutting.
Komoot offers several guides for Forêt de Villers, including Hiking around Forêt de Villers, Family-friendly hikes around Forêt de Villers, Road Cycling Routes around Forêt de Villers, and MTB Trails around Forêt de Villers. Other guides cover easy hikes, traffic-free bike rides, running trails, and hikes from bus stations.
Official tourism information for the Forêt de Retz (Villers-Cotterêts) is associated with the Office National des Forêts (ONF). The official website is onf.fr, which provides details about the forest.
The Office de Tourisme de Villers-Cotterêts can be reached for tourism information regarding Forêt de Villers. The contact phone number is +33 3 23 96 55 10.

