Our image of historic France in the Grand Siecle days of kings and court intrigue come to us from movies like Milos Forman's version of "Dangerous Liasons" the oft told story of French sexual politics in the 18th Century. Scenes from that film were shot at the elegant Chateau La Motte-Tilly a few kilometers from the Champagne plains town on the Seine River of Nogent-Sur-Seine. Less than an hour from Paris (and 30 minutes from Paris Disney) between the Champagne region capital of Troyes and the medieval walled town of Provins.
This area of the Champagne region where it meets the Seine-et-Marne is probably less known for the bubby wine (a little farther east in the rolling hills) than it is for its apple cider and mushroom farms.
Nogent-Sur-Seine is a quaint and quiet French country village whose founding dates from Gallo-Roman times at a bend in the Seine River before it wanders across the flat plains toward Paris. Noted for its walks along the riverbanks and its half-wood paneled houses, Nogent's most notable building in town is the Pavillion of Henry IV dating from the 16th Century where the French king met with Gabrielle d'Estree and now houses a changing series of exhibitions of local arts and culture, crafts and history. The house is located a few blocks from the SCNF rail station and across the river from the main old town with its "cereal wharf" from early medieval times, Henry IV Pavillon Aube photoand within view of the local nuclear power plant up river.
Within view across the gentle Seine in the center of the ville is the unique Gothic church tower of St. Lawrence.
The "Maison de la Turque" is a house once owned by a Turkish woman which served as inspiration for French novelist Gustav Flaubert in his "A Sentimental Education". The Paul Dubois and Alfred Boucher Museums house archeological collections from Paleolithic times the Roman days along with sculptures of Dubois, Boucher and Camille Claudel.
Nogent-sur-Siene stategic location onthe appraoch to Paris is noted for battles in the 100 years war between England and France and features in the history of Joan of Arc. The Hugues de Payns Museum of the Templar Knights is a few kilometers to the east. For more literary and historical heritage the tiny romantic hamlet of Le Paraclet, the location of the famed and tragic medieval lovers Heloise and Abelard is nearby.
Gardens Chateau Motte-Tilly photoThe Chateau La Motte-Tilly built in 1754 is a few minutes to the south, set on a formal garden grounds is a French national monument site. The Chateau is fully furnished in its original 18th century style, spurred by noble born art historian the Marchioness of Maille. The Chateau, its park and expansive grounds are open Wednesdays to Sundays from March 15 to November 15. Night tours are offered in summer by guides in traditional period garb taking visitors back to the times of original resident the Abbot Jean Terray, financial minister to Louis XV who obviously managed to save a little for himself from the royal treasury.
The town is bisected by the Seine. It was completed with two channels, which gave birth to two islands. One of them, named Olive Island, is entirely wooded and ideal for a walk. The other island is connected to shore by two ancient bridges. The islands are connected by the "weir", long water retention surmounted by a walkway.
Canals were dug to the location of mills Nogent, enormous building that extends over the entire width. Although boats and barges once plied their trade right through the canals to the Saone Valley, Nogent-sur-Seine is nowadays regarded as the furthest point navigable upstream on the Seine.
The city has developed mainly on the left bank. There are the historical, administrative and commercial as well as downstream silos of agro-food Soufflet. On the right bank, after a short urban and industrial zone, surrounded by marshes and wetlands on the road to Port-Saint-Nicolas (in the commune of Saint-Nicolas-la-Chapelle), well known about Route 21 bridges.
The description would be incomplete without the mention of Nogent nuclear power plant, located upstream, and two cooling towers 165 m high.
