Bouconville-Vauclair: Abbey, Medicinal Plant Garden and Forest

Abbey, garden and forest as key attractions

Three themes take center stage when planning a trip to Bouconville-Vauclair: the history of Vauclair Abbey, the medicinal plant garden and the trails in the state forest. They are quite distinct: the abbey is about historical context, the garden about medicinal plants and old fruit varieties, and the forest about marked trails. If you are looking for a hotel in Bouconville-Vauclair, you can first consider which of these themes you would like to spend time on during your stay. This lets you shape your plans around specific interests while keeping the different attractions in view.

The history of Vauclair Abbey

Vauclair Cistercian Abbey was founded in 1134 by Saint Bernard in the Forest of Vauclair. Only the ruins remain after the severe damage it suffered during the fighting of the First World War. The abbey’s history therefore brings together two clearly distinct stages: its medieval foundation and the later war damage. The tourist pavilion at the entrance to the site serves as a visitor reception and interpretation area.

Medicinal plant garden and heritage orchard

The medicinal plant garden was created on the site of the abbey’s former pharmacy. It contains 400 medicinal plants arranged in a checkerboard pattern. The garden’s character is shaped not only by the plants themselves but also by their regular arrangement. The grounds also include a heritage orchard with old apple and pear varieties. Two different planting themes come together here: medicinal plants in the geometrically arranged garden and old fruit varieties in the heritage orchard.

Walks in the state forest

The easy circular route “Autour de l’Abbaye de Vauclair” is 1.2 km long and takes about 20 minutes. It is accessible to people with reduced mobility. The approximate duration helps you factor this walk into your day’s plans. The L’Argentel trail runs entirely through the Vauclair state forest and around the former abbey. The “Le Chêne Cuif” walk starts at the car park for the Vauclair Abbey recreation area.

The Vauclair state forest covers more than 1,000 hectares and is crisscrossed by numerous marked trails. Each route has a different feature: a short trail with an approximate duration, one that runs through the forest around the former abbey, or a walk with a named starting point. This lets you choose the route whose described feature best suits your excursion plans.

Trails and orientation

The Ailette Greenway leads directly to the Vauclair medicinal plant garden. If the garden is one of your travel destinations, you can take this trail connection into account when planning. The pavilion at the entrance also helps visitors find their way around the site, serving as a reception and interpretation area.

Discover more destinations: Laval-En-Laonnois, Rouvroy-Sur-Serre, Artonges, Saint-Quentin, Vauxaillon, Boncourt, Chauny, Marle.

For the broader travel overview: Aisne.