Located in Guiry-en-Vexin, the Morval Woods cover 61 hectares of forest trails, meadows, and hillsides. Hidden in the middle of this natural area is the Bois-Couturier covered walkway, one of the most astonishing archaeological sites in the Val-d’Oise.
Oak trees, a pond, and wild orchids
In the heart of the Morval Woods, the trail descends into a small valley, passes through wooded areas, runs alongside a pond, and opens up into more open meadows. The subsoil also varies from place to place, consisting of limestone, sand, and clay, which explains the variety of landscapes within what is ultimately a fairly small area.
The wooded areas are mainly populated by oaks, ash trees, and chestnut trees. Several wild orchids also grow on the limestone slopes, most visible in late spring. These dry grasslands are maintained to prevent them from being gradually overrun by shrubs and forest.
The walk remains accessible and can easily be completed in half a day. A picnic area has been set up in a meadow surrounded by an orchard, while various trails allow you to extend your outing around Guiry-en-Vexin and Cléry-en-Vexin. The woods are open year-round and can be explored freely.
A burial site discovered by chance in 1915
In 1915, a farmworker tilling the plot stumbled upon some stones and uncovered the Bois-Couturier covered passageway. The funerary monument is believed to have been in use between 2600 and 1600 BCE. Excavations conducted in the following years revealed the remains of approximately 200 people.
The burial chamber is preceded by an entrance with a round opening, sometimes called the “soul hole.” Archaeologists have also uncovered a rare stone plug used to seal it, as well as carved depictions associated with a female deity. The original plug is now housed at the Val-d’Oise Archaeological Museum, located just a few minutes from the woods.
Between the forest walk and this millennia-old relic, the Morval Woods offer an outing quite different from the usual walks around Paris.
📍Location: Morval Woods – Banthelu