The best traffic-free bike rides around Courcelles-Epayelles

Created in 1919, the Méry-la-Bataille national necropolis contains the remains of 1,538 soldiers who died for France during the Battle of Matz in June 1918. Adjacent to the municipal cemetery, it brings together the bodies exhumed from various temporary cemeteries in the Oise, of which 1,286 are buried in individual graves and 254 in two ossuaries. This memorial pays tribute to the soldiers who fell during one of the decisive offensives of the First World War, which helped halt the German advance towards Paris.

Roye Town Hall is an architectural gem that reflects the reconstruction after the First World War. Designed by Arthur Régnier in the 1930s, the imposing building combines Art Deco with neo-regional Flemish Renaissance influences. The striking belfry, with its elegant dome and bell tower, recalls the original town hall built in 1775 but destroyed during the war. The façade is richly decorated with bas-reliefs, including the town's coat of arms and symbols of trade and industry. The entrance gate, with its graceful ironwork, is reminiscent of the Croix de Guerre cross, a silent reminder of the town's turbulent history. This town hall is not only an administrative building, but also a powerful symbol of recovery and cultural wealth.

The Église Saint-Pierre in Roye is a historic church whose origins date back to 1184. The church was rebuilt in the 16th century, but suffered severe damage during the First World War. After the war, it was partly reconstructed in the Art Deco style, while the original Gothic flamboyant choir was preserved. The building has a 64-metre-high bell tower, inspired by the Église Notre-Dame du Raincy. Inside, there are stained glass windows and decorative elements by artists such as Raymond Couvègnes and Maurice Dhomme. The church is classified as a monument historique and contains relics of Saint Florent and Saint Antoine Daveluy.

The Théâtre de Roye has a modern architecture that combines functionality and aesthetics. The building is designed with a superstructure, where a new 400-seat theatre hall is placed on top of the existing building.

The village played an important role during the First World War. It was occupied on 30 August 1914 and was the scene of fierce fighting during the “Race to the Sea” and again during the Battle of Matz in June 1918. The village was badly damaged and was awarded the Croix de Guerre for its suffering and courage.

Timeless place

You made me want to take a trip there soon. Thanks Leo

The Château de Boulogne is unlike any other. With an architecture drawing its inspiration from history and esotericism, it was born in the imagination of Charles de Boulogne (1864 - 1940), a rich Belgian landowner who purchased the title of Count and who undertook the construction of the castle in 1896 on the remains of the Lancry family castle. For 25 years, he put all his energy and his fortune into creating his 'Great Work', a philosopher's residence, a castle of Mysteries which unfortunately was largely destroyed during the Battle of Matz in 1918. For his fellow citizens, Count Charles de Boulogne was the builder of a spooky residence. An incomprehensible man, a little crazy, an “enlightened person”? And yet the sentence he had engraved on the portal gives us the key: “Sortis patiens esto nulli clauderis honesto” ("Be patient, nothing is closed to an honest man")