Bethon

Location

Bethon lies in the south-west of the Marne département, roughly halfway between Sézanne and Nogent-sur-Seine. The borders with the Aube and Seine-et-Marne départements are not far away. Neighbouring communes include Chantemerle, La Forestière, Montgenost, Nesle-la-Reposte and Potangis. The commune covers 15.4 km² and has 222 inhabitants (2023). It lies outside any urban area and is shaped by scattered farms and houses.

Landscape and viticulture

Bethon is neither a grand cru nor a premier cru village. Anyone arriving here will not find a champagne town with big names, but rural countryside on the edge of Champagne. Land use shows this well: in 2018, 45.3% of the area was arable land and 37.3% was woodland. Permanent crops, which in this region include vineyards, account for 12.9%. Several small ponds and ditches run through the area. The climate is oceanic with cool summers. At the nearest weather station, in Romilly-sur-Seine, the annual mean for 1991 to 2020 is 11.2 °C, with rainfall of around 620 mm.

History and name

The village is first mentioned in documents in the 12th century. Early spellings such as Fons Bethunie (around 1146) and later Fontaine-Bethon point to a spring. The second part of the name probably derives from a Germanic personal name. Ecclesiastically, the village once belonged to the diocese of Troyes, which explains its proximity to the Aube.

“Land use shows this well: in 2018, 45.3% of the area was arable land and 37.3% was woodland.

Sights

• Church of Saint-Serein: It dates from the late Middle Ages; sources give the 15th or 16th century. A weathercock sits on top of the tower. Inside, the number eight appears again and again, for instance in rows of pillars and pillars with octagonal bases.
• Château de Bethon: It stands on the hill above the village. It is privately owned and cannot be visited, but it shapes the village's silhouette.
• Legend of Saint Serein: He is said to have made a spring rise from the ground in order to heal Count Boson.

For food and wine lovers

Bethon makes a good stopover if you are exploring the south-western edges of Champagne around Sézanne. It is best to arrange visits to growers in the area in advance. A stop at the church and a stroll through the village combine nicely with a tasting in one of the neighbouring villages.