In Saint-Remy-En-Bouzemont-Saint-Genest-Et-Isson, a village church with works of art spanning several centuries meets a stage of the Via Francigena. The GR® 145 / VFF29 is 12 kilometres long and runs in one direction. The Ferme aux Grues observatory is another distinct attraction for anyone interested in cranes.
Church, Art and Local History
The Château de la Motte was built by Pierre de Joisel before 1568. The village church offers another glimpse into local history: its choir and transept date from the 16th century. It is dedicated to Saint Remi, the Bishop of Reims.
The church interior also offers several specific points of interest for a visit focused on cultural history. Two large 17th-century paintings depict different religious subjects: one is dedicated to Saint Remi, the church’s patron saint, and the other to the Virgin Mary. There is also a wooden statue of Saint Genest, created around 1300 and classified as a historic monument. Together, these works span the medieval period through to the 17th century.
Other architectural traces add their own character. A historic wayside cross on the departmental road towards Drosnay dates from the 16th century. There are also half-timbered buildings in Saint-Remy. The village therefore offers more than one point of interest when choosing a cultural itinerary: the church, château, wayside cross and half-timbered buildings represent different aspects of architectural and local history.
A Stage of the Via Francigena
The GR® 145 / VFF29 is the 29th stage of the Via Francigena in France. It runs from Saint-Remy-en-Bouzemont-Saint-Genest-et-Isson towards Outines, near Lac du Der. The stage is classified as an easy hike, is 12 kilometres long and is designed to be walked in one direction.
The one-way route is important when planning your day: take the start and finish into account rather than treating the route as a circular walk. The easy classification is part of the route description; it does not replace an assessment of your own hiking plans. Check the latest route information before setting out, as details may be updated. The village is in the Champagne humide, while this particular stage leads towards Outines.
Crane Watching at the Ferme aux Grues
The Ferme aux Grues is located in one of the most important feeding areas for cranes (Grus grus). Its observatory is permanently open to the public; admission is free of charge. This makes it a distinct nature-focused attraction, separate from the hike and the historical points of interest. If you plan to visit for birdwatching, check the latest access conditions beforehand, as they may change.
When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: would you like to explore the village and church history, or include the one-way hike? For the hike, the start and finish are part of the planning; for a visit to the village, the church, château and wayside cross offer different historical points of interest.
Discover more destinations: Suippes, Isle-Sur-Marne, Châtillon-Sur-Marne, Montmirail, Auménancourt, Tours-Sur-Marne, Le Gault-Soigny, Saint-Chéron.
For the main travel overview: Marne.
