Notre-Dame-en-Vaux is Châlons's most loved building and arguably its most important. Construction began around 1157 and continued through the 13th century, producing a church that mixes Romanesque tower bases with Gothic nave, choir, and transept. The overall effect is lighter and more graceful than the cathedral, and the 16th-century stained glass in the nave windows is exceptional. The carillon of 56 bells is one of the largest in Europe; it plays on the hour.
The attached Musée du Cloître houses the 55 surviving column statues from the demolished 12th-century cloister — expressive, deeply carved figures of prophets, apostles, and saints. They were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 as part of the Way of St James. The museum requires a separate ticket but is entirely worth it; the sculpture rivals anything in Paris.