A striking detail can be seen at the north portal of the Church of Saint-Martin d’en Haut: the portal is designed in the Renaissance style and features a bas-relief of a salamander associated with Francis I. Chézy-sur-Marne also offers medieval half-timbered architecture, historic local connections and the Dolloir as distinct themes to explore during a stay.
Church, half-timbered houses and local history
The Church of Saint-Martin d’en Haut brings together several distinctive artistic and architectural features. It contains a smaller version of the statue “Sainte Geneviève protégeant Paris” created by Paul Landowski. Monograms of Henry II, Catherine de’ Medici and Diane de Poitiers are carved into the arcades of the bell tower’s porch. The portal, statue and monograms offer different points of interest if you are interested in the site’s architectural and artistic details.
Another perspective on the history of the buildings can be found at the house “Les Galeries,” the village’s only surviving medieval half-timbered house. Its preserved timber frame provides a clear contrast to the Renaissance style of the church portal. The former washhouse by the Dolloir has also been restored. Chézy-sur-Marne was initially known as Chézy L’Abbaye and is associated with one of the region’s oldest monastic foundations. This historic local connection adds another perspective on the village’s history alongside its visible buildings.
The Dolloir and designated natural areas
The Dolloir is a tributary of the Marne and flows through the entire area of Chézy-sur-Marne. It is also a trout river classified as a first-category watercourse. Its name also appears in two designated areas: the “Vallée du Dolloir” is a continental ZNIEFF type II area and includes Chézy-sur-Marne. The “Cours du Dolloir et de ses affluents” is a continental ZNIEFF type I area and also includes the village. The “Pelouses de Chézy-sur-Marne” are considered an area of exceptional interest in Picardy. Thus, alongside local history, the river and designated natural areas are also themes in their own right.
Hiking and technical infrastructure
The “Au pays du champagne” route is a 13.5-kilometre circular hike. Its distance gives you a concrete reference point when planning a day of hiking. Route details may be updated by the tourist office, so check them before setting out. A separate usage rule applies to the Dhuys path: horseback riding is prohibited there.
The Dhuys aqueduct is 131 kilometres long and operates by gravity, without pumps. This distance refers to the aqueduct; it does not indicate the length of the hiking route. These are two distinct aspects: a specific hiking option and a technical structure whose operation can be explained by the fact that it uses no pumps.
Tailor your stay to your interests
When looking for a holiday apartment, you can start by deciding what you want to focus on during your stay: would you like to explore Chézy-sur-Marne primarily through its architecture and local history, or are you more interested in the Dolloir, the designated natural areas and hiking?
Discover more destinations: Autreppes, Vermand, Romery, Bourguignon-Sous-Montbavin, Braye-En-Laonnois, Guignicourt, Ribemont, Sinceny.
See the broader travel overview: Aisne.
