Vendresse-Beaulne offers several ways to explore local history: Saint-Remi Church with its clearly articulated architecture, the Vendresse British Cemetery, memorial sites in Chivy, and the remains of the hamlet of Troyon. This cultural heritage is complemented by a hike between expansive plateaus and woodland. Travellers interested in history and landscapes can therefore find different focal points for their stay.
Saint-Remi: design and reconstruction
Saint-Remi Church has a Latin-cross ground plan. Its layout includes a narthex, a nave with three bays, a slightly projecting transept and a straight-ended choir. The narthex is at the entrance; the nave forms the main longitudinal space. Its three bays divide this space into sections. The transept forms a cross arm but projects only slightly. The choir has a straight end rather than a polygonal one. These architectural features make the ground plan easy to understand, even for visitors who are not otherwise familiar with church architecture.
The history of Saint-Remi includes a major turning point: the former medieval church in Vendresse was completely destroyed at the end of the First World War. Reconstruction work on the church resumed in May 1938. The destruction and resumption of work mark different stages in its history; the ground plan and the wartime destruction can therefore be considered as two distinct topics.
Memorial sites and former hamlets
The Vendresse British Cemetery offers another way to explore the area’s history. The remains of 728 British soldiers are buried there. If you need an exact count, check it against current cemetery records. The cemetery is on the D967 between Vendresse-Beaulne and Cerny-en-Laonnois. It is freely accessible from sunrise to sunset. Check the latest access and location information before travelling.
Chivy, a hamlet belonging to the municipality of Vendresse-Beaulne, was not rebuilt. The Saint-Pierre Chapel, built in 1927, commemorates the residents of the former hamlet. Traces of the fighting that devastated the area have also been preserved at the chapel site. Here, remembrance of the former residents and visible traces of the fighting come together in one place.
Troyon was also not rebuilt. The remains of the hamlet include a cemetery and a farm. Compared with Chivy, the history is evident here in a different form: in Chivy, the memorial chapel is the focal point, while in Troyon the cemetery and farm are identified as remains of the hamlet. The washhouse, set apart in the valley, also bears a memorial plaque.
Hiking between plateaus and woodland
Those more interested in the landscape can consider the hike “Towards the creuttes of Moulins”. It starts at La Malbatie in Vendresse-Beaulne, follows one section each of the GR 142 and GR 12 long-distance trails, and links expansive plateaus with woodland. Unlike the individual buildings and memorial sites, this route focuses on the transition between open high ground and woodland. The route information was updated on 18 February 2025; check the trail details again before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Cuiry-Lès-Chaudardes, Jeantes, Neuville-Sur-Ailette, Samoussy, Chaourse, Villers-Cotterêts, Saint-Pierre-De-Franqueville, Autreppes.
For the broader travel overview: Aisne.
