Guided
Hiking

Faverolles, its Lords an its church

The first settlers of Faverolles were from the Neolithic period and then came the Gauls who cleared and cultivated the ground, before the Romans built a major network of communication and started growing beans. They also cleared the region overgrown with elderberries and junipers. We still don’t know where they lived, but we know where their cemeteries were, in the place called “croix de la chapelle” (cross of the chapel). Later on the church took over the land, blessing it and spreading their authority over the region.

In 1143, the Augustine brothers of the Mormant hospital obtained a big part of Faverolles lordship and they built a house or agricultural centre which still exists near the town hall. It is said they also owned the last house in the alignment facing the extremity of the nave and owned a pond down in the village. The Chapter of Langres and some villagers owned the rest of the land. This agricultural establishment was dependent on nearby Mormant hospital, founded on a busy ancient pilgrimage road, with magnificent relics. Its vocation was to shelter and help the pilgrims and the poor who received charity. But in 1265, Mormant hospital was in need of help, so they sold their part of Faverolles land to the Chapter of Langres. The latter remained the owner until the French Revolution. Thus, contrary to legend, the Templers were never present in Faverolles.

There are two hospital crests, sculpted in the choir of Faverolles church. Originally, this church is said to have been a simple chapel dating back to the 13th century. Two lateral chapels maintained by the Lords existed before, only the southern one has been conserved and transformed into a sacristy. This church, dedicated to Saint Germain, was then extended in the direction of the nave, entirely reconstructed in 1787. The steeple has three bells, the oldest dating back to 1808. The public clock was placed in 1829.

As you walk through the village, you will notice the traditional architecture of Haute-Marne’s countryside houses. Organised in rows, it has three spaces attributed in turn to the house, the large animal’s living space and the barn used for stocking fodder and grains. The walls sometimes had decorative items which you can see if you look closely enough: inscripted stones indicate the construction date of the house, sundial, climbing plants, a pear tree or vine (symbol of the home’s fertility), alcove with a statue of a protecting saint or drains to evacuate the used water from the basin.

Continue along the road to the outside of the village where you can stop by the old orchards.