Discover Clérey

When looking for a hotel in Clérey, your choice begins with the interests you would like to pursue locally: architectural history, art, routes through the historic centre, or nature. The Église Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens, the Retable classé de Clérey, and the Sentiers des Merlettes offer different ways to experience the area. Gardens, wooded meadows, and bodies of water add another focus.

A church and sculptures from different centuries

The Église Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens was partly built in the 12th century and is Romanesque. Its sculptures date mainly from the 15th century. The two dates therefore refer to different parts of its history: the period when part of the church was built and the principal dating of its sculptures. The church has been listed as a Monument historique since 1926.

The church cannot therefore be reduced to a single historical period. The Romanesque building and the later-dated sculptures offer different points of reference, while its listing since 1926 indicates the protected status of the church building.

The Retable classé de Clérey

The Retable classé de Clérey is a polychrome—that is, multicoloured—wooden altarpiece from the 15th century. It depicts the Nativity of Jesus, the Presentation in the Temple, and the Circumcision of Jesus Christ. These three subjects refer to different events in religious tradition and specify the imagery of the altarpiece.

The altarpiece has been classified as a Monument historique in its own right since 1894. This date concerns the classification of the artwork; the listing of the Église Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens since 1926 refers to the church. The two years therefore describe different forms of protection and should not be read as dates for the artworks.

Discover the historic centre on foot

The Sentiers des Merlettes make it possible to explore Clérey’s historic centre via paths and lanes. The network is accompanied by themed information panels. Both walking through the centre and the information provided are part of the experience: it is not just about individual historic buildings, but also the topics presented along the routes.

If you would like to explore Clérey on foot, this combination of paths, lanes, and information panels is another factor to consider when choosing your destination. The description identifies the historic centre as the focus of the network and makes the themed panels part of the exploration.

Gardens, meadows, and bodies of water

Nature is also one of the themes described in Clérey. The gardens, wooded meadows, and bodies of water provide habitats for a diverse range of wildlife and plant life. The local description encompasses both animals and plants; it does not limit its focus on nature to a single group of species.

This offers a different perspective when choosing where to visit than looking at the buildings: alongside Romanesque architecture and medieval art, there are landscape features and their importance as habitats. If you would like to take both culture and nature into account when deciding where to stay, you can explore both of these aspects in Clérey.

The washhouse and historical connections

The municipal washhouse is located between numbers 8 and 10 on Rue du Lac. It dates from 1857 and was restored in 2000. The two dates mark different milestones: 1857 is the year it was built, and 2000 the year it was restored. This distinguishes the original date from the later work.

Villa Saint-Louis originates from a former castle dating back to the 13th century. Here, too, the historical reference needs to be precisely understood: the date refers to the origins of an earlier castle. Alongside the church, partly built in the 12th century, the sculptures, and the washhouse, this shows various points of reference in time without combining them into a single building phase. When planning a stay in Clérey, you can choose according to your interests in architecture, art, local history, walking routes, or habitats.

Discover more destinations: Bouilly, Maizières-La-Grande-Paroisse, Gyé-Sur-Seine, Créney-Près-Troyes, Brévonnes, Traînel, Villechétif, Montgueux

For the regional travel overview: Aube.