Discover Jouarre

Jouarre can be explored through its Merovingian crypts, the history of Notre Dame de Jouarre Abbey, and Brie cheese. These themes lead to different points of interest: the crypts point to the abbey’s early history, the Briard Museum to rural life in the Brie region, and Fromagerie Ganot to cheese and guided tours. The buildings also reflect several different periods. If you are planning a stay, you can decide which focus interests you most: religious history, museum collections, or Brie cheese.

Crypts and Abbey History

Jouarre’s Merovingian crypts date from the 7th century AD and are among the oldest in Europe. They contain the tombs of the founding family of Notre Dame de Jouarre Abbey. Along with their great age, the tombs give the crypts a direct connection to the abbey’s founding history.

The architectural details also shape the impression: the crypt’s Merovingian sculpture rests on two rows of three Gallo-Roman columns, topped with Merovingian capitals made of white marble. Gallo-Roman columns, Merovingian sculpture, and white marble capitals thus come together as distinct features.

The Romanesque tower of Notre Dame de Jouarre Abbey is a former bell tower, built in the 12th century. A themed tour through the tower explores the history of the abbey and its community, as well as the nuns’ life today. The present-day abbey church dates from the 1860s, adding another point in time.

The Briard Museum and Rural Life

The Briard Museum collects material evidence of rural life among farming communities in the Brie region. Its collection includes a variety of objects from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. This gives the museum a different focus from the crypts: rather than tombs and architectural forms, it centers on objects and rural ways of life.

Brie Cheese at Fromagerie Ganot

Fromagerie Ganot offers guided tours where visitors can learn the secrets of Brie cheese. Its cellars are used to age organic farmhouse Brie made in collaboration with Ferme Ste-Colombe, as well as Coulommiers, Brie de Meaux AOP, and Brie de Melun AOP. The organic farmhouse Brie is made in collaboration with Ferme Ste-Colombe; Coulommiers and two Brie cheeses with AOP designation are also mentioned. If a tour is part of your plans, check current visiting options directly with the Fromagerie in advance.

Forest and Cultural Connection

The Forêt Domaniale de Choqueuse is another landscape feature described here: it is a deciduous forest. Its forestry management is connected with the religious organization of Jouarre Abbey. This adds a distinct link between forest management and abbey history to the stories of the buildings and collections.

Comparing the Historical Periods

The dates help put the different points of interest into context: the crypts date from the 7th century, the former bell tower from the 12th century, and the present-day abbey church from the 1860s. The Briard Museum complements this architectural history with objects from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. Early crypt history, a medieval tower, a more recent church, and several centuries of rural material culture can thus be explored side by side.

Discover more destinations: Châtres, Champeaux, Thomery, Ferrières-En-Brie, Villeneuve-Saint-Denis, Penchard, Chelles, La Chapelle-Gauthier

For the broader travel overview: Seine-Et-Marne.