Discover Blérancourt: Culture and History

Blérancourt brings together several cultural and historical themes: French-American history, the architecture of the Église Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens and the legacy of Saint-Just. These themes offer different points of interest to help you plan your trip, from collections on American history to a Renaissance portal and a biographical presentation. Gardens and wildlife viewing add further options for visitors. If you are looking for a hotel in Blérancourt, you can decide which aspects will shape your stay based on your interests.

French-American history at the château museum

The Musée franco-américain du château de Blérancourt focuses on three areas of its collections: the American War of Independence from 1776 to 1783, American humanitarian aid during the First World War, and 19th- and 20th-century American art. The museum therefore covers political and humanitarian history as well as art from two centuries. It opened in 1924 as a French-American history museum. It is dedicated to the French contribution to the American War of Independence and the charitable work of Americans during the First World War. The museum is housed in the remains of a 17th-century château. Its portals and pavilions were built by Salomon de Brosse; the building is protected as a historic monument.

The architectural history of the Église Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens

The Église Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens brings together architectural history from several centuries. It was built around 1537 under the influence of Guillaume Lanvin, Seigneur of Blérancourt and a royal squire. The richly decorated Renaissance portal was completed in 1537 and is crowned by the coats of arms of the de Lanvin and de Sanguin families. The church’s approximate construction date and the year the portal was completed are therefore close, but the building’s history extends beyond them: the church stands on the site of an older 12th-century church, and its side aisles were built in 1620. It has been listed in the French inventory of historic monuments since 1921. The Art Deco stained-glass windows can be viewed as part of an exhibition on site; check the current exhibition arrangements before you travel.

Saint-Just: Life and visit planning

The Maison de Saint-Just focuses on a biographical presentation of Saint-Just. He lived there until he left for Paris in September 1792. Five films on five large touchscreens trace his life; check before travelling whether this installation is currently in place. Individual visitors can visit the Maison free of charge, but only by prior appointment. Arrange your appointment before your visit, as the arrangements may change. At the end of 2017, the French Ministry of Culture awarded the house the “Maisons des Illustres” label.

Gardens and wildlife viewing

The Jardins du Nouveau Monde are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with free admission. Opening hours can change, so check them before your visit. At La Réserve Exotique, visitors can observe lemurs, marmosets, tamarins, capuchin monkeys, turtles and other animals. These two attractions offer different experiences: at the Jardins, opening hours and free admission are practical details for planning, while La Réserve focuses on observing different animal species. You can therefore plan your stay around your interests in cultural history, architecture, art or wildlife viewing.

Discover more destinations: Clairfontaine, Vauxcéré, Beautor, Bouffignereux, Romery, Saint-Paul-Aux-Bois, Chigny, Coucy-Le-Château-Auffrique

For the regional travel overview: Aisne.