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Circuit des églises à pans de bois et vitraux du XVIe siècle

in Châtillon-sur-Broué

61.8 km

Easy

61.8 km

3h 10min

Easy

Departure

Châtillon-sur-Broué
Difference in height

239.59 m
Documentation
- GPX Trace
- KML File
GPX / KML files allow you to export the trail of your hike to your GPS (or other navigation tool)

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Points of interest

1 Notre-Dame church, Châtillon-sur-Broué

2 Saint-Nicolas Church, Outines

3 Notre Dame church, Drosnay

4 Saint-Étienne Church, Arrembecourt

5 Saint-Gengoul church, Chassericourt

6 Saint-Pierre-es-Lien church, Joncreuil

7 Sainte-Croix-en-son-Exaltation church, Bailly-le-Franc

8 Saint-Georges Church, Chavanges

9 Saint-Jacques et Saint-Philippe church, Lentilles

10 Notre-Dame-en-sa-Nativité church, Puellemontier

11 Saint-Remi church, Ceffonds

12 Saint-Peter and Saint-Paul Abbey church, Montier-en-Der

13 Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption church, Droyes

14 Saint-Jean-Baptiste church, Nuisement

1 Notre-Dame church, Châtillon-sur-Broué

Notre-Dame church is one of Champagne's most original timber-framed churches. Its originality lies in its high, wide nave, to which is attached the bell tower that surmounts the porch. It is also the only church to have a large, completely enclosed porch, lit only by the two wide side openings decorated with sculpted balusters. Most of the building dates from the 16th century, with the bell tower rebuilt in 1822. The timber framing of its polygonal chevet harmoniously forms crosses of Saint Andrew.

2 Saint-Nicolas Church, Outines

This church is the largest and most monumental timber-framed church in Champagne. Its meticulous construction dates back to the 16th century: the oldest timbers have been dated to 1512. It is modelled on the large covered market halls of the region. Its facade is covered with wooden scales to protect it from the storms. The west facade features a rose window with wooded concentric circles. Glazed in 1936 in art deco style, it was restored in 2010. Inside: The interior has been refurbished to reveal beautiful Louis XV-style panelling. Its thick pillars and massive beams give the impression of a real forest. The building features a 16th-century polychrome wooden statue of Saint Gond and a 14th-century Christ on the Cross.

OUTINES - eglise Saint Nicolas coll OT Lac du Der (2).JPG

3 Notre Dame church, Drosnay

This church was built at the beginning of the 16th century, close to a castle mound. It was distinguished by its large double-sloped roof, which covered the entire building. This unique church, which had been listed as a Historic Monument since 1982 and housed 16th-century treasures, was completely destroyed by fire on Friday 7th July 2023. It is nevertheless hoped that this jewel of the Marne will rise from its ashes as soon as possible. If you would like to help rebuild it, you can make a donation.

4 Saint-Étienne Church, Arrembecourt

The church of Saint-Étienne d'Arrembécourt is in the shape of a cross, with a small nave in two sections, the first of which supports a bell tower, a transverse arm and a half-hexagonal apse. Built in the 16th century, it must originally have been larger: traces of former openings leading to aisles that no longer exist can still be seen on the side walls. The width of the transept can also be explained by the presence, at the time, of a larger nave.

5 Saint-Gengoul church, Chassericourt

Chassericourt, where Saint-Gengoul church is located, merged with the commune of Chavanges in 1966. The church, which once belonged to the parish of Arrembécourt in the diocese of Troyes, has two main sections: the choir and transept, which date from the early 16th century, and the nave, which was rebuilt in 1783 on the foundations of an earlier Romanesque nave.

The church is shaped like a Latin cross. It comprises a nave with three sections and aisles, a clearly visible transept, and a multi-sided choir.

6 Saint-Pierre-es-Lien church, Joncreuil

Despite a number of external alterations (large timber-framed bell tower rebuilt in the classical period, nave facades rebuilt in 1764), this church has preserved its Romanesque nave and early 13th-century choir, which is quite rare in the Aube region. The roof features a Lorraine cross designed in 1944 by a local resistance fighter Ferdinand Arnoult.

