Ostel brings together the history of reconstruction and memorial sites from the First World War. The village was completely destroyed in 1917 and rebuilt on the same site from 1922. The parish church and municipal buildings represent different architectural aspects of this history; the cemetery and monuments provide their own focal points for remembrance. The village can thus be explored through its architecture, history, and memorial sites.

Village History and Reconstruction

In the village centre, the parish church of Saint-Glorieux et Saint-Blaise d'Ostel was rebuilt after its destruction in the First World War; it was completed at the end of 1931. Its floor plan is elongated, has no transept, and includes a nave with two bays. The nave is the lengthwise part of the church interior; a bay is one section of it. Two-bay means that the nave is divided into two such sections.

Ostel's municipal buildings form a cohesive ensemble that bears witness to reconstruction efforts. Unlike the church as a standalone building, the emphasis here is on several interconnected buildings. This distinction brings out the history of reconstruction both in the individual religious building and in the ensemble. For geographical context: Ostel is laid out along a single main street, with detached houses.

Cemetery and Monuments

Coming from the direction of Braye-en-Laonnois, the present-day cemetery is at the entrance to the village. It contains the graves of 19 French soldiers who fell in the First World War, as well as numerous family vaults from the 19th century. This brings out two distinct historical connections of the cemetery: the 19th-century family vaults and remembrance of the soldiers who fell in the war.

Ostel's war memorial was inaugurated on 30 September 1924; it is an obelisk made of grey granite.

The Monument aux morts des Aviateurs differs in shape from the war memorial's obelisk: it is a rectangular masonry stele made of dressed rubble stone, with a dressed-stone slab decorated with a martyr's palm. It was erected in 1921 in honour of Marcel Vernes, observer, and Jean Peinaud, pilot of the 7th squadron. Both were killed over Ostel on 24 March 1917. The two dates refer to different things: 1921 is the year the monument was built, while 1917 is the year the two airmen lost their lives. The monument stands outside the village on the road to Vailly-sur-Aisne.

For orientation: the church is in the village centre, the cemetery is at the entrance to the village from the direction of Braye-en-Laonnois, and the aviators' monument is outside the village on the road to Vailly-sur-Aisne.

Ostel on a Hike

The Les Roches de l'Abondin hike runs from Vailly-sur-Aisne via Ostel and back to Vailly-sur-Aisne, and includes the aviators' monument. It connects the route through Ostel with a clearly identified destination outside the village. The hike starts and ends in Vailly-sur-Aisne; Ostel is one stop on the circular route. The route is 10 km long and takes about three hours. This approximate duration is a guide for planning; check the route details before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Pontavert, Clermont-Les-Fermes, Noyant-Et-Aconin, Rosay, Marchais, Paissy, Chaourse, Ugny-Le-Gay

For the broader travel overview: Aisne.