Saint-Imoges: Carillon, Heritage and Forest Trails

If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Saint-Imoges, the best way to get your bearings is through the area’s cultural history and its forest trails. The village lies in a forest clearing on the plateau of the Montagne de Reims. Its sights include the Notre-Dame-du-Chêne Church, a restored washhouse and traces of the terracotta industry. Two different route descriptions can also help you plan your time: a shorter circular trail and a longer route described by a free app. This brings local history and forest themes together.

Church, Carillon and Places of Remembrance

Notre-Dame-du-Chêne Church was built in 1508 on the ruins of an earlier church. The parish church houses the statue of the Miraculous Virgin, dating from the 13th century. It was discovered in a niche set into the trunk of an oak tree; the statue was then placed in the church. The church’s carillon was created in 1842. It is considered unique in Champagne-Ardenne and is listed as a historic monument.

A church window also commemorates the village’s history: it shows portraits of nine local soldiers who died in the First World War between 1914 and 1918. The British military cemetery in the municipal cemetery contains 77 graves, including that of an unknown soldier. Immediately beside it is the French military cemetery, with the graves of 21 French soldiers who were killed during the same period. The two neighboring cemeteries thus keep the memory of soldiers of different origins alive in one place.

Washhouse and Terracotta Industry

The restored washhouse is made of brick and features a triple arcade and a blue-stone basin. The arcade’s repeated arch shape defines the building, while the basin adds a distinctive material accent. Another part of the area’s history can be found in the forests of Saint-Imoges: the Briqueterie du Vertin is a historic terracotta industry site, founded in 1869.

A Hoffmann kiln and a brick-built chimney are still visible on the Briqueterie site. A diverse landscape has also developed there: the site includes deciduous forests, wetlands, ponds, scrubland and hay meadows. Industrial history and a variety of habitats meet in this place. If you plan to visit the site, you can check the current condition of the visible structures in advance.

Forest, Trails and Historical Traces

The Chêne à la Vierge state forest near Saint-Imoges has been awarded the Forêt d’Exception designation. Forest avenues, marked trails and botanical nature trails invite visitors to take a walk. Another historical trace lies in the forest between Germaine and Saint-Imoges: at the Château de Vernay site, the water-filled moats and the island where the former castle stood are visible.

You can compare two descriptions of walking time. The “Circuit à la Recherche du temps passé” circular trail starts at Place Notre-Dame-du-Chêne, is 1.8 kilometers long and takes about 30 minutes. The free “Le Secret du chêne à la vierge” app describes a 3.6-kilometer route that takes about one hour and 30 minutes. This gives you a shorter circular trail and a longer route to choose between. Check the route details before setting out; app availability may change.

The RD951 runs close to Saint-Imoges and provides another geographic reference point. If you are looking for a hotel in Saint-Imoges, you can plan your trip around how much time you want to set aside for local history and forest trails.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Lʼépine, Nuisement-sur-Coole, Fontaine-En-Dormois, Cumières, Saint-Mard-lès-Rouffy, Binson-Et-Orquigny, Sarry, Verzy.

For the broader travel overview: Marne.