The best running trails around Bar-Sur-Aube

As idyllic as the 'Etang de Frouasse' appears to the viewer today, the body of water is by no means of natural origin. Its construction was driven by economic interests at the time, as the builders (according to 'Paul_C''s contribution, the Knights Templar, whose exact name was "Poor Knights of Christ and of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem") could use such a pond either for fish farming or to power mills.

Dienville Beach is open for swimming year-round. Lifeguards are available in the afternoons during July and August. It has shaded areas, picnic tables, and playgrounds.

The Dienville market hall was built in stone in 1866. The building hosts the town's market every Sunday.

Via Francigena: During this stage, a stop in Bar-sur-Aube is a must. Situated on a north-south axis, the town acquired strategic importance and the status of a commercial centre during the period of the Counts of Champagne. The latter had indeed guaranteed the security of the merchants and set up an adapted logistical organisation that contributed to the development of Bar-sur-Aube as a commercial centre. Thus, from mid-February to mid-April, traders from Flanders and Italy exchanged oriental spices, silk, textiles and raw materials from Northern Europe. The architecture of the town bears witness to this past activity.

* Saint-Quentin Church (15th-18th centuries): beautiful statues, wooden high altar and pulpit, listed wrought iron choir grille (1765), organ case, Merovingian tomb. * Dienville Cemetery, listed as a Historic Monument. * Stone hall (1866) built in place of the old wooden hall dating from 1536, destroyed in 1863. * Notre-Dame-du-Tertre Chapel in Dienville (12th-17th centuries): stone and half-timbered. * Immaculate Conception Chapel in Dienville. * Castle (1819-1820) * Mont Fountain (18th century): known as "Montre-cul" * Town Hall (1895) * Dienville Bridge over the Aube (1945): bridge built in 1945 replacing the old bridge dating from 1639, destroyed during the Second World War.

An impressive natural stone market hall

This building was badly damaged in 1940 by a fire that destroyed much of the city, but has been restored to its original state. The church, where Napoleon made his first communion, is built of stone from the Champagne region. It has a 14th-century nave and a 16th-century choir with choir girth. Look at the original images in the Renaissance stained glass windows: on the left the story of Noah, on the right the legend of Saint Crispin and Saint Crispinian. Also note the bell-shaped holy water font (16th century), the baptismal font and the choir screen (18th century).

Château de Brienne-le-Château is a magnificent palace from the second half of the 18th century, located in the commune of Brienne-le-Château in the Aube department, in the Grand Est region. The castle is partly registered as a historical monument. The castle was inaugurated in 1778. The castle has a classical style and is surrounded by a large park with an orangery, a lavoir and a glacière. The castle is also called “the little Versailles of the Aube”. The castle also has a historical link with Napoleon Bonaparte, who studied there at the military school. In 1814, he stayed there for two nights during the Battle of La Rothière, where he almost managed to surprise the Prussian general Blücher in the castle1. In 1805, Napoleon tried to buy the castle for his mother, but the young Countess de Brienne refused him. The castle is now a psychiatric hospital.