Discover La Rothière: Walking Route and History

La Rothière combines a walking route with a rich local history. Two specific highlights can help you plan your trip: the Promenade des Merisiers and historical sites ranging from the church to memorials commemorating the 1814 battle. The landscape and history can be explored as distinct aspects of the area.

Walking the Promenade des Merisiers

The 14-kilometre Promenade des Merisiers starts at the picnic area in La Rothière. It is marked in yellow, rated “moderate” in difficulty, and takes four hours. Together, the distance and time give you a clear idea of the walk: the kilometre figure describes the route, while the duration offers a guide to how long it takes.

When including the route in your travel plans, you can consider these details together rather than focusing only on its length. The yellow markings and moderate difficulty rating also help you decide whether the walk is right for you. The Promenade is a clearly identified walking option for anyone who wants to discover La Rothière for more than its historical memorial sites.

The church and the history of the French campaign

The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin preserves evidence of different periods of construction. Its nave dates from the 12th century. The choir and sanctuary were rebuilt in the 13th-century style after being destroyed during the French campaign under Louis XVIII. The church thus brings together a medieval nave and later reconstructed sections whose design draws on an earlier style.

The Battle of La Rothière is also part of the area’s history. It took place on 1 February 1814 and is considered one of the largest battles of the French campaign. The Napoleonic memorial commemorates the fact that the village takes its name from the Battle of La Rothière.

The washhouse is another memorial site. Young people from the village restored it in 1990. A plaque in the washhouse commemorates General Margue, as well as the civilians and military personnel who lost their lives on 1 February 1814. The plaque thus connects the remembrance of individuals and groups with the date of the battle. The church, monument and washhouse each focus on a different aspect: architectural history, the village’s name and its link to the battle, and the remembrance of those who died.

Roman road and landscape

The Roman road known as the “Voie de l’Océan” connects Langres with Boulogne-sur-Mer, and sections of it also pass through La Rothière. Along the old road, lime groves planted under Sully shelter a wayside cross. The site with the cross has been restored and is a popular place for leisure and relaxation among residents and tourists. Here, a historic route, the lime groves and a religious memorial stand together in the same landscape.

When planning your stay, you can choose among clearly distinct interests: the Promenade offers a longer walk with a stated duration and marked route, while the church, memorial monument and washhouse reveal different aspects of local history. The Roman road and wayside cross add the historic landscape to these themes. This allows you to explore La Rothière according to the interests that suit your trip.

Discover more destinations: Baroville, Sainte-Maure, Arcis-Sur-Aube, La Saulsotte, Brienne-Le-Château, Montgueux, Polisy, Ruvigny.

For the regional travel overview: Aube.