Soulaines-Dhuys: Half-timbered houses, monuments and pottery

Soulaines-Dhuys offers several different reasons to visit: historic buildings, pottery and the signposted Promenade de la Dhuys. This means you can choose between guided insights into architecture and crafts or a longer route through woods and fields. For your planning, it is worth distinguishing between the different offerings: the Chapelle Saint-Jean has set tour times, pottery classes may require booking, and the route has a stated length and approximate walking time.

Half-timbered houses and historic buildings

Built between 1484 and 1504, the Chapelle Saint-Jean is the smallest religious half-timbered building in the region. It is closed to the public and can only be visited as part of the guided tours offered by the Soulaines-Dhuys tourist office. These take place on Wednesday afternoons in July and August. If you plan to visit the chapel, check the specific date before your trip.

The Église Saint-Laurent has been classified as a historic monument since 27 March 1914. A guided tour of Soulaines-Dhuys includes the interiors of this church and the Chapelle Saint-Jean; check the tour’s seasonal availability before your trip. The Pont Henri IV spans the Laines and has been listed as a historic monument since 3 December 1996.

The Manoir de Soulaines-Dhuys is an 18th-century bourgeois residence listed in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments. It can be visited on a guided tour as part of the tourist office’s guided village tours. As bourgeois residential architecture, it contrasts with the religious buildings and complements the chapel and church with a different type of building.

Experience pottery

The Tuilerie Royer bears the “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” (EPV) label and preserves a traditional production method passed down for five generations. The Tuilerie Poterie Royer offers tours as well as hands-on classes in wheel throwing and modeling. You can choose between a guided introduction and practical work, with two different forms of pottery to try in the classes. Booking may be required for tours and classes. Check in advance if taking part is an essential part of your plans.

Planning the Promenade de la Dhuys

The signposted Promenade de la Dhuys passes through woods and fields to the Domaine Saint-Victor. It is 10 km long, is considered an easy walking route and takes approximately three hours. The starting point is the car park at the grocery store in Soulaines-Dhuys. The distance, difficulty rating and approximate duration can help you fit the walk into your daily plans. As the starting point and route information may change, check them again before setting out.

The offerings differ considerably in terms of timing: for the Chapelle, take the season and day of the week into account, while the Promenade has an approximate walking time. The Manoir can be visited as part of guided village tours. This lets you decide whether to focus your time on guided visits or on a walking route.

Discover more destinations: Montaulin, La Loge-Aux-Chèvres, Rosières-Près-Troyes, Virey-Sous-Bar, Ruvigny, Ervy-Le-Châtel, Essoyes, Saint-Lyé

Go to the regional travel overview: Aube.