Saint-Michel brings together cultural and natural attractions that are clearly distinct. The Abbaye de Saint-Michel-en-Thiérache focuses on Benedictine history, architecture and art; the Forêt de Saint-Michel offers forest, river and various types of paths. There is also the Festival de l'abbaye, featuring early and Baroque music on five Sundays at the beginning of summer. You can choose the focus of your trip according to whether you are mainly interested in the abbey, the forest or a music programme. Combining these themes is also possible: architecture and frescoes offer a different emphasis from the river, forest and paths.
Abbey, Church and Museum
The Abbaye de Saint-Michel-en-Thiérache is a Benedictine abbey founded in 945. Its abbey church has an Italian-influenced Baroque façade dating from the 17th century. The Romanesque cloister contains six frescoes depicting the life of Saint Benedict. The abbey complex therefore offers an architectural contrast: the Baroque façade and Romanesque cloister belong to different styles, while the frescoes depict the site's religious significance. The former Benedictine abbey of Saint-Michel-en-Thiérache is classified as a historic monument.
The Musée de la vie rurale et forestière is located in the farm outbuildings on the abbey grounds. Since 17 September 2003, it has held the designation “Musée de France.” Its theme—rural and forestry life—offers another perspective alongside architectural and religious history. You can distinguish between the areas of interest: the abbey represents its founding history, architectural styles and frescoes, while the museum focuses on rural and forestry life.
Forest, River and Paths
The Forêt de Saint-Michel has protected status under ZNIEFF, ZICO, Natura 2000 and ZPS. The Artoise flows through the forest; it was awarded the “Rivière sauvage” designation for the purity of its water and the diversity of its fauna. The forest and river offer different points of interest: the forest is notable for its protected designations, while the Artoise is recognised for the reasons given for its award. This gives you two specific natural attractions that cannot be reduced to the same characteristic.
Activities in the Forêt include historic circular trails as well as horse-riding and hiking paths. The “La forêt de Saint-Michel” route is also a walking hike that starts in Saint-Michel. You can therefore choose between the wider range of path types and this specific route, which has a defined starting point.
Baroque Music in Early Summer
The Festival de l'abbaye de Saint-Michel is a festival of early and Baroque music. It takes place over five full Sundays between June and July, at the beginning of summer. If music is what will decide your plans, check the event dates for your travel period and plan around one of the festival Sundays. This sets this travel option apart from the location-based themes of the abbey and the Forêt: a festival visit depends on specific dates, while the architecture, museum theme and forest landscape offer other areas of interest. For your stay, you can therefore first decide whether to choose a date around the music or to make culture and nature your main focus independently of the festival.
Discover more destinations: Bruyères-Et-Montbérault, Montigny-L'allier, Moussy-Verneuil, Archon, Viel-Arcy, Artonges, Orval, Bernot
For the main travel overview: Aisne.
