Vaucouleurs offers several distinct ways to explore culture and enjoy outdoor activities. At the Saint-Laurent parish church, a fully painted ceiling decorated with frescoes is complemented by a pulpit dating from 1717. The Chapelle castrale stands on the site of an original chapel built in 1234. Other highlights include the Château de Vaucouleurs and the art foundry history of the Fonderie d’Art de Tusey. For an active change of pace, take a stage of the La Meuse à vélo – EuroVelo 19 cycle route, which ends in Vaucouleurs, or follow the Sentier de Sainte Anne, an easy 15-kilometre circular hiking trail.

Church, chapel site and Joan of Arc

The Saint-Laurent parish church brings together religious features and heritage history. Its ceiling is fully painted and decorated with frescoes; inside, you will also find a pulpit dating from 1717. The church has been classified as a historic monument since 20 January 1989. The dates mark different aspects: 1717 dates the pulpit, while 1989 marks the beginning of the church’s classification.

An older building history is associated with the Chapelle castrale: it stands on the site of an original chapel built in 1234. The dates refer to different things: 1234 marks the construction of the original chapel, 1717 dates the pulpit, and 1989 marks the beginning of Saint-Laurent’s classification. These details can therefore be read as pointing to different aspects of the town’s history.

The statue of Notre-Dame des Voûtes is in the crypt, where Joan of Arc prayed.

Visits to the Sites Jeanne d’Arc are possible only with advance reservations made through the tourist office. Check the visitor arrangements beforehand so you can include the reservation in your plans.

Château, art foundry and lime tree

The Château de Vaucouleurs is partly classified as a historic monument and partly listed as a historic monument; protection also applies only in part.

The Fonderie d’Art de Tusey specialised in producing art castings, including busts, statues, monumental fountains and candelabra. Alongside buildings and church furnishings, the production of artworks offers another way to explore cultural history. Its production history adds a different perspective to the study of buildings: art history is also reflected in the works that were made.

The lime tree adds a nature-related landmark: in October 2011, it received the French designation “Arbre Remarquable de France” (Remarkable Tree of France).

Cycling or a circular hike

The Neufchâteau–Vaucouleurs stage of the La Meuse à vélo – EuroVelo 19 cycle route ends in Vaucouleurs. Check the route conditions before setting out. The route description, updated on 23 December 2024, lists the Sentier de Sainte Anne as an easy 15-kilometre circular hiking trail. The activities differ in type and format: the cycling stage ends in Vaucouleurs, while the Sentier is a circular route of a specified length. When planning, consider whether the cycle route’s endpoint or the circular format of the hike better suits your plans.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Les Trois-Domaines, Seigneulles, Mécrin, Les Hauts-de-Chée, Nonsard-Lamarche, Étain, Geville, Nettancourt

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