Ressons-Sur-Matz: River Landscape and Local History

Ressons-Sur-Matz can be explored through two themes: the river landscape along the Matz and a local history that spans medieval fortifications to works of art from the 20th century. The municipality’s historic walking tour invites you to discover the history of its buildings and streets. You can therefore consider the landscape and architectural history as two distinct focal points for your visit.

Landscape and routes

The Matz runs through the municipality of Ressons-Sur-Matz, where it contributes to the presence of marshes and peat bogs. One designated activity is the Mont Bellot Loop. It passes through Ressons-Sur-Matz and is approximately 4 km long. The stated duration is 1 hour 30 minutes on foot and 30 minutes by mountain bike. There is a one-hour difference between the two stated times; the distance applies to the same loop. This means you can take the duration and distance into account separately when planning. It is advisable to check the latest route information before setting out.

Fortifications and historic buildings

Around 1430, the fortifications of Ressons-Sur-Matz included four gates: the Porte de Montdidier, the Porte de Compiègne, the Porte de Bayencourt and the Porte de Roye. There was also a keep, the fortified main tower of a fortification. Another historic building is the Ferme de Bayencourt. It dates from the 16th century, has retained its original character and is built of dressed stone and brick. Its foundations date from the time of the Knights Templar. The 16th century refers to the farm, while the foundations date from the Templar period.

Churches and chapels

The Église Saint-Nicolas et Saint-Louis was built within the fortifications in the 12th century. Renovations in 1554 gave the church its present appearance. Inside are Art Deco stained-glass windows by Paul Louzier, dating from 1924, depicting Joan of Arc fighting alongside the poilus. The original construction, its later appearance and the windows therefore mark three different periods in the church’s history.

The Chapelle de l’Épine is dedicated to Notre-Dame and was inaugurated in 1834, replacing two earlier structures. This is distinct from the first chapel on this site, which, according to the story, came about in the 17th century as the result of a soldier’s vow. During the wars, he vowed to have it built if he survived.

Further traces of local history

During the First World War, from 1916, Ressons-Sur-Matz housed the Hôpital d’Evacuation 36/2 in the area around the railway station. Another connection to the arts is the sculpture “je t’ai cherché” by Maxime REAL DEL SARTE.

For your planning, the historic walking tour and the Mont-Bellot Loop offer different focal points: the tour focuses on the history of the buildings and streets, while the loop emphasizes the distance and duration of the designated walking and mountain biking routes. This lets you choose between a historical exploration and an outing with specific distance and time information.

Discover more destinations: Cauvigny, Crisolles, Remy, Monchy-Humières, Verneuil-en-Halatte, Lagny-Le-Sec, Le Meux, Coye-La-Forêt

For the broader travel overview: Oise.