The best walks and hikes around Bailly

We used the abbey park for our breakfast. A wonderful place for a break. 🫖🥖

Ourscamp Abbey is located a few kilometers from Noyon, in the upper Oise Valley. Founded in 1129, it is the second-oldest Cistercian abbey in Picardy. It has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. Its longevity and conflicts have contributed to the abbey's transformations: from religious building to hospital and manufactory; over the centuries, it has served various purposes. Admire the ruins of the abbey church's Gothic choir, a magnificent stone structure. The nave, of which nothing remains, had nine sides, now symbolized by pine trees. Finally, the 13th-century sickbay, also known as the mortuary, is also worth a visit. Anecdotally: the abbey's name dates back to the 7th century. In 641, King Dagobert's advisor began construction, and according to the story, he used a bear to transport the heaviest materials...

Deserves to be renovated

This former monastery was dedicated to the Holy Cross (Latin “Santa Croce”). The patronage refers to the cross on which Jesus Christ died. The veneration of the Holy Cross goes back to a large extent to Saint Helena, who was the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great (who recognized Christianity as a religion after his victory at the “Milvian Bridge” in front of Rome and in the year 312 for a long time the persecution ended with the “tolerance edict” of Milan). In the early fourth century she undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Israel / Palestine) and from there brought numerous relics with her to Europe, including the "True Cross" on which Jesus Christ was crucified. Helena is therefore often depicted with a cross as an attribute. The church celebrates the festival of the discovery, public presentation and veneration of the Holy Cross – called “Exaltation of the Cross” – on September 14th.

The National Necropolis of Tracy-le-Mont is a national cemetery which houses the remains of 3,196 French soldiers who died during the First World War in the Oise. You can explore the tombs and ossuaries of these brave men, some of whom were father and son or brothers, who fought and fell together.

The Carrières de la Maison du Garde is a former quarry which served as a shelter and hospital for French soldiers during the First World War. You can explore the underground galleries and admire the sculptures, graffiti and objects left by the poilus who lived there. You can also learn about the history of the war and the village of Tracy-le-Mont, which was heavily bombed and damaged.

Free to visit this beautiful monastery which is currently being restored. More than worth a visit!

This enchanting place exudes history. It features dilapidated abbey ruins, one wing of the magnificent Baroque façade still intact, and the other half with bullet holes from the 20th-century World Wars. The beauty of the original Romanesque-Gothic buildings is accentuated by the spacious park. An idyll well worth a visit!