Prémont: Churches, Chapel and Memorial Sites

If you enjoy combining your stay with local and war history, Prémont offers several different points of interest: church buildings, traces of an earlier church, a cemetery and a liberation memorial. There is also the “Autour de Prémont” walk. When planning your visit, it is worth considering these themes separately: religious architectural history, remembrance of the First World War, and a route with varied surfaces. This will help you shape your stay around the aspects that interest you most.

Churches and traces of the past

The Église Saint-Germain de Prémont was rebuilt after the First World War. Its location differs from that of its predecessor: the present building is set back across from the former site, while the older church stood right beside the road. Foundations of the earlier church can also be seen beside the Chemin du Cimetière. The rebuilding, changed position and surviving foundation remains offer several tangible points of interest if you are exploring the evolution of church architecture in Prémont.

On the edge of the village stands the Chapelle Notre-Dame des Sept-Douleurs, built by Abbé Gret around 1840. It was constructed on the site of an earlier pilgrimage chapel that had been destroyed during the Revolution. Its history thus connects a 19th-century building with the memory of an earlier pilgrimage site. The Tour-pigeonnier is another prominent historical landmark: the dovecote tower is the only surviving element of Prémont’s historic village and adds another aspect of local history to the church buildings.

Memorial sites and special dates

The Prémont British Cemetery is described using two different counts: 536 Commonwealth dead are recorded for the cemetery; it also contains 572 graves, including German and Commonwealth dead. The first figure counts Commonwealth dead, while the second counts the graves in the cemetery. The liberation memorial commemorates the recapture of Prémont by American troops on 8 October 1918.

The procession between the Église Saint-Germain de Prémont and the Chapelle Notre-Dame des Sept-Douleurs is recorded as taking place on the third Sunday in September. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the date in advance for your travel year. The Prémont British Cemetery is wheelchair accessible via the main entrance. Check this access information before your visit.

“Autour de Prémont” walk

The “Autour de Prémont” walking route runs over dirt, grass, gravel and asphalt surfaces. This change of surfaces is a practical point to consider when planning your walk and can help you choose your equipment. For parking during the walk, you can use the car park opposite the town hall on Rue du Général Tyson. Check local access before you set off.

Prémont offers several ways to explore local history: the church rebuilt after the First World War, visible foundations, the chapel on the site of an earlier pilgrimage destination, the dovecote tower and the memorial sites. The walk offers a different focus, with its varied surfaces. You can decide which of these themes will shape your trip according to your own interests.

Discover more destinations: Beaumont-En-Beine, Bouconville-Vauclair, Laval-En-Laonnois, Cuiry-Lès-Chaudardes, Neuvillette, Erloy, Ribemont, Bourg-Et-Comin

For the wider travel overview: Aisne.