Nitry offers cultural and historical points of interest ranging from the Église Saint-Christophe to the Fontaine des Champs and the architectural remains of Briennicum in Brionne. The picture is complemented by a 19th-century washhouse and a restaurant serving traditional cuisine made with seasonal and local produce. Each attraction has a different focus: church architecture, the story associated with a spring, archaeological traces and a specific culinary landmark. This gives you a chance to consider which of these themes will have the greatest influence on your travel plans.
Architectural features of the Église Saint-Christophe
Most of the Église Saint-Christophe dates from the late 15th or early 16th century. Two styles of windows stand side by side: pointed-arch windows with Flamboyant Gothic tracery and round-arched windows with Renaissance-style tracery. The different arches offer an immediate point of comparison, while the tracery associated with each window also identifies it with the named style. The stained-glass windows in the nave and chapels date from 1872. This date refers to the windows, whereas the dating of most of the building refers to the late 15th or early 16th century. The church therefore cannot be assigned a single date: the building and its stained-glass windows have clearly distinct dates. Anyone interested in architecture will find both different window styles and a specific historical context here.
Fontaine des Champs: spring and local tradition
The Fontaine des Champs lies outside the village in a valley, at a spring outlet. According to local tradition, healing properties are attributed to its water. The Fontaine remained in use during dry periods until the introduction of the water supply. Thus, a traditional belief and a historical use come together at this site, without one being equated with the other.
The Fontaine des Champs is also included on the Chablis Tonnerrois heritage information panels under Nitry. During village walks in Nitry, visitors can scan the panels to get information about the surrounding cultural heritage. This also gives the spring a place within a broader exploration of the commune’s heritage: in addition to its valley setting and local tradition, visitors can access information there about nearby points of interest.
Traces at Brionne and the Lavoir
Architectural remains of the village of Briennicum are located at Brionne, within the commune of Nitry. The names refer to different things: Brionne is the place where the remains are located, while Briennicum is the village whose architectural traces can be found there. This adds an archaeological point of interest to the church and spring themes.
The Lavoir de la Route de Chablis offers another perspective on building history. The Lavoir de la Route de Chablis is thought to be a rectangular 19th-century washhouse with an elongated basin. Apparently, the lavoir lies below road level and is reached by a staircase. The examples differ considerably: at Brionne, the focus is on the remains of a village; at the lavoir, it is on the form of a single washhouse and its position below road level. Those interested in several kinds of historical building traces can thus distinguish archaeological remains from a specific building.
A culinary landmark
The restaurant at the Auberge de la Beursaudière in Nitry serves traditional cuisine made with seasonal and local produce. If you plan to include it in your itinerary, check the restaurant’s current operating details before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Joigny, Merry-Sur-Yonne, Saint-Père, Maillot, Piffonds, L'Isle-sur-Serein, Maligny, Domecy-Sur-Cure.
For the broader travel overview: Yonne.
