The preferred hunting ground of François I, the forest of Alexandre Dumas' youth, where the young writer would come to stroll, and the dense beech grove which saw the launch of the offensive which secured the Allied victory in 1918, Retz Forest has made quite a name for itself over the centuries. The many walking trails running through this vast forest located next to Villers-Cotterêts will lead you to discover the secluded houses, fountains, rocks and commemorative monuments which lie concealed within.