Merval offers two distinct points of interest for a stay: the architectural history of Saint-Martin Church and the Les Alleux Route, which leads up to the heights above the village. At Saint-Martin, building phases from the 12th through the 20th century can be traced; Les Alleux connects five places and is described as 11.1 kilometres long, taking around three hours. This makes cultural history and a longer outing clear, separate options to focus your plans on.
Saint-Martin: architectural history and design
The choir of Saint-Martin Church dates from the third quarter of the 12th century; the nave was built in 1852. In 1919, the church was listed as a Monument historique. A faithful restoration followed from 1921 to 1924 under the direction of architect Lucien Sallez. The chronology thus spans a medieval building element, the 19th-century nave and a later restoration.
The capitals of the choir pillars depict fantastic figures and are decorated with plant motifs. This specific detail adds a distinctive design focus to the architectural history. Serval is also part of the area's ecclesiastical history: in the 18th century, Merval and Serval formed a single parish.
Les Alleux Route: distance and landscape
The Les Alleux Route connects Longueval-Barbonval, Serval, Merval, Glennes and RĂ©villon. It is 11.1 kilometres long and takes around three hours. These details help you plan it as a distinct activity during your stay. The route climbs to the heights above Merval via a steep path and includes several ascents. There is also a dangerous section on the RD 21. Check local conditions before setting out and factor in the climbs and this section when planning your route.
The route passes through a wooded ravine, valleys and agricultural uplands. A series of viewpoints offer views of Merval, RĂ©villon and Glennes. Les Alleux thus takes in a variety of landscapes as well as views of three places along the route. When planning the walk, you can set aside a specific amount of time based on its approximate duration.
Les Alleux lists Merval Church as a point of interest. In Merval, the route also mentions a troglodyte village and so-called creuttes. These sites add cultural and local history to the landscape, without limiting the route to a single theme.
Dates and travel
The Brocante de Merval is scheduled for the second weekend in July. Visitors to the brocante can receive a free breakfast; this offer may change. If you are planning your trip around the event, check the date for the relevant travel year before arranging your stay around it.
A timetable published in 2025 lists the “Merval Abri Eglise” stop on regular route 519. Before travelling, check whether the route operates on your chosen travel date.
The two options offer clearly different ways to plan your day: Saint-Martin features datable building phases and a specific ornamental detail, while Les Alleux is a longer outing with a stated distance, approximate duration and climbs. If you would like to include both in your stay, plan the route as a separate activity and take local conditions into account before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Cilly, Crézancy, Artonges, Bernot, Estrées, Mont-Saint-Jean, Achery, Pierrepont.
For the broader travel overview: Aisne.