7 Sainte-Croix-en-son-Exaltation church, Bailly-le-Franc

Built in 1510, the architectural layout of this church is very similar to the church in Lentilles. It is built on the principle of stepped roofs and dominated by a slender slate-covered spire. The nave is lit by a row of narrow windows framed by Saint Andrew’s crosses, formed by the assembly of timbers. The roofing materials are varied: chestnut, batten, Roman tile, flat tile and slate. Inside: The seven stained glass windows in the apse and nave, created in the 19th century, bear the names of their donors. The altarpiece dates from the 18th century.

8 Saint-Georges Church, Chavanges

The building was rebuilt in the late 15th and 16th centuries and consecrated on 14 October 1554. However, the small Romanesque portal has been preserved, along with a few pillars from the earlier building. The numerous stained glass windows illustrate the development of the art of stained glass during the 1st half of the 16th century. The use of full-colour glass (Life of Saint Magdalene, Passion and Resurrection of Christ) gave way to that of white glass enhanced with silver yellow or red chalk paint and accompanied by a few coloured dots (Apocalypse stained glass window based on engravings by Dürer).

9 Saint-Jacques et Saint-Philippe church, Lentilles

Built around 1512, this church has always been considered as the most typical timber- framed church in Champagne. Its architectural layout is reminiscent of other timber-framed churches: polygonal chancel, no transept, nave with high bays. However, the west facade and spire, covered in wood flakes, and the porch are particularly noteworthy. The entrance is indicated by a small gable surmounted by a statue of Saint Jacques. Inside: You will notice a unique feature that that you can only see in Lentilles: circular windows above the bays of the polygonal choir and the openwork apse. They are adorned with remarkable 16th-century stained glass windows.

10 Notre-Dame-en-sa-Nativité church, Puellemontier

The building has a squat nave and side aisles, while its 16th-century transept and apse are more slender, which characterises the exterior of the church. The twin gables at the end of the transept arm and the polygonal wooden spire are also noteworthy. The interior is illuminated by a series of 16th-century stained glass windows.

11 Saint-Remi church, Ceffonds

The church of Saint-Rémi, rebuilt in the early 16th century, boasts the finest Renaissance stained glass in Haute-Marne (17 16th-century windows). The tree of Jesse, the story of Adam and Eve, the Passion of Christ, the lives of the saints... The church has retained its Romanesque bell tower.

12 Saint-Peter and Saint-Paul Abbey church, Montier-en-Der

This former abbey church (the monastery was transformed into a National Stud by Napoleon I), was damaged in 1940. Several eras have left their mark on the different parts of the building: a Romanesque nave, an early Gothic choir, a 14th-century chapel and two sacristies, and a 16th-century façade that opens onto the abbey's former main courtyard.
A fine collection of modern stained glass windows harmonises with the religious character of the building

Abbatiale-montier-en-der©Pascal Bourguignon coll.OT Lac du Der.jpg

13 Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption church, Droyes

The building has a Romanesque nave and a 16th-century chancel with a 2-bay transept, decorated with contemporary stained glass windows.

Église_Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption_de_Droyes_2.jpg

14 Saint-Jean-Baptiste church, Nuisement

The church at Nuisement-aux-Bois was destined for demolition, like all the houses in the three villages destroyed to make way for Lac du Der. It was dismantled piece by piece and reassembled in 1970 in the village of Sainte Marie, and is now an integral part of the Village Musée du Der.
Some of its timbers date back to 1479, making it the oldest timber-framed church in Champagne.

Village-Musée-du-Der©Véronique Montané OT Lac du Der.jpg

240 meters of difference in height

Start altitude : 128 m
End altitude : 129 m
Maximum altitude : 152 m
Minimum altitude : 118 m

Total positive elevation : 240 m
Total negative elevation : -238 m
Max positive elevation : 21 m
Min positive elevation : -15 m