Clérey offers two ways to discover the town: its historic centre, with its architectural and artistic works, and a landscape where gardens, wooded meadows and bodies of water provide habitats for a wide variety of wildlife and plant life. The Sentiers des Merlettes network of trails leads along paths and lanes through the town centre; themed information panels accompany the exploration. There are also several tangible landmarks from different centuries, from the Church of Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens, built in part in the 12th century, to the communal washhouse dating from 1857.

On foot through the historic centre

The Sentiers des Merlettes offer a clear starting point if you would like to explore Clérey on foot. The network of trails makes it possible to discover the historic centre along paths and lanes. Themed information panels complement the route and provide context for your exploration. This means the experience is not limited to a single building: the town centre itself and its pathways are also part of it. The information panels, in turn, introduce their own thematic highlights.

For travellers who would like to explore nature as well as local history, the landscape features are a distinct point of interest. Gardens, wooded meadows and bodies of water provide habitats for a wide variety of wild animals and plants. This focus on nature complements the architectural history with another way of appreciating the area, without requiring any particular species of animal or plant to take centre stage.

Church and artworks from different centuries

The Church of Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens was built in part in the 12th century and is Romanesque. Its sculptures date mainly from the 15th century. These dates refer to different elements: parts of the church date back further, while most of the sculptures belong to a later period. The church has been listed as a Monument historique since 1926.

Another artwork described in more detail is the listed Clérey altarpiece. This polychrome wooden altarpiece from the 15th century depicts the Nativity, the Presentation at the Temple and the Circumcision of Jesus Christ. “Polychrome” means multicoloured and describes the altarpiece’s decoration; the scenes listed specify its subject matter. The altarpiece has been classified as an object of historic monument status since 1894. The years 1926 and 1894 therefore refer to different protected items: the church on the one hand, and the altarpiece as an object on the other.

Washhouse and Villa Saint-Louis

Another local landmark is the communal washhouse between numbers 8 and 10 on Rue du Lac. It dates from 1857 and was restored in 2000. The construction and restoration dates mark two distinct points in its history. Its precise location between the two house numbers also makes the washhouse an easily identifiable spot in the townscape.

Villa Saint-Louis adds an even earlier historical reference: it originates from a former castle dating from the 13th century. This statement of origin refers to the former castle, not to the present-day villa as a whole. Together, the washhouse and villa illustrate the different ways Clérey’s historical connections are expressed: for one building, the construction and restoration dates are central; for the other, its origins in a medieval predecessor.

For the broader travel overview: Aube.