Saint-Imoges lies in a forest clearing on the plateau of the Montagne de Reims. Local points of interest range from the Notre-Dame-du-Chêne church and memorial sites to the heritage of the terracotta industry and the forest landscape. When planning a stay, you can focus on different themes: church history, remembrance of the First World War, industrial heritage or walks.
Church and memorial sites
The parish church of Notre-Dame-du-Chêne was built in 1508 on the ruins of an earlier church. Inside the church is a statue of the Miraculous Virgin dating from the 13th century. It was discovered in a niche carved into the trunk of an oak tree. The carillon, created in 1842, is considered unique in Champagne-Ardenne and is listed as a historic monument. The statue, church building and carillon thus offer three distinct historical points of interest.
One of the church windows depicts portraits of nine local soldiers who died in the First World War between 1914 and 1918. The burial sites also record specific numbers: the British military cemetery in the municipal cemetery contains 77 graves of British soldiers, including that of an unknown soldier. Immediately beside it are the graves of 21 French soldiers killed during the same period.
Terracotta industry and habitats
The Briqueterie du Vertin is a historic terracotta industry site in the forests of Saint-Imoges; it was founded in 1869. A Hoffmann kiln and a brick chimney are still visible on the site. If you plan to visit these industrial remains, check in advance whether they are currently visible.
Deciduous forests, wetlands, ponds, areas of scrub and hay meadows have developed on the same site. This means that structures bearing witness to the area’s industrial history stand alongside a variety of habitats. The site can therefore be explored both for its terracotta industry and its landscape.
Forest and historic landscape
The Chêne à la Vierge state forest near Saint-Imoges has been awarded the “Forêt d’Exception” designation. Tree-lined avenues, marked trails and botanical educational paths invite visitors to go for a walk. The botanical paths offer a different focus from the avenues and marked trails, combining a walk with botanical interpretation.
The Château de Vernay site lies in the forest between Germaine and Saint-Imoges. The water-filled moats and the island where the former castle stood are still visible. These landscape features give the site a different historical association from the church and the industrial site.
Walks for different time commitments
The “Circuit à la Recherche du temps passé” circular trail starts at Place Notre-Dame-du-Chêne. It is 1.8 kilometres long and takes about 30 minutes to walk. A free app called “Le Secret du chêne à la vierge” describes a 3.6-kilometre route that takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
The app route is about twice as long and takes roughly three times as long to walk as the circular trail. These time estimates can help you fit a walk into your day. Check the route details before setting off, and check that the app is available before planning to use it.
Getting there and finding your way
The RD951 runs close to Saint-Imoges and is a road reference point for getting there. There is a motorhome stop on Rue de la briqueterie. If you plan to use it, check its current availability in advance.
When choosing where to stay, you can consider the town’s different points of interest alongside the time needed for your planned walks. This can help you decide whether you would prefer to focus on church and memorial history, the terracotta industry or the forest trails.
Discover more destinations: Vienne-Le-Château, Hautvillers, Morsains, Maffrécourt, La Chaussée-Sur-Marne, Crugny, Bussy-Le-Château, Arcis-le-Ponsart.
For the broader travel overview: Marne.
