Accommodation and remembrance

The Gîte de Viel-Arcy is located at the foot of the Chemin des Dames, a place of remembrance associated with the First World War. Check the gîte’s current availability for your travel dates. The Church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul and its artworks offer another way to explore the history of the village.

A specific date adds another perspective on Viel-Arcy: Georges Ach died in the village on 27 May 1918. The Chemin des Dames is a named place of remembrance; the date of Georges Ach’s death places a death in the commune at a specific time. These details offer different perspectives on the history of the First World War.

Church and landscape

The Church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul was a former Benedictine priory and is a parish church. The church and the former communal cemetery are listed as historic monuments; both are located at the foot of a slope on the left bank of the Aisne. The listing applies to both sites, while the parish function applies only to the church. This makes it possible to consider their religious role, listed status and riverside location separately.

Sculptures and baptismal font

The Pietà depicts the Virgin Mary holding the body of Christ. The statue is carved from oak and painted in polychrome. The subject identifies the scene depicted, while the oak and multicoloured finish describe its specific execution. This makes it possible to distinguish the work’s religious subject from its material.

The carved statue of Saint Sebastian is made of several pieces of wood; it is polished and painted in polychrome, and is located in the south transept. It dates from the first half of the 16th century. On 9 February 2005, it was registered as movable cultural property. The date of origin and the date of registration refer to different things: the sculpture’s age and its later registration. The two works also differ in their execution: the Pietà is carved from oak, while the statue of Saint Sebastian is made from several pieces of wood.

The baptismal font is located in the north aisle. It consists of a round limestone basin with a lid and dates from the 12th century. It is considered contemporary with the oldest parts of the church. This places the font earlier than the statue of Saint Sebastian; the two details also distinguish between an association with the oldest parts of the church and the dating of a single work of art.

Ange au pilori is a carved, polychrome-painted wooden statue in the church. It was also registered as movable cultural property on 9 February 2005. Check on site whether the statue is currently on display. If you are specifically looking for the works in the transept or aisle, also check access to the church before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Mercin-Et-Vaux, Soissons, Holnon, Grandrieux, Chierry, Mons-En-Laonnois, Fère-En-Tardenois, Rozoy-Sur-Serre

For the broader travel overview: Aisne.