A weekend to discover Laon (two hours fromCalais) from

A
Laon < Aisne < Picardie
weekend to discover Laon (two hours from Calais) from the top of its cathedral
To discover Laon differently : climb the bell-towers of the Cathedral !
B
uilt at the top of the Laon mountain, the
cathedral can be seen from miles
around…providing a glimpse of the
amazing sight that awaits once you’ve
climbed the steps leading to the top…
A 360° panoramic view from the belltowers
To tour the cathedral differently and admire the
scenery at an altitude of 60 metres, just climb to
the top of the bell-towers, stopping several times
along the way to admire the church square or
statue of the Virgin. A guaranteed sensation
once you reach the top of the steps! From the
top, you can look down over the city and its
surroundings. With your head in the Picardy sky,
you will be able to admire the exceptional view
of the Chemin des Dames that can be made out
in the distance and the ancient Roman way
linking Saint Quentin to Reims. You will discover
one of the most beautiful views of the North of
France with a glimpse of the old quarters of the
medieval city and the Laonnois hills.
Behind the Scenes in Laon: 400 metres of
underground passages
A major heritage of the city of Laon, a part of the
underground passages of the old city is also open for
tours. This tour was set up under the old citadel to allow
visitors to retrace the history of Laon by travelling up
and down its underground passages. In this way, all
along your 400-metre underground route, you will be
able to see Tertiary shells, marks left by stone-cutters,
the remains of a grain silo from the Gallo-Roman era, or
the series of shooting galleries, a reminder of the
military presence shortly before the First World War. An
entertaining tour in the form of a treasure hunt. It’s up
to you to solve the riddle in order to unlock the mystery
of the Laon cathedral.
Laon Tourist Office
Hôtel Dieu
Place du Parvis Gautier de
Mortagne
02000 Laon (carte: A)
Tel. +33 (0)3 23 20 28 62
www.tourisme-paysdelaon.com
How to get
there?
Motorway A 26
Exit No.13 Laon
Things to see and do in the area…
If you have
an afternoon
ahead of you…
● The medicinal plants garden
of the Vauclair Abbey. In
Bouconville-Vauclair (map: B)
● A walk through the Saint
Gobain Forest
Walk along the Chemin des Dames
If you have a day
ahead of you…
If you have a
weekend ahead
of you…
● Château de Coucy le Château
(map: D) and a walk along the
top of its ramparts overlooking
the Laonnois plains.
● Center Parcs, in Chamouille
(map: i): a weekend in the
middle of nature, to explore
water activities.
● A walk with Jean-Jacques
Boucher, in the Garden of the
Quincampoix Mill, in Ciry
Salsogne (map: E)
● Go hiking on the Chemin des
Dames!
● A walk through the park of the
Septmonts Donjon (map: J)
● A stroll in Vivaise, a village in
bloom (map: F)
● Marie-Pierre Aubert helps
you discover strawberries in all
its forms, at “La Fraise de
Voyenne”: coulis,
jams…Gourmet’s beware!
(map: C)
What to eat in
the area…
● The Orgeval Fermenting
Room (map: G)
● The Art Deco Church in
Martigny Courpierre (map: H)
Come taste the largest beans in France: Soissons Beans.
Two places you should not miss:
- at the farm of Camille Hoche, in Vaudesson (map: L):
this Soissons bean producer will help you discover its
history and secrets
- in Catherine Leriche’s regional products boutique, at the
foot of the Soissons Cathedral (map: M)
The Laon Cathedral, at sunset
● Unusual: cave dwellings in
Paissy (map: K)
The Chemin des Dames is ridge overhanging the Aisne and Ailette vallies, which provides,
beyond the historical aspect, magnificent panoramic views. Taken by the daughters of Louis
15th, from whom it got its name, this path continues first and foremost to be associated
with the terrible battles of the Great War. Eight sites have been built along this 35-km long
path, to discover the scene of the great offensives.
1) Malmaison Fort: the fort was bitterly contested during the conflict. There is a 1939-1945
German cemetary next to the fort
2) La Royère Panorama: the site calls to mind the Malmaison offensive of October 1917 and
the engaging of colonial troops
3) in Cerny-en-Laonnois: a small chapel, beside two cemeteries, one German and the other
French
4) Caverne du Dragon: the daily life of soldiers is approached through numerous different
objects, documents, photos, pieces of writing, archives, journals, etc.
5) The Basques Monument: a monument erected in memory of the 36th composed infantry
division
6) The California Plateau, offers a superb panoramic view of the Aisne Valley. It was the
scene of the great offensive of 16 April 1917 ordered by General Nivelle. A bloody defeat
that lead to mutinies.
7) The Arboretum of Craonne
8) The National Tank Monument: it was in 1917, at the foot of the Chemin des Dames, that
the first French tanks engaged. The vehicles displayed date from the 50s.
For more information on the Chemin des Dames: www.chemindesdames.fr
To download sheets on hiking or biking on the Chemin des Dames, visit www.randonner.fr
C
Where to sleep and eat in the area ?
Luc and Emmanuelle Simphal’s charming bed and breakfast
(“Les Cernailles”), in Vivaise. “It’s a house with a special
atmosphere and period furniture that I bought little by little
at antique shops, in Maroilles and the surrounding area.
Buying antique furniture and objects is my passion. I
absolutely love the 18th century!”.
