Laferté-sur-Aube offers a clear introduction through its architectural history: the market halls and Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine are associated with different construction and protection dates. There is also a long-distance hiking trail that passes through the town, nature-related attractions at Bois de Barrat, and fishing opportunities on the Aube. This makes it easy to tailor your stay to culture, outdoor activities or river fishing.
Market halls and church: two architectural histories
The market halls are a covered market; their main construction phase dates to 1836. Their façades and roofs have been partially protected as historic monuments since 29 October 1975. When interpreting these dates, it is important to distinguish between the construction phase and the protection date: 1836 refers to the main construction phase, while 1975 marks the start of partial protection for the specified parts of the building. The building type and limited scope of protection give the market hall a distinctive architectural profile.
The documented construction phases of Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine span the years 1772, 1778 and 1848. François-Nicolas Lancret is named as its architect. The church is listed as a historic monument and has been protected since 19 November 1990. Its architectural history can therefore be viewed through several dates, while a single main construction phase is given for the market halls. The protection dates also differ from the construction years: for the church, 1990 marks the start of historic monument protection, not a construction phase.
Hiking, nature and fishing
The GR Jeanne d’Arc long-distance hiking trail passes through Laferté-sur-Aube and is busy in summer. If you plan to take this route, check the current trail markings locally.
At Bois de Barrat, other nature-related themes take centre stage. An objective dated June 2014 highlights its botanical, entomological and ornithological importance—that is, its plant life, insects and birds. The same objective states that an area of 91.19 ha in Le Bois de Barrat, in Laferté-sur-Aube and Ville-sous-la-Ferté, is affected by the ZPS; both municipalities are among those affected. This offers a distinct way to explore the area alongside its buildings, with nature at the heart of the experience.
A 5.8 km stretch of the Aube’s banks is open to fishing, and the river is classified as a first-category waterway. The local anglers’ association, AAPPMA Laferté-sur-Aube, lists the Aube as a fishing location. The length, access and classification are useful points of reference when planning a fishing trip, but they are also operational details: confirm the applicable rules and that fishing is permitted before you go. These details refer to different things—the number of kilometres indicates the length of bank open to fishing, while the category indicates the river’s classification.
Markets and planning your stay
The Laferté-sur-Aube festival committee organises various markets for artists, craftspeople and producers throughout the year, as well as an annual flea market. These events complement the architectural and nature-related attractions with a range of different themes. If a market or the flea market is important to your trip, plan around the date of the event in question.
A simple distinction can help you choose what to focus on during your stay: the market halls and church offer specific construction and protection dates; the GR Jeanne d’Arc is a long-distance hiking trail through the municipality; and Bois de Barrat focuses on plants, insects and birds. The Aube offers a different perspective for anglers, while the markets require planning around an event date. You can first decide whether architecture, nature, hiking, fishing or a market matters most, then take the relevant information into account.
Discover more destinations: Longeau-Percey, Villars-Santenoge, Ceffonds, Neuilly-l’Évêque, Chatoillenot, Thonnance-lès-Joinville, Nogent, Trémilly.
For an overview of the wider region: Haute-Marne.
