The choir, crypt and former abbey shape the history of Bouxières-aux-Dames. Walking routes, the Pelouse des Dames and the Étang de Merrey add walks around the village and through the countryside to its historical attractions. You can plan your time according to whether you mainly want to explore architectural landmarks or also include outdoor trails.
Churches, Crypt and Abbey History
The Église Saint-Martin has a 15th-century choir with a rib vault. The choir vault depicts Christ at the Last Judgment and the Tetramorph, with symbols of the four Evangelists. The wall paintings in the choir were discovered in 1974 and restored in 2017 and 2020. The protection status of 25 June 2015 fully covers the choir and its wall paintings, as well as the church façades and roof; the sacristy is excluded.
The Crypte de saint Gauzelin also features a distinctive architectural detail: its west wall has three windows and herringbone masonry. The crypt is considered one of the oldest in France. The founding charter of the Abbaye de Bouxières-aux-Dames is dated 13 January 938. The Chapelle Saint-Antoine dates from 1582. It was built on the route from the village to the abbey as a repository for the Corpus Christi procession.
More architectural history can be found at the Domaine des Tilles. It includes the canonical and prévôtale Hôtel of the chapter of the Chanoinesses of Bouxières, built in 1640. The Salle Guingot is housed in a former public girls’ school building. It was built in 1875 and used as a school until the Groupe scolaire Franchi opened on Rue Alsace-Lorraine in 1961.
The lavoirs of Bouxières-aux-Dames can be visited independently, without a guide and only from the outside. The Lavoir des Maures is opposite the town hall and was renovated in 2004. Check current access arrangements before visiting.
Walking Routes and the Pelouse des Dames
For walks, you can choose from municipal hiking trails, mainly two circular routes: they are 2.6 and 3.4 kilometres long, respectively. Another option is the Circuit de Bouxières-aux-Dames. It starts at the Pelouse des Dames and passes through picturesque lanes and country paths. Its short route, about 0.5 kilometres long, is dedicated to the abbey; the full 2.56-kilometre route passes through the lower town. Along the way, there are markers bearing the abbey’s seal and explanatory panels. You can also use your smartphone to scan QR codes at points of interest.
The Pelouse des Dames is a place for walks, and there is a fitness trail for those who want to exercise. By car, it can be reached via Rue de l’Abbaye and then Rue des Carrosses. Woodland paths lead there on foot from the Étang de Merrey. The avenues at the Pelouse were laid out around 1750, when 300 lime trees were transplanted here from the forest. The Fête des Tilleuls is held at the Pelouse in September. If you plan to travel for the festival, check the dates for your travel period.
The walking trails also let you experience the still-rural, nature-rich character of Bouxières-aux-Dames. The two municipal circular routes and the different length options on the Circuit offer practical guidance for planning your walking time, without requiring you to choose any one particular route.
At the Étang de Merrey
You can walk and fish at the Étang de Merrey. Fishing is permitted there; check the local conditions in force before your visit. The pond offers another way to enjoy a stay with walking trails, while the churches, crypt and historic buildings focus on the history of the village.
Discover more destinations: Bainville-aux-Miroirs, Belleau, Villers-Lès-Nancy, Joppécourt, Mexy, Mars-La-Tour, Méréville, Rouves
For the regional travel overview: Meurthe-Et-Moselle.