- France and Eric Corcy’s bed and breakfast, in Martigny
Courpierre
F
D
- Nathalie Vinçon’s charming bed and breakfast, in Orgeval (map : G)
- Monique Simonnot’s bed and breakfast, in Chérêt (map: N)
- Jacqueline and Jean Dru’s bed and breakfast, in Cessières (map: O)
- Françoise Woillez’s bed and breakfast, in Mons en Laonnois (map: P)
- David Kaczmarek’s bed and breakfast, in Braye en Laonnois (map: Q)
- “L’Auberge de la Vallée”, Table Régionale de Picardie* and Logis de France*, in Bourg et Comin
(map: R)
- “L’Auberge du Lac”, in Monampteuil (map: S)
- “La Petite Campagne”, in Chérêt
- “L’Auberge du Moulin Bertrand”, in Martigny Courpierre
- “La Bannière de France”, in Laon
*The Logis de France label ensures you a quality welcome, authenticity and discovery of regions
through a menu that highlights local products.
Tables Régionales de Picardie groups together restaurant owners who work with local products and
serve Picardy recipes
All accommodations, restaurants and sites can be viewed on www.picardietourisme.com
Did you know?
The Fermenting rooms – like that
of Nathalie Vinçon in Orgeval –
are specialties of the Laonnois
and Soissonnais area.
“We are a stone’s throw from the
Champagne region and we
benefit from the same weather
conditions. In the 18th century,
white wine was produced here.
The fermenting rooms have a
particular architecture: they face
due south and have vaulted
cellars – still in a perfect state –
on the ground floor, hollowed
out in the hill” Philippe de Reyer,
owner of bed and breakfasts in
Ambleny
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Parcs and gardens :
Le Jardin du Vendangeoir
1, rue des Vendangeoirs
02000 Bourguignon sous Montbavin
Tél : +33 (0)3 23 24 12 94
www.le-jardin-du-vendangeoir.fr
Other visits :
Le Vendangeoir d’Orgeval
13, Grande Rue
02860 Orgeval
Tél : +33 (0)3 23 24 79 01
www.vendangeoir-orgeval.com
Randonnées en Forêt de Saint
Gobain : www.randonner.fr
L’Abbaye de Vauclair
02860 Bouconville Vauclair
Tél : +33 (0)3 23 27 76 76
www.abbaye-de-vauclair.com
Le Moulin de Quincampoix
02220 Ciry Salsogne
Tél : +33 (0)3 23 55 90 20
www.mytho-fleurs.com
La Fraise de Voyenne
6, grande rue
02250 Voyenne
Tél : +33 (0)3 23 20 03 09
Center Parcs
Domaine du Lac d’Ailette
02860 Chamouille
Tél : 08 25 80 28 04
www.centerparcs.fr
Parc du Donjon de Septmonts
02200 Septmonts
Tél : +33 (0)3 23 74 91 36
Ferme de Vauxrains
Coopérative du Haricot de Soissons
02320 Vaudesson
Tél : +33 (0)3 23 53 96 65
OP
L
M
J
A – Laon
B – Bouconville-Vauclair
C – Voyenne
D – Coucy le Château
E – Ciry Salsogne
E
F – Vivaise
G – Orgeval
H – Martigny
Courpierre
I - Chamouille
A
NG
S HB
Q i
K
R
J – Septmonts
K – Paissy
L – Vaudesson
M – Soissons
N – Chérêt
L’Angélus - Chez Catherine Leriche
21, rue des Déportés
02200 Soissons
Tél: +33 (0)3 23 59 79 00
Le Vendangeoir d’Orgeval
13, Grande Rue
02860 Orgeval
Tél : +33 (0)3 23 24 79 01
www.vendangeoir-orgeval.com
Office de Tourisme de Coucy le
Château
Tél. +33 (0)3 23 52 44 55
www.coucy.com
Monique Simonnot
18, rue Principale
02860 Chérêt
Tél : +33 (0)3 23 24 80 64
www.lecloscheret.com
Office de Tourisme de Laon
Tél : +33 (0)3 23 20 28 62
www.tourisme-paysdelaon.com
Accommodation / restaurants :
Les Cernailles
33, avenue d'Ile de France
02870 Vivaise
Tél : +33 (0)3 23 22 97 33
www.lescernailles.fr
France et Eric Corcy
Près du Tilleul
9, rue du Montcet
02860 Martigny-Courpierre
Tél : +33 (0)3 23 24 85 15
www.pres-du-tilleul.com
Auberge de la Vallée
6, rue d’Oeuilly
02160 Bourg et Comin
Tél : +33 (0)3 23 25 81 58
Auberge du Lac
1, rue du Moulinet
02000 Monampteuil
Tél : +33 (0)3 23 21 63 87
La Petite Campagne
10 chemin des Vauxbresils
02860 Chérêt
Tel: +33 (0)3 23 24 78 63
Jean Lecat
21, rue Haute
02820 Sainte Croix
Tél : +33 (0)3 23 22 48 74
www.la-besace.fr
David Kaczmarek
2, rue de l’église
02000 Braye en Laonnois
Tél : +33 (0)3 23 25 68 55
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/david.kaczmarek
Jacqueline et Jean DRU
7 ruelle Buet
La Forestière
02320 CESSIERES
Tel : +33 (0)3 23 24 19 07
O - Cessières
P – Mons en Laonnois
Q – Braye en Laonnois
R – Bourg et Comin
S - Monampteuil
La Bannière de France
11, rue Franklin-Roosevelt
02000 Laon - Ville Haute
Tél : +33 (0)3 23 23 21 44
www.hoteldelabannieredefrance.com
L’Auberge du Moulin Bertrand
1, Le Moulin Bertrand
02860 Martigny Courpierre
Tél: +33 (0)3 23 24 71 73
Kayak de mer en Baie de Somme