Church architecture, hiking trails and nature watching offer different ways to explore Mons-En-Laonnois. The Church of Saint Pierre et Paul can be visited by prior arrangement with the town hall. In addition, two hiking routes with distinct descriptions lead through wooded hills and to views of cave dwellings. Historical traces range from the remains of a former church to the once-important wine-growing activity.
Church architecture and historical traces
The Church of Saint Pierre et Paul was built at the same time as Laon Cathedral, in two successive construction phases. Its structure comprises a nave with two bays and two aisles, a wide transept and a strongly pronounced choir. An apse is flanked by two subsidiary apses, which open at an angle onto the choir. A bay is a section of an architectural layout; describing the nave as having two bays makes its division easier to picture. Together, the nave, transept, choir and apse form several clearly distinct spaces that can be appreciated in the architecture.
The church can be visited by prior arrangement with the town hall. Include this arrangement in your plans and confirm the visiting details in advance. Another architectural trace is the remains of the former Church of Saint Pierre aux Creuttes. Today, only the bases of the choir’s buttresses remain; the Fontaine Saint Pierre is located between them. Here, the focus is on the surviving parts of the former church building and the fountain, not on a fully preserved church interior.
Hiking and views
The GR12A long-distance trail passes through the wooded hills of Chété and Les Creuttes in Mons-En-Laonnois. The short Panorama des Creuttes circular trail has a different stated focus: part of its route follows the Chemin des Creuttes and offers views of old troglodytic dwellings in cliffs and rock outcrops. The trails can be distinguished by these landmarks: the wooded hills on the GR12A, and the named section of trail and views of cave dwellings on the Panorama des Creuttes. Before planning your route, check seasonal conditions and access regulations for the GR12A locally.
Visits and nature watching
The Fort de SERE de RIVIERE may also be worth considering when planning a visit. ARSAM organizes tours there for schools, during the Journées du Patrimoine and for visitor groups. If you are considering a group visit, confirm the specific arrangements before your trip. The visiting conditions therefore differ from those for the Church of Saint Pierre et Paul, which requires prior arrangement with the town hall.
Green and brown frogs have been observed at the Mare de la Canotte. The survey of aquatic fauna is incomplete. The pond was restored in 2005 and has a wide variety of aquatic, marsh and land plants. A survey recorded about 15 plant species; this figure is approximate, and observations may be incomplete. For nature enthusiasts, the site brings together plant diversity and frog observations, without claiming to provide a complete species list.
Wine-growing in local history
The history of wine-growing is also part of the local discoveries. Wine-growing is documented as far back as 985 and was once the main activity of the Montois. This former importance adds a historical perspective on life in Mons-En-Laonnois to the themes of churches and landscapes. It offers cultural context for choosing the destination, while the church, trails and nature watching provide other specific focuses for a stay.
Discover more destinations: RĂ©signy, Laon, Coincy, Boncourt, La Neuville-Housset, Saint-Paul-Aux-Bois, Sainte-Preuve, La Fere.
For the wider travel overview: Aisne.
