Nibas offers several ways to explore local history: the village of Nibas and the hamlet of Saucourt each have their own historical landmarks. Saucourt lies about two kilometres south of the village. It is home to a château and a chapel; local history also encompasses the Battle of Saucourt-en-Vimeu, a poem and the Croix de Saucourt.
Saucourt and its historic sites
The Château de Saucourt is in the hamlet of Saucourt, within the commune of Nibas, at 10 rue Madame-à -Saucourt. The Chapelle Saint-Louis de Saucourt is also in the hamlet, on rue Madame-à -Saucourt. These location details help place the two buildings within the commune. The medieval Croix de Saucourt has its own landmark: it was restored in 2009 near the junction of the RD 925 and the RD 48.
A brick château and a history of fire
The present-day Château de Saucourt is built entirely of brick. There is also a cautiously worded account of its past: the château is said to have been partially destroyed by fire in 1846. The brick construction describes the present-day building; the account of the fire refers to a possible event in the 19th century. The two details can therefore be considered separate aspects of the château’s history, without conflating them into a single building phase.
The Battle of 881 in history and memory
The Battle of Saucourt-en-Vimeu took place on 3 August 881 in the territory of what is now the commune of Nibas. A literary account of this event is the Ludwigslied, a poem written in Old High German. It celebrates Louis III’s victory on 3 August 881 near Saucourt-en-Vimeu. The Croix de Saucourt is associated in collective memory with the Battle of Saucourt in 881. The wider regional context also includes a remarkable group of more than 40 tufa-stone crosses scattered throughout the Vimeu. The battle, poem and cross thus offer different perspectives: a historical event, its literary commemoration and a local tradition of remembrance.
The chapel and church: further layers of history
The Chapelle Saint-Louis de Saucourt also has a long history. In 1319, the Abbey of Saint-Valery transferred the chapel to the Hôtel-Dieu d'Abbeville. By the mid-19th century it was in ruins; it was rebuilt in 1862. The medieval transfer of ownership and the later reconstruction mark clearly distinct stages. The chapel thus adds its own sequence of institutional and structural changes to the history of the château.
Another detail of Nibas’s history is the 18th-century eagle lectern, which forms part of the heritage furnishings of the Church of Saint-Valéry de Nibas. It offers a different thematic perspective from the château, chapel and Croix: here, the focus is on a single piece of church furnishings. Together, these sites show that the history of the commune is not limited to Saucourt or to a single event.
Plan around commemorative events
Commemorative events and historical reenactments help keep the memory of the Battle of Saucourt-en-Vimeu alive. If an event like this is important to your trip, check the specific dates in advance. These commemorations add another form of remembrance to the historic sites and traditions.
Discover more destinations: Quesnoy-Le-Montant, Argoules, Vironchaux, Le Crotoy, Cramont, Villers-Bretonneux, Rouy-le-Petit, Bouvaincourt-Sur-Bresle
For the broader travel overview: Somme.
