Marle combines archaeological reconstructions of early medieval buildings with the Église Notre-Dame, whose construction around 1180 marks the beginning of the Gothic period. When planning your visit, you can choose a focus: are you most interested in 6th- and 7th-century settlements, or in the church’s construction and furnishings? The museum is open seasonally, and events in the archaeological park take place in summer. Marle is served by the Laon–Hirson railway line; before your trip, check the exact opening and event dates, as well as the timetable.
Archaeological reconstructions and seasonal dates
The Musée des Temps Barbares is housed in a former bann mill built in the 12th century. The mill building thus offers a contrast in period to the early medieval reconstructions. The museum is open to the public each year from early April to the end of September. If visiting the museum is important to your trip, plan your visit within this opening period and check the exact opening hours.
The reconstructions differ in scale. A highly partial reconstruction depicts a Merovingian farm from the 6th and 7th centuries, based on archaeological excavations in Goudelancourt-lès-Pierrepont. A complete Frankish village has been reconstructed on a four-hectare site. It is based on excavations in Juvincourt-et-Damary, and the site lies next to an already reconstructed Merovingian farm. This village also dates from the 6th and 7th centuries. The farm is a highly partial reconstruction, whereas the village is fully reconstructed. Visitors interested in early settlement patterns can compare these different levels of reconstruction.
The archaeological park also includes a faithful reconstruction of the smaller of two cemeteries discovered in Goudelancourt-lès-Pierrepont; it contains 134 graves. Alongside the reconstructions of buildings and settlements, this adds a burial ground as a distinct focus. Events and reconstructions take place in the archaeological park in summer, including the Rencontres Mérovingiennes and the Festival d’Histoire Vivante. As the program may change seasonally, check the dates for your travel period.
The Église Notre-Dame: construction and furnishings
The Église Notre-Dame was built toward the end of the 12th century, around 1180, at the beginning of the Gothic period. The church contains the tomb of the Sire de Bournonville, who is described as the first lieutenant of John the Fearless during the Hundred Years’ War. The wall paneling comes from the abbeys of Foigny and Val Saint-Pierre and was acquired in the 19th century. The construction date and the acquisition of the paneling thus mark two distinct periods in the church’s history. The tomb adds a specific historical connection to this account of the church’s construction and furnishings.
Practical information for Marle
Marle’s swimming pool is located at Place de Lattre de Tassigny, between the stadium and the gendarmerie. For rail travel, the Laon–Hirson line serves Marle; check the timetable for your travel dates. If you are looking for a hotel in Marle, plan your dates around your preferred focus: the opening period from early April to the end of September matters for a museum visit; if you are interested in a summer event, check the specific event date.
Discover more destinations: Guise, Beautor, Ugny-Le-Gay, Bony, Noyant-Et-Aconin, Gauchy, Chacrise, Artonges.
For the broader travel overview: Aisne.
