LET'S DISCOVER THE LAONNOIS !
IN THE CITY
As a first drive, we propose you to enter Laon by the Ardon's Gate.
Stop near to watch the panorama on the south of the city. Then, downside the celeb gate,
and on the left before the Prefecture, let's go through the Chenizelles street, up to
Michelet boulevard and Republic avenue at the end of which we will find, on top of the
Madeleine walk which goes around the beautiful Saint Vincent abbey,
a wonderful vision on the whole Cuve Saint Vincent and High Town. From there, by the
Republic avenue in reverse sense, let's come to the ancient Saint Martin Abbey, near the
Municipal Library and Hospital. Then through the Saint Martin street, let's go to the Town
Hall.
From there, by Serurier street, come to the Cathedral, the visit
of which is indispensable, without forgetting the court of the Bishop Palace (now law
courts). On the side of this palace, we may then follow the North Promenade, be back the
Town Hall by the North Rampart, and enjoy the superb vision on the whole plain north of
Laon through Milon de Martigny street and Saint Just Promenade up to the Paul Claudel
College from where we go back the Hospital. Before going the Down Town for a next visit,
don't forget to stop at Soissons Gate (in front of Technology University Institute) and to
shoot a last picture of the Leaning Tower.
SOUTH-WEST
In the South-West, you will
find many sites to visit and panoramas to watch :
- Mons en Laonnois, with the Creuttes, the church
(XIIth - XIIIth centuries), Aix Place, wonderful vintage houses and hike paths ;
- Bourguignon sous Montbavin,
where were born the Le Nain Brothers ;
- Montbavin, Saint Fiacre Fountain, and public
wash-house ;
- Merlieux et Fouquerolles,
where is a Permanent Initiation Center on Environment ;
- In Royaucourt, too, a very
beautiful church, the Comportet Mill, castle ruins ; And you can come back to Laon by
Urcel, its restaured church from XIIth century, Mailly Castle where is an imitation of the
Templar's chapel of Laon, and Chivy les Etouvelles where you must visit the roman church
Saint Pierre aux Liens (XIth century).
WEST
This itinerary on the West of Laon is especially for the lovers of nature and ruins.
First, leave Laon by N 44 road towards Saint Quentin to find after a few miles Crépy.
There we can admire the Saint Pierre and Notre-Dame churches, the ancient hospital, and
discover an interesting defending system by inundation. There was, too, the place from
where the german cannon called "Grosse Bertha" shot on Paris during the first
world war.
Follow again the N 44 to join Saint Nicolas aux Bois, ruins of the old Abbey of the
"Tortoir" (14th), and the church (12th).
There are many picturesque sites in the Saint Gobain Forest, like the "Ermitage's
rocks", the miraculous source of Saint Gobain, the "Fontaine de la Goutte"
(source between the roots of a beech), the petrifying fountain of the Saint Bourgand's
quarry, and very numerous special trees.
You have to stop by Septvaux to see the ruins of a water-mill, the wash-house, and the
church Notre-Dame (12th) with its two towers and seven gables corresponding the
"seven small valleys" whose the village had its name.
Dessin
du château de Coucy, dans
"L'Ombre de Saïno" de Jean
Quimper et Pierre Forget.
Avec l'aimable autorisation des Editions
du Triomphe
7 Rue Bayen - 75017 PARIS
Tél : 01 40 54 06 91 - Fax : 01 40 54
92 08
www.editionsdutriomphe.fr |
Coucy le Château is worthy to stop a while for the
ruins of its wonderful castle built by Enguerrand III in the 13th century,
castle whose the splendid dungeon of 180 feet and 20 feet wide walls was dynamited by the
germans in 1917 when they destroyed the whole town. Don't go through Coucy without
visiting the museum of the tower of Soissons' Gate, the stone museum in the castle, and
the Saint Sauveur church (12th century).
The way back to Laon may go by Prémontré, where was founded the celeb abbey, and Anizy
le Château.
Aperitif offered to
any customer mentionning this website
QUEENS WAY
In the south of Laon, between the RN 2, towards Soissons and Paris, and the RN 44
towards Reims, is the "Chemin des Dames".
So named because it was used by the Louis XV's daughters when they were going to the
castle of la Bove, while the men were hunting through the valley of the Ailette, the
"Chemin des Dames" is most known by the fightings which took place there during
the World War One.
From the "Monument des Crapouillots", on the crossroad of Moulin de Laffaux
on RN 2, come back towards Laon and turn on the right before Chavignon.
From there, you'll find
- the Fort of Malmaison,
- the Cerny en Laonnois Memorial,
- the Museum of the Dragon's Cave,
- the Monument of Basques,
- the Plateau of California ,
- the ruins of the ancient village of Craonne.
Then, it's possible to come back to Laon by
Corbeny and RN 44, or following the Ailette valley visiting the ruins of the Abbey of Vauclair before to
stop for a while in the nautical park of Ailette or on the banks of the Lake of
Monampteuil.
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