Saint-Parres-aux-Tertres brings together cultural and seasonal themes: the architecture and stained-glass windows of the Église Saint-Parres, the history of the tileworks and the Fête de la Nature towards the end of May. This offers different points of interest for planning a trip, from sacred architecture and industrial history to playful environmental activities. Which aspect you focus on depends on whether you are more interested in historical details or a seasonal nature programme.
The Église Saint-Parres: architecture and stained-glass windows
The Église Saint-Parres is a hall church with an elongated floor plan. Its nave has three aisles and five bays; the choir has one straight bay and a three-sided apse. A bay is a section of the church interior; the aisles divide the nave lengthwise into several areas. This makes it possible to follow the sequence of spaces from the three-aisled nave to the choir. By decree of 26 March 1942, the church was classified as a historic monument.
Much of the original stained glass dates mainly from the beginning and the second third of the 16th century. The windows have largely been preserved, but the collection is incomplete. The architecture and stained glass tell their stories in different ways: the floor plan shows how the space is arranged, while the windows point to two periods of the 16th century and to a collection that has not been fully preserved.
Tileworks, chapel and château
The tileworks was built in 1827 on the site of former lime kilns. The Chapelle de la Tuilerie was established in 1894 in one of the tileworks buildings. The sequence of dates therefore runs from the construction of the tileworks to the later chapel. A small crypt can be accessed from the chapel. It contains a Deposition, created by the school of the Sainterie in Vandœuvre. The buildings link the tileworks and chapel; the Deposition in the crypt adds a distinct artistic detail.
The château also has historical significance: by decree of 2 November 1979, the façades and roofs of the château and its outbuildings were listed as historic monuments.
A nature event or a landscape panorama
The Fête de la Nature is now a regular event towards the end of May. Its programme includes playful environmental activities about trees, animals and small creatures. If you would like to plan your trip around the event, check the specific dates for that year’s edition in advance.
The Route du Balcon du Parc offers a different way to enjoy nature. As you leave Saint-Parres-aux-Tertres in the direction of Laubressel, you reach the route, from where you can take in a green and blue panorama. The FĂŞte focuses on activities about specific aspects of nature, while the route offers a view of the landscape.
Location and directions
The location relative to Troyes is a practical consideration when choosing where to stay: Saint-Parres-aux-Tertres is about 4 km from the city centre. Two approximate motorway journey times offer further points of reference. The town is about 10 minutes from exit 21, Saint-Thibault, on the A5 from Paris, and about 5 minutes from exit 23, Thennelières, on the A26 route from Calais to Troyes. The two figures refer to different exits and routes; take this into account when choosing the route you plan to travel.
Praliné made locally
Maison Caffet operates a chocolate and pastry shop specialising in praliné in Saint-Parres-aux-Tertres. Check the opening details before your visit if you would like to include this stop in your plans.
Discover more destinations: Traînel, La Villeneuve-au-Châtelot, Landreville, Villeret, Saint-Pouange, Arcis-Sur-Aube, Joncreuil, Isle-Aumont
For the regional travel overview: Aube.
