A walking loop of about 20 minutes, a medicinal plant garden with 400 plants, and a state forest covering more than 1,000 hectares give Bouconville-Vauclair a variety of highlights. The former Cistercian Abbey of Vauclair links the area's history with the garden and forest trails. When planning a stay, you can decide whether you are more interested in a short walk, botanical details, or a route through the forest.
The abbey, garden and local history
The Cistercian Abbey of Vauclair was founded in 1134 by Saint Bernard in the Forest of Vauclair. Only its ruins remained after the severe damage it suffered during the fighting of the First World War. Bouconville-Vauclair was completely rebuilt on the exact site of the former community. The abbey ruins therefore represent the history of the monastery, while the rebuilding concerns the historic site of the village.
A medicinal plant garden was created on the former site of the abbey's pharmacy. It contains 400 medicinal plants arranged in a checkerboard pattern. The garden also includes a heritage orchard with old varieties of apples and pears. The regular layout and the old fruit varieties give the grounds distinct highlights. Its location on the site of the former pharmacy also connects it with the abbey's history. If you are interested in plants and culture, you can explore both subjects in one place.
Trails through the forest and around the abbey
The tourist pavilion at the entrance to the site serves as a visitor reception and interpretation area. If you are looking for an introduction to the local attractions, that is its purpose; the Ailette Greenway, by contrast, leads directly to the medicinal plant garden. The two serve different practical purposes: one is about visitor reception at the site, the other about access to the garden.
The “Autour de l’Abbaye de Vauclair” loop is an easy 1.2 km route that takes about 20 minutes. It is accessible to people with reduced mobility. Its length and approximate duration give you a clear timeframe for this short walk.
The Vauclair State Forest covers more than 1,000 hectares and is crisscrossed by numerous marked trails. The L’Argentel loop lies entirely within this state forest and circles the former Abbey of Vauclair. The “Le Chêne Cuif” walk starts at the car park in the recreational area of the Abbey of Vauclair. The trails differ in their points of reference: the approximate duration is a key consideration for the loop around the abbey, L’Argentel takes in the forest and abbey surroundings, and Le Chêne Cuif has a named starting point. You can therefore make your choice based on whether a timeframe, the landscape, or a starting point matters most to you.
Discover more destinations: Martigny-Courpierre, Lavaqueresse, Cilly, Folembray, Ronchères, Corbeny, Montigny-L'allier, Ugny-Le-Gay.
For the broader travel overview: Aisne.
