Courgenay: Cultural History and Hotels
Accommodation in Courgenay
Explore Courgenay through cultural sites from different eras: from a Neolithic polishing stone to Vauluisant Abbey and the 19th-century church. If you are looking for a hotel in Courgenay, these themes provide a cultural context for your stay. Monastic history, church architecture and a hiking route offer different points of interest, which you can choose according to your interests.
Vauluisant Abbey and its grounds
Vauluisant Abbey was founded in 1127 by Cistercian monks from Preuilly (Égligny). The monks’ origins are part of the abbey’s founding history. The French Revolution brought the abbey’s permanent closure. Its surviving buildings have been protected as historic monuments since 1930. Its foundation, permanent closure and the later protection of its surviving buildings mark distinct historical milestones.
The Parc de l’Abbaye de Vauluisant covers about nine hectares and is designated an archaeological reserve because it contains the abbey’s foundations. The Alain River and part of the former Cistercian water system run through the park. The site can therefore be understood both through its archaeological significance and its landscape and historic water management.
Courgenay Church: construction and furnishings
Courgenay Church was built between 1854 and 1856 on the site of an earlier church. The tower of the earlier church dated from the Romanesque period. This means that two building phases must be distinguished: the 19th-century church and the church’s earlier history, which includes the Romanesque tower. The site connects these dates, but the construction period and the tower’s origins should not be conflated.
The church contains two crucifixes dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. The windows in the choir and the front section of the side aisles were created by Jean-François Comment between 1965 and 1967. The furnishings thus bring together works from different periods: the crucifixes from earlier centuries and the much later windows. Courgenay’s cultural heritage can therefore be viewed not only through its architectural history but also through artworks from different eras.
A Neolithic monument
La pierre aux 9 coups is a polishing stone that was used in the Neolithic period. It has been classified as a historic monument since 1889. The date of its use and its later classification refer to different aspects of its history. Chronologically, the polishing stone predates Vauluisant Abbey, founded in 1127: the two dates refer to different eras and distinct historical events. The cultural sites on offer thus range from evidence of prehistoric use to the medieval founding of a monastery.
Hiking the La Singerie route
The marked La Singerie route is an 8.5-kilometre hiking option. It starts in Courgenay, in the area in front of the town hall or by the swimming pool. Check local trail conditions before setting out. La Singerie is also the name of a former barn belonging to Vauluisant Abbey. The route and the barn offer different points of connection: one for planning a hike, the other for exploring the abbey’s history.
For an overview of the wider destination: Yonne.
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