For a stay in Laval, three specific themes can help guide you: the Église Sainte-Madeleine, the Parc pédagogique Alain Thirion and the “La papeterie dans les Vosges” audio trail. They represent sacred architecture, a self-guided garden visit and a view of the site of the paper mills in Laval-sur-Vologne. This lets you choose the focus of your trip according to your interests: architectural and furnishing history, gardens or the paper industry.
Church architecture and historic furnishings
The Église Sainte-Madeleine was built around 1875 in Laval-sur-Vologne. It is a Neo-Romanesque building made of pink sandstone, with a tower 23 metres high. Its style, material and dimensions give the building a distinct architectural character. Its surviving furnishings include a gallery organ dating from 1864, a work by Manufacture Abbey. Its date predates the church’s construction and makes it a distinct historical detail alongside the architecture and tower. The church therefore offers different points of interest: its Neo-Romanesque design, pink stone and a dated instrument. The Église Sainte-Madeleine is being restored. If you are planning a visit, check current access arrangements beforehand.
A public garden in a former château park
The Parc pédagogique Alain Thirion covers 12,000 m² in the former château park in Laval-sur-Vologne and opened in 2023. It is designated as a public garden; individual visits are self-guided. The park also has a children’s play area. Unlike the church, the focus here is not on a single building and its furnishings, but on a garden that you can explore independently. The figure of 12,000 m² gives an idea of the park’s scale, while its setting in a former château park describes its historical context. This makes the garden a distinct option if you would like to plan an outdoor visit as well as exploring architecture. As access arrangements and facilities may change, check the current conditions before your visit.
Paper history as an audio trail
“La papeterie dans les Vosges” is an audio trail in Laval-sur-Vologne that offers a view of the paper-mill site. It gives the paper industry a concrete connection to the area: the audio trail draws attention to the factory site rather than to church architecture or garden design. Its format also differs from the other two themes, as the trail guides you in exploring the site. For travellers interested in the industrial history of paper production, it offers a distinct perspective alongside the church’s historic furnishings and a self-guided garden visit. The three themes therefore differ not only in content, but also in what they draw your attention to.
Choose a focus for your stay
When planning your trip, it helps to first weigh up your own interests: the Église Sainte-Madeleine combines Neo-Romanesque architecture with its surviving furnishings; the Parc pédagogique Alain Thirion offers a self-guided garden visit with a children’s play area; and the audio trail draws attention to the paper-mill site. These differences provide a practical basis for choosing the focus of your trip, without requiring all the themes to be equally important.
Discover more destinations: Denipaire, Raon-L'étape, Housseras, Autigny-La-Tour, Ferdrupt, Granges-Sur-Vologne, Golbey, Dombasle-Devant-Darney.
For the wider travel overview: Vosges.
