Presles-Et-Boves brings together medieval architectural history, a pilgrimage chapel, a hiking route between the Aisne and Vesle valleys, and paddling routes in three lengths. These offer different options for choosing the focus of your trip: the Église and Notre-Dame des Boves represent architectural and religious history; “Le temps perdu” features caves and village panoramas; and Au Soleil de Picardie offers canoe, kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals. You can therefore shape your stay around the subject that interests you most.
Church, chapel and pilgrimage
The Église in Presles-Et-Boves dates from the 13th and 14th centuries and is classified as a historic monument. The protection is more narrowly defined than a blanket designation covering the entire building: it includes the 14th-century portal, while the nave is excluded. Two aspects should therefore be distinguished when considering its architectural history: the date of the Église and the more precisely defined scope of the protected section.
The Notre-Dame des Boves chapel was rebuilt in 1927 after its destruction during the First World War. It remains a stop on a Marian pilgrimage route. The chapel thus brings together two historical perspectives: its reconstruction after wartime destruction and a religious tradition that continues to this day.
Hiking route and landscape
The “Le temps perdu” hiking route passes through Presles-Et-Boves and runs between the Aisne and Vesle valleys. It offers views of the Boves caves near Notre-Dame-des-Boves and panoramic vistas of the surrounding villages. The hike therefore offers two distinct perspectives on the landscape: the caves as a tangible feature of the area, and the villages viewed from afar. Hikers who enjoy combining individual landscape features with an overview of the local settlements will find both perspectives on this route.
The Type 1 ZNIEFF “Le bois Morin et le Crochet de Chassemy” offers a different way of understanding the landscape. It covers part of the north of the commune and lies mostly within Chassemy, Brenelle and Presles-Et-Boves. Unlike the hiking route, which passes through Presles-Et-Boves, it places the town within an area spread across several communes.
Paddling routes in three lengths
Canoe, kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals are available at Au Soleil de Picardie in Presles-Et-Boves, near Vailly-sur-Aisne. Paddling routes of 10, 13 and 23 kilometers are offered. The distances are not evenly spaced: the gap between 10 and 13 kilometers is 3 kilometers, while the gap between 13 and 23 kilometers is 10. This lets you compare the options by route length; the longest option is a considerably bigger jump than the difference between the first two. Operating details may vary by season. Check which options are available for your visit before you go.
When choosing between the outdoor activities, different criteria come to the fore: on the hike, the caves and village panoramas are the defining landscape features; with the rental service, you can compare the three route lengths. You can make your choice based on the type of activity you want and, for paddling, also on the distance in kilometers.
Discover more destinations: Courmelles, Trélou-Sur-Marne, Housset, L'épine-Aux-Bois, Serches, Fossoy, Brunehamel, Wiège-Faty
For the broader travel overview: Aisne.
