Dontrien: Cultural history and fishing on the La Py

When planning a trip to Dontrien, cultural history and the La Py as a fishing destination are two distinct areas of interest. The Église Saint-Laurent and the building Mairie école et bureau de poste are located on Grande Rue. The La Py flows into the Suippe in Dontrien. At the church, the windows and reconstruction are part of its architectural history; for fishing, access and fishing rights are decisive.

The church and its architectural history

The Église Saint-Laurent is located on Grande Rue in Dontrien. It was rebuilt between 1930 and 1935 by architects Léon Margotin and Louis Roubert. Its features include round-arched windows and bluish-tinted stained-glass windows designed by Jacques Simon. A round arch describes the arched upper edge of a window; the tint refers to the glass. The time span refers to the reconstruction, not the original construction. This allows the building phase and window design to be considered as two distinct aspects of the church.

Inscriptions and memorial sites

Numerous inscriptions can be found on the attic stairs, in the attic and in the bell tower of the church in Dontrien. They refer to restorations, the weather and historical events. These subjects link structural changes, references to the weather and local history, giving the inscriptions a distinct place in local heritage. From a cultural-history perspective, these are two different viewpoints: the focus at Église Saint-Laurent is on its reconstruction; the inscriptions in a church in Dontrien address a variety of subjects.

A memorial in Dontrien commemorates the years 1939–1945. This gives it a different historical focus from the reconstruction of Église Saint-Laurent between 1930 and 1935. If you include the memorial in your plans, check the site's current condition before your visit.

The building on Grande Rue

The building Mairie école et bureau de poste is also located on Grande Rue. It bears the label “patrimoine du XXe siècle” (20th-century heritage). The award is dated 14 September 2000; this date refers to the label, not the time of construction. The name refers to the town hall, school and post office. This helps distinguish the building's designation from the date of its award.

Fishing on the La Py

The La Py is a first-category fishing water in private ownership along its entire course, from its source near Sommepy-Tahure to its confluence with the Suippe at Dontrien. Along the fishing stretch, anglers may access the river only on foot. Vehicles may not use private paths or grass verges, or park on private property. The described watercourse runs from source to confluence; the access rule, by contrast, applies specifically to the fishing stretch. Check current fishing rights and regulations before fishing.

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