The best cycling routes around Goudelancourt-Lès-Pierrepont

The charming Romanesque chapel of the Templars is located in the museum park. The Order of the Temple was founded in 1128 and the bishop of Laon favored their installation in the city on land belonging to the king of France, located south of the canons' enclosure. The Saint-Jean-Baptiste chapel was erected around 1140: the octagon and the choir are the oldest parts; the porch was added a few decades later.

When you enter, take note of the well-preserved death statue of Guillaume de Harcigny (14th century). This healer learned his trade from Arab doctors in Syria. He was the personal physician of Charles VI and a psychoanalyst avant la lettre. The commandery of the Order of the Temple dates from the 12th century, housed the administration and served as a recruitment centre for monks-knights. After the order was abolished, the commandery came into the hands of the Hospitallers of Jerusalem. The cemetery of the Templars is now a garden. The Romanesque chapel with its bell tower and a choir that ends in an apse with a semi-dome are well preserved. Inside, you can see two statues of prophets from the facade of the cathedral.

Viewpoint with bench and binoculars overlooking the vast surroundings.

The Basilica of Notre Dame de Liesse is a Gothic basilica dating from the 12th century and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who is said to have miraculously freed three knights from captivity during the Crusades. The basilica was a place of pilgrimage for many kings and queens of France, who came to pray for various favors and blessings. You can admire the beautiful architecture, the statue of the Black Madonna, the frescoes and relics of the basilica, and learn about its rich history and culture. The basilica is located in the town of Liesse-Notre-Dame.

Here, the city walker will find an early masterpiece of Gothic architecture, a style often found in this part of France – Chartres and Reims, for example, attract enthusiastic international visitors and are far more famous than Laon. In the following 13th century, many Gothic churches were built, not only in their country of origin, France, but also beyond the country's borders, where this sky-high, light-filled architectural style was now in great demand for new churches (for example, the laying of the foundation stone for Cologne Cathedral in 1248).

A beautiful place to relax!

A visit to the imposing cathedral is well worth it!

The cathedral stands in the old town of Laon on Table Mountain and can be seen from afar. The detailed front and the balanced proportions make the building worth seeing from the outside. But you should definitely take your time and look inside one of the earliest Gothic masterpieces. The feeling of space in the light-flooded church is amazing. There are many side chapels, beautiful stained glass windows, remains of the interior painting and much more to admire. We were thrilled!