Bréviandes: River Landscape and Local History

Bréviandes combines riverside scenery with architecture and local history. If you are looking for a destination for walks near waterways and cultural history, its different points of interest may play a role in your choice.

Walks and waterways

The natural surroundings of Bréviandes, near the Seine and its tributaries, are well suited to walks. The Hozain, one of the Seine’s three tributaries, flows through Bréviandes. There are also opportunities for fishing along the Seine and smaller waterways in the town. If you plan to fish, ask the local association about applicable regulations and suitable spots. Walks and fishing are therefore two distinct nature-related activities: fishing involves planning around regulations and choosing suitable spots.

Church and stained glass

The Church of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul is a late-19th-century ensemble in the Neo-Gothic style, created by the Vincent-Larcher and Vincent-Feste brothers from Troyes. The church’s 19th-century stained-glass windows were created by Vincent Feste. Cécile Boël created a contemporary stained-glass window in 2012. For travelers interested in art, the church brings together architecture and stained glass from different periods: the late-19th-century Neo-Gothic design and the contemporary work from 2012.

Washhouse and memorials

Another notable structure is the washhouse on Impasse de la Source. It is accessed from below street level; check local access conditions before your visit. A partly open channel carrying spring water feeds the rectangular basin. From there, the water flows through the washing trough and reaches the Hozain a few metres farther on. At the washhouse, the watercourse is part of the structure: it runs from the channel through the basin and washing trough to the river.

A stone and metal wayside cross stands at 71 rue Jean Rostand. The Bréviandes war memorial for the First World War depicts a helmeted Poilu with a flag on a square column. The two landmarks have different points of emphasis: the wayside cross is described by its address and materials, while the column and the figure depicted are central to the description of the memorial.

Local history and historic routes

The Maladrerie des Deux-Eaux, also known as the Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Lazare, is part of the town’s history. It was established in the 12th century in the area of Bréviandes as a refuge for people with the plague and demolished in 1733. This broadens the picture to include the former social function of an institution, alongside architecture and art.

The ancient Roman road linking Troyes with Vertault also ran through Bréviandes. This historical connection shifts the focus from individual places and buildings to a route between two named places. Bréviandes thus brings together specific architectural and artistic interests with a much earlier local history.

Discover more destinations: Barberey-Saint-Sulpice, La Loge-Aux-Chèvres, Onjon, Vougrey, Soulaines-Dhuys, Ferreux-Quincey, Mussy-Sur-Seine, Montaulin

For the broader travel overview: Aube.