The Matz flows through Roye-Sur-Matz and has four springs. One of them is in the La Babillarde municipal park. Together with the municipality’s three marsh areas, the water forms an essential part of the local landscape. The history of its buildings also offers points of interest, from the medieval Château des Granges to the Church of Saint Martin, whose construction and restoration span different periods. Roye-Sur-Matz is therefore a destination for travellers interested in both the landscape and local history.
The Matz, its springs and marshes
The spring in La Babillarde municipal park places one of the Matz’s four sources right in Roye-Sur-Matz. The municipality also has three marsh areas. Grand Marais has been developed as a recreation area. The river, springs and marshes offer several aspects of the landscape, rather than limiting it to a single stretch of riverbank.
For walks, the Circuit des Bois de Roye trail has a specific starting point: it begins in Roye-Sur-Matz, at the car park opposite the Château des Granges. From there, it crosses the upper Matz Valley and passes through a variety of natural environments, including damp valley floors and sandy heights. The change between these landscape types is a feature of the route. The accompanying trail guide was updated in January 2018; check current access and parking conditions before your visit.
Another option for a walk is the stretch of Matz riverbanks between Canny-sur-Matz and Laberlière, which is open to walkers. While the Circuit des Bois de Roye passes through the upper Matz Valley and a variety of natural environments, the riverbank information refers to the stretch between these two places. Check current access conditions before visiting.
Medieval history and building phases
In the 12th century, the Château des Granges served as a monastic tithe barn. Tithes from the areas of Roye-Sur-Matz and Laberlière were stored there. The history of the Ferme des Granges has its own timeline: from 1297 to 1656, it was under the control of Saint-Corneille Abbey. It then came under Val-de-Grâce Abbey until the French Revolution. These two accounts offer insight into different aspects of the area’s past: the storage of tithes and the dependence of an agricultural estate on two abbeys.
The Church of Saint Martin also has a long building history. It was built in two phases between 1150 and 1180. The fighting in 1918 almost completely destroyed it; afterwards, it was restored with great care. For those interested in architecture, the church brings together its medieval origins and the history of its destruction and reconstruction.
Surviving traces of the railway
The town’s history also includes surviving railway buildings. The buildings of the former Roye-Sur-Matz station are still standing, as is the former level-crossing keeper’s house. Both are reminders of the former railway infrastructure; they are surviving buildings, not evidence of current railway operations.
When choosing a destination, you can focus on different interests: walks and the landscape of the Matz Valley, or the history of the château, farm and church. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Roye-Sur-Matz, you can choose the town based on these interests and plan walks and architectural history as themes for your stay.
Discover more destinations: Venette, Le Hamel, Brasseuse, Saint-Étienne-Roilaye, Clermont, Rousseloy, Bouillancy, La Neuville-Roy.
For the regional travel overview: Oise.
