Saint-Thibault can be explored through two distinct themes: the ecclesiastical heritage of the Eglise Saint-Thibault and Le Chemin des écoliers, a 10.3-kilometre circular hiking trail. The route first follows the Hozain and then leads to Saint-Thibault. This brings together cultural history, with specific works of art, and a clearly measured walking route. If you are planning a stay, you can use both themes as a guide: decide whether your focus is more on the historic village or on a longer walk.

Ecclesiastical heritage and art

There are 16 protected objects listed for the Eglise Saint-Thibault. The church portal has been included in the register of historic monuments since 28 July 1928. The church was formerly a subsidiary church of Isle-Aumont. The works of art associated with it include a stone statue of a Christ de pitié, which retains traces of its polychromy. An equestrian depiction of Saint Thibault with a greyhound and a falcon dates from the 16th century. Together, these details offer several points of entry for exploring cultural history: protected status, former ecclesiastical affiliation and religious art. The former cemetery around the church has since been replaced by a car park; this change may be useful when finding your way around the building.

Walking along the Hozain

Le Chemin des écoliers is a 10.3-kilometre walking trail in the form of a loop. It is offered as a family hiking trail by the municipalities of Isle-Aumont, Les Bordes-Aumont and Saint-Thibault. The route first follows the Hozain and then leads to Saint-Thibault. It connects Saint-Thibault and Isle-Aumont. This gives you several clear features to consider when choosing a walking route: its length, loop format and classification as a family hiking trail. The course of the river and the link between the two municipalities add details about the route itself. This makes it possible to include Le Chemin des écoliers in your trip plans as a walking option in its own right, rather than viewing it merely as an additional sight beside the church.

Plain and village character

Saint-Thibault lies in a fertile plain on the banks of the Hozain, a tributary of the Seine. The municipality has retained its agricultural and green character. This adds the landscape setting to the route description: the Hozain is a point of reference both for the course of Le Chemin des écoliers and for the village’s location. The plain, riverbanks and agricultural character thus offer a different side of Saint-Thibault from the church’s historical associations. When deciding which theme you would like to spend more time on, you can choose between a specific cultural subject and the landscape of the Hozain.

Local history and cultural gatherings

The first mention of Saint-Thibault dates from 1097, when the place was called Sanctus Theobaldus. This historical name gives the village’s history a clear point of reference in time. The Rencontres Théobaldiennes are among its cultural gatherings. They are organised each year in a different town to preserve the heritage of Saint-Thibault and open the municipality to European culture. The venue changes from year to year, so it needs to be factored into travel plans differently from the village’s historical and landscape themes. If the Rencontres are relevant to your trip, check the specific event dates before making plans.

Discover more destinations: Voves, Dosnon, Estissac, Les Riceys, Saint-André-Les-Vergers, Lavau, Vosnon, Saint-Benoît-Sur-Seine.

For the regional travel overview: Aube.