Saint-Laurent’s local attractions range from architectural history to a wildlife park and a long route for walking and cycling. The Église Saint-Laurent stands in the town centre, the Parc animalier de Charleville-Mézières extends along the edge of Saint-Laurent and Aiglemont, and the Voie Verte Trans-Ardennes passes through the town. These differences can help you plan your trip: you can focus on architecture, nature and the wildlife park, or outdoor activities, and compare the relevant details.

Nature and outdoor activities

The Parc animalier de Charleville-Mézières covers 34 hectares. Its scale is quite different from that of the church in the town centre: here, the focus is an extensive wildlife park, while there, it is a single building. If you want to include nature and wildlife park visits alongside culture when planning your trip, these two attractions offer a clear contrast.

The Voie Verte Trans-Ardennes is 130.5 kilometres long and passes through Saint-Laurent. It is classed as easy and is accessible on foot and by bicycle. So it is not limited to one way of getting around; you can enjoy the route on foot or by bike. Following the Meuse along a former towpath, it passes through gentle countryside, picturesque landscapes, deep valleys, forests and rocky terrain. These varied landscapes give the route a different character from a visit to a single building, while its passage through Saint-Laurent establishes a direct connection to the town.

The Église Saint-Laurent

The Église Saint-Laurent in the town centre dates from the 12th century; its choir and bell tower were built around 1200. This combines the general dating of the building with the more precise dating of two of its parts. The roof shapes also differ: the nave and choir have roofs with long roof slopes, the apse has a polygonal hipped roof, and the bell tower has a square spire. The church is entirely roofed with slate.

The individual building materials are also worth distinguishing. The church is built of limestone rubble, with dressed-stone quoins at the corners. Exposed stonework is used inside. The building can therefore be understood through more than just its age: the roof, masonry, corner detailing and interior each offer their own architectural features. For travellers interested in architectural history, the church provides several specific points of interest, from its date to its choice of materials.

A delightful stop

For a culinary highlight, the Maison des Produits du Terroir in Saint-Laurent invites you to stop by. There, you can discover and taste its products. This adds an opportunity to explore the house’s products to the themes of architecture and outdoor activities. Before you travel, check whether visits are currently available and which products are on offer.

Discover more destinations: Nouart, Tournavaux, Boult-Aux-Bois, Olizy-Primat, Saint-Étienne-à-Arnes, Canton of Signy-L'abbaye, Glaire, Rocquigny.

Return to the main travel overview: Ardennes.