The former Templar commandery of Épailly is located in Courban. Churches, other architectural details and the Langres Plateau offer different perspectives on the area. The Épailly Circuit adds a named circular route to the picture. This brings heritage, landscape and a specific route together as distinct themes for a stay in Courban.
Heritage in Courban
Two barns, a defensive tower, a curtain wall and ditches have been preserved at the former Commanderie d'Épailly. The site therefore includes both barns and defensive features; its history can be explored through several different structures rather than a single façade.
The layout of the Saint Georges Chapel provides a more specific picture: it has a single-nave body with three double bays, opening onto a polygonal apse. Its design can be read as a sequence of a structured longitudinal space and a polygonal end. For architecture enthusiasts, this offers a concrete point of interest beyond the individual names of the site.
The churches also offer distinct points of interest. The parish church of Saint-Germain-d'Auxerre in Courban was built in the 12th century. At the Church of the Holy Trinity in Courban, the woodwork and wall paintings inside the church are highlighted by the stained-glass windows. This provides a basis for comparison between a specific construction date and distinctive features: at Saint-Germain-d'Auxerre, the date is what stands out; at the Church of the Holy Trinity, it is the interplay of woodwork, wall paintings and windows.
Other local details draw attention to smaller elements of the built heritage. The wash troughs in Courban's washhouse are lined with individual washing stones. A row of lime trees planted along Courban's former ditches begins at a stone cross. The two features differ in focus: one concerns the fittings of a washhouse, the other a tree-lined avenue with a named starting point.
Landscape and circular route
Courban is located on the Langres Plateau, which separates the two secondary catchment areas of the Ource and the Aube. On a smaller scale, a hill overlooks the village. The narrow, curved Vallon d'Épailly separates this hill from the hill of Bissey-la-Côte. The landscape can therefore be described on two levels: the catchment areas on the plateau, and the locally named relationship between hills and valley.
The Épailly Circuit is a 14 km circular route starting in Montigny-sur-Aube; it passes by the Domaine d'Épailly towards Courban. Its length, starting point and route provide concrete reference points for planning. Check the route details before your trip. This makes it possible to consider the circular walk as a separate route option alongside the individual buildings and landscape features.
Food and getting there
The restaurant at Château de Courban focuses on contemporary cuisine rooted in the region and guided by the seasons, local produce and traditional know-how. This adds a culinary perspective to the architecture and landscape. Menus and opening arrangements may change; check the latest information before visiting.
Château de Courban can be reached by car via the A5 motorway, exit 23. Check road conditions before setting off. This route applies to the château; the Épailly Circuit is a separate option, starting in Montigny-sur-Aube and passing by the Domaine d'Épailly towards Courban.
Discover more destinations: Montliot-Et-Courcelles, Viserny, La Bussière-sur-Ouche, Laperrière-Sur-Saône, Touillon, Jossigny, Pont Royal, Mont-Saint-Jean
For the broader travel overview: Cote-Dor.
