Ville-sous-la-Ferté is the final stop on the Côte des Bar tourist route; the Clairvaux Abbey is located there. This gives the town a clear historical focus, but not the only one: the Écomusée du mètre en bois is dedicated to the making of wooden measuring sticks, and an easy walking trail leads to the Fontaine Saint-Bernard. This gives you three distinct interests to consider when planning your trip: the history of the abbey and prison, local crafts, and a trail to a specific destination.
Clairvaux: Abbey, prison and written heritage
Clairvaux can be explored as a place with several historical layers. Napoleon bought Clairvaux in 1808 to turn the complex into a large prison; the buildings housed prisoners until 1971. The abbey and prison grounds cover almost 30 hectares, while the buildings have a floor area of 30,000 m². These figures describe different sizes: the grounds and the floor area of the buildings. Thirty-six buildings dating from the 12th to the 18th century are protected as historic monuments; prison heritage from the 20th and 21st centuries has also been preserved. The history thus spans abbey buildings, their use as a prison, and more recent surviving traces.
More than 1,000 manuscripts are associated with Clairvaux; in 2009, they were added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World programme. This written heritage complements the architectural and institutional perspectives, offering another way to explore the site’s history.
Guided tours and current access
Clairvaux’s cultural and heritage programme includes guided tours, conferences and concerts. As the programme may change, check the current schedule before your trip.
The tour of the “Quartier disciplinaire” explores the development and organisation of prison discipline through the “Quartier d’Isolement Quartier Disciplinaire”. The extended “Abbaye et Quartier disciplinaire” tour combines a general tour of the abbey with a guided tour of the disciplinary quarter. The distinction can help you choose: the standalone tour focuses on prison discipline, while the extended tour combines this focus with a general tour of the abbey.
Since January 2024, the Grand Cloître has been inaccessible due to restoration work; a new visitor route is therefore being offered. Check which route is currently available before your visit.
Local crafts and a walking trail
The Écomusée du mètre en bois showcases Ville-sous-la-Ferté’s local heritage of making wooden measuring sticks. It focuses on a local craft rather than the changing uses of the Clairvaux complex. If you would like a different cultural focus alongside the history of the abbey and prison, the museum puts the making of wooden measuring sticks centre stage. This offers a choice of two distinct themes: the historic complex and its prison heritage on the one hand, and local production on the other.
An easy, 3.3-kilometre walking trail leads to the Fontaine Saint-Bernard in Ville-sous-la-Ferté. This provides a specific route to a named destination in addition to the cultural offerings. Check trail conditions before setting off. You can make the route a focus of its own when planning your trip if you would like to complement your visit to the historic site with a walk.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Maisons-Lès-Chaource, Gyé-Sur-Seine, Joncreuil, La Villeneuve-au-Châtelot, Brienne-Le-Château, Racines, Villenauxe-La-Grande, Briel-Sur-Barse
Return to the main travel overview: Aube.
