Besmont offers two distinct starting points for planning a trip: the layered architectural and decorative history of the Church of Saint-Nicolas, and the walking and horse-riding trails in the nearby Forêt domaniale d’Aubenton. The Lavoir du Bourrelier and the historic fine basket-making craft add further facets to the picture of the town’s history. You can therefore explore Besmont both through its buildings and craft traditions and through the trails in the surrounding landscape.
Saint-Nicolas: a history of construction in several stages
The Church of Saint-Nicolas in Besmont is documented as far back as 1181. Its early history also includes the Sainte-Marie chapel, built before 1175. Around 1230, it was demolished and replaced by a church. This timeline reaches further back than the surviving architectural features described today and shows that the church’s history spans several stages.
The surviving choir has round-headed openings, probably dating from the second half of the 13th century. By contrast, the present-day nave dates from the 17th century; the building campaign was probably completed in 1688. Checkerboard patterns made of glazed bricks add a distinctive accent to the nave’s outer walls and the west façade. The choir and nave thus represent different building phases, while the brick patterns add a distinctive detail to the exterior design.
The ceiling is also part of the architectural design: the nave and choir have a plastered ceiling on wooden laths, decorated with stucco and plaster. Its construction and decoration are best considered together. The features described range from the layout of the choir and nave to the treatment of the exterior surfaces and the details of the ceiling, offering several different architectural points of interest in the church.
Furnishings and local history
The baptismal font combines a base probably dating from the late 16th century or the first half of the 17th century with a 19th-century Neorenaissance pastiche basin. An older base and later design come together in this single furnishing. The church’s furnishings also include a harmonium from the 1870s or 1880s.
The bell provides another historical trace: the bell installed in 1922 replaced one destroyed by German troops in 1917. Together with the various building elements and the baptismal font, it offers a timeline stretching from the construction of the church into the 20th century. Anyone interested in Besmont will find more than a single date here: several specific details help distinguish the building’s history from its furnishings.
The Lavoir du Bourrelier was built in the late 19th century and is located in the hamlet of Le Bourrelier in Besmont. As a lavoir, or washhouse, it is a different type of building from the church and adds a connection to everyday life to the picture of local architectural history. Fine basket-making is also documented historically: in 1882, it was the most important craft in Besmont, where there were two basket-makers at the time. This information places the craft in a specific year and shows the importance it held then.
Forest trails as a second focus
If you would like to base your stay on more than architectural history and crafts, the Forêt domaniale d’Aubenton, near Besmont, offers another option. The forest has trails for walking and horse riding. This brings two different interests together: the historic details in Besmont and trails for walking or horse riding. You can take either focus into account when planning your days and looking for a holiday rental in Besmont.
Saint-Nicolas’s building phases, its furnishings, and the Lavoir du Bourrelier are reasons to focus on cultural history. If you would rather set aside time for walking or horse-riding trails, you can make the Forêt domaniale d’Aubenton a focus of your stay. The differences between these themes give you a concrete basis for deciding what you want your trip to Besmont to revolve around.
Discover more destinations: Romery, Ohis, Clairfontaine, Laon, Sorbais, Vauxaillon, Crézancy, Wiège-Faty
For the regional travel overview: Aisne.
