Blérancourt brings together French-American history and distinctive architecture. The Musée franco-américain du château de Blérancourt, the Église Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens and the Maison de Saint-Just offer different ways to explore the town: from the relationship between France and America to Renaissance architecture and the history of the Revolution. The Jardins du Nouveau Monde and La Réserve Exotique also offer additional places to visit during your stay.
The Musée franco-américain and its themes
The Musée franco-américain du château de Blérancourt presents collections on the American War of Independence from 1776 to 1783, American humanitarian aid during the First World War, and 19th- and 20th-century American art. The museum brings political history, humanitarian commitment and art together. It opened in 1924 as a French-American history museum. Its original dedication was to the French contribution to the American War of Independence and the charitable work of Americans during the First World War.
The building itself is also part of the visit: the museum is housed in the remains of a 17th-century château. Its gateways and pavilions were built by Salomon de Brosse. The museum building is protected as a historic monument. This allows you to view the collection in an architectural setting whose history dates back to the early modern period.
Renaissance and architectural history at the Église Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens
The Église Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens was built around 1537 under the influence of Guillaume Lanvin, Lord of Blérancourt and a royal squire. It stands on the site of an older church dating from the 12th century; its side aisles were added in 1620. The richly decorated Renaissance portal stands out on the façade: it was completed in 1537 and is crowned by the coats of arms of the de Lanvin and de Sanguin families. Since 1921, the church has been listed in the French inventory of historic monuments.
Other details include the Art Deco stained-glass windows. They can be seen as part of an exhibition on site; check the current exhibition arrangements before your visit. The building’s history, the portal and the more recent windows each offer a different point of interest. Visitors interested in architecture will find more here than just a single historic style.
Saint-Just and the Maison de Saint-Just
The Maison de Saint-Just is associated with a clearly defined period in the revolutionary’s life: Saint-Just lived there until he left for Paris in September 1792. The house was awarded the “Maisons des Illustres” label by the French Ministry of Culture at the end of 2017.
Individual visits to the Maison de Saint-Just are free, but require an appointment in advance. Arrange your visit ahead of time. The presentation features five films on five large touchscreens tracing Saint-Just’s life. As you should confirm the installation before your trip, also check whether it will be available during your visit. This lets you plan the appointment and the presentation format you want together.
Gardens and animals as different things to see
The Jardins du Nouveau Monde are open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. with free access. Opening hours may change, so check the current times before your visit. At La Réserve Exotique, you can observe lemurs, marmosets, tamarins, capuchin monkeys, turtles and other animals. These destinations offer a different focus from the historic buildings: they complement the cultural attractions with gardens and animal watching, without limiting your stay to just one way of exploring.
An appointment is required for individual visits to the Maison de Saint-Just; check the current opening hours of the Jardins du Nouveau Monde. Blérancourt offers a distinctive mix of French-American history, architecture, links to Saint-Just and other places to visit.
Discover more destinations: Septmonts, Dallon, Marly-Gomont, Braye-En-Laonnois, Guise, Vervins, Aisonville-Et-Bernoville, Beaumont-En-Beine.
For the regional travel overview: Aisne.
