Vermenton: Waterways, Parc des Îles and Notre-Dame

If you are looking for a hotel in Vermenton, the history of water transport, Parc des Îles on the Cure, and Notre-Dame offer different points of interest for your stay. The story spans a historic shift in freight transport, riverside park uses, and a church whose several construction phases can still be seen.

Canal History and Timber Transport

The embranchement de Vermenton was built in 1880. The connection between the Cure and the Canal du Nivernais opened in 1881. With it, timber transport by rail came to an end and was replaced by transport on barges. This links the construction history to a specific change in freight transport: timber shifted from rail to the waterway.

Parc des Îles on the Cure

Parc des Îles stretches along the Cure and consists of seven picturesque islets connected by small bridges. The islands and crossings divide the park into separate areas while keeping it connected to the river. Facilities include children's playgrounds and green spaces for walks and picnics. Quiet riverside spots invite visitors to fish, and there are also boules courts. The park therefore offers both areas for activity and play and quieter spaces by the water.

An old mill stands at the entrance to the park. After a period of disrepair, it was renovated. Its history adds an architectural dimension to the park's recreational uses.

Notre-Dame: Construction Phases and Portal

Notre-Dame incorporates remains of a Romanesque church into a 13th-century building. It was extended to the east in the 14th century and built as an unusual hall church. The two towers retain Romanesque bases dating from 1158. Its construction history cannot therefore be reduced to a single date: the remains, the original building phase, and the extension belong to different periods. In the history of the church's construction, the Romanesque bases from 1158 predate the 13th-century building and the 14th-century extension.

The portal reveals another layer of history: three rows of carved archivolts feature angels, the months, the martyrdom of Saint Stephen, the musical Elders of the Apocalypse, and scenes from the life of Saint Nicholas. Archivolts are the successively set-back, arched surrounds of a portal. The imagery thus ranges from figures of the Apocalypse and the cycle of the year to stories of saints and martyrs; the portal brings together religious themes and the motif of the months.

The term hall church refers to a building type in which the nave and aisles are approximately the same height. It describes the layout, not the date; here, the date is indicated by the separate 13th- and 14th-century construction phases.

Sentier Cure: Route and Current Course

The route of the Sentier Cure described on July 25, 2023, passes through Reigny and allows you to continue on to Vézelay and Avallon. Check the current route before setting out, as route conditions may change.

Discover more destinations: Druyes-Les-Belles-Fontaines, Pisy, Lixy, Saint-Florentin, Villeneuve-Sur-Yonne, Pourrain, Passy, Jussy.

For the regional travel overview: Yonne.