The French Ardennes invite you to dive into nature, as well as history! Walk in the footsteps of Arthur Rimbaud, discover the rich past of Charleville-Mézières, enter the largest castle in Europe and find out more about the interesting war past. But above all: write your own history during your next vacation in the French Ardennes.
Charleville-Mézières, city with a past
Charleville-Mézières is a city with a military past. You can see it right away from the fortifications. During World War I, the German army had its headquarters in this city. But besides history, poems were also written here. Does Arthur Rimbaud ring a bell? Through the Parcours Rimbaud, you can walk in the footsteps of this famous French poet. There is even an entire museum dedicated to him and one can visit his grave as well.
The puppet collection of the Musée de l'Ardenne is also an essential stop. As is the Place Ducale (a copy of the Place des Vosges in Paris!). Stroll past the Art Deco houses, the beautiful town hall and the Notre-Dame d'Espérance basilica with its modern stained glass windows by René Dürrbach, a pupil and friend of Picasso.
In the footsteps of Rimbaud and Verlaine
Besides Arthur Rimbaud, Paul Verlaine's roots were also in the Ardennes. The two French poets spent their youth there, were friends and inspired each other. The Route Rimbaud-Verlaine takes you in their footsteps via the Parcours Rimbaud in Charleville-Mézières, to Roche (where Rimbaud completed his book A Season in Hell in the attic of the family farm) and on to Juniville to visit the Verlaine Museum housed in the former inn Auberge du Lion d'Or.
Visiting Sedan and its colossus of a castle
While Sedan may not be the biggest city in the Ardennes, it is home to the largest castle in Europe! A trip to this impressive stone fortress is a must. Spanning an area of 35,000 m², you won't miss a thing thanks to the designated visitor pathways. In the summer, the experience is even more enjoyable with authentic knightly tournaments and enchanting night tours by torchlight. Additionally, you can take part in an exciting escape game.
Every year on the third weekend of May, a large medieval festival takes place under the high city walls. For two days you imagine yourself completely in the Middle Ages, with stalls, entertainment, shows and demonstrations of knightly fights and medieval crafts.
Old towns, new discoveries
In the French Ardennes you will find plenty of nice places to spend the day. Through the streets of the characteristic towns of Mouzon and Rocroi, both 'Petites Cités de Caractère', you can stroll and have a romantic city stroll in an enchanting environment. Are you out and about with your family? Then we recommend a road trip along the old fortified churches and fortified houses of the Thiérache, a route of 150 km. Or visit with your offspring the fortified towns of Rocroi (the “star-shaped city”) and Givet. But also nice are the castle of Montcornet, the fortress of Charlemont and the Saint-Didierkerkerk in Asfeld.
Three places where history was written
Three wars, three occupations: in the French Ardennes there was a lot of fighting.Between 1870 and 1945 important pages of European history were written in the Ardennes.Numerous places still remind us of this. In Sedan, the capitulation of Napoleon III took place in 1870. Charleville (the opposite of Mézière) was the headquarters of German Kaiser Wilhelm II from 1914 to 1916, and in the Meuse village of Vrigne-Meuse, the last French soldier in World War I is said to have died in 1918. Sedan is also the town where the Germans broke through the lines in 1940. The Musée Guerre et Paix in Ardennes is one of the many museums in the Ardennes where you can learn all about the war history of this region.
By The editor
The editorial staff of France.fr follows the trends and news of destinations to bring you stories from France that reveal its innovations and traditions that make you long to (re) discover its territories.
