14 km northwest of Troyes, the village of Payns, on the D619, opens the doors of a museum in honour of the first master of the Templars, Hugues de Payns, who was a friend of Bernard de Clairvaux and founder of the first religious military order.

Still in this direction, 51 km away by the D619, there is Nogent-sur-Seine, and its place of discovery of French sculpture with the Camille Claudel Museum and its contemporaries, including Auguste Rodin, with more than 200 sculptures. A true collection of works of art to the glory of the workers

67 km away, via the D619, is the inspiring village of Essoyes, chosen by Auguste Renoir to stay there in the summer and immortalise many landscapes as well as his model, Gabrielle Renard. The history of this family of artists is presented at the Espace Renoir and can be seen in the family home. Enthusiasts will go to the Essoyes cemetery to pay their respects and will also discover the mausoleum of the Hériot family, founders of the Louvre shops, which was used as a model by Emile Zola in Au bonheur des dames.

70 km away by the A26, in the commune of Ville-sous-la-Ferté, you will find the Abbey of Clairvaux (12th century). This place was chosen by Bernard de Fontaine (Saint Bernard) to establish one of the major Cistercian abbeys. In 1808, the State bought the abbey and Napoleon transformed part of it into a prison. We can still see the "hen coops" where prisoners were incarcerated. One of them, Claude Gueux, was immortalized by Victor Hugo in the eponymous novel.

Along this road is the village of Bayel where glassware was worked under the Counts of Champagne, then perfected in manufacture under Colbert, until becoming Cristallerie Royale thanks to the contribution of glassmakers of Murano (Venice). Visits are organized.