Discover Conde-les-autry, Ardennes, Champagne-Ardenne

Famous for the Battle which took place in 1916, the history of the city of Verdun goes back 30 centuries. Verdun has preserved for us many traces of its part in history. It is worth taking the time to stroll round the historic heart of the city and discover what it has to offer.

In 1920 the Government decided to create a Red Zone at Verdun, to mark the soil rendered sterile by shell fragments and polluting chemicals. Ten years later, it received its first covering of some 10 million black pines, sent from Austria. The nine destroyed villages included in this Red Zone will never again see the light of day, but the Prefect of the Meuse assures they will be maintained as memorials, by continuing to nominate a mayor to each one. Starting from the Tourism Office, join the Green Way Cycle Path in the Parc Japiot opposite. 4.5 miles. Continue straight on, as far as the Canal Lock at BRAS-SUR-MEUSE. Cross the bridge to reach the opposite bank and follow the canal as far as the next bridge. Leave the Cycle Path, join the road and turn left, to reach the Stop sign opposite the Boulangerie. Turn right onto the main road, then left opposite the restaurant 8.2 miles. Follow the main road and climb up to the Tranchée des Baïonnettes. 8.75 miles. Continue to climb, then after passing the restaurant, turn right and arrive at the Ossuaire de Douaumont. If you climb on foot the 204 steps inside the tower, you will have a 360 degree panoramic view of the entire battlefield 9.25 miles. Retrace your route to the Stop sign. To visit the disappeared village of Douaumont, go left and then immediately right and take the dead-end road to the disappeared village of Douaumont, then return to the main road. Alternatively, to go direct to the Fort de Douaumont, at the Stop sign turn right and descend to the next turning. At the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, turn left, towards the Fort de Douaumont. 9.7 miles. On the road to the Fort de Douaumont, you will cross over the Boyau de Londres. 10 miles. On reaching the Fort de Douaumont, dismount and climb on foot onto the roof of the Fort, where you will have a panorama view of the horizon which in 1916 marked the German frontier. You can also take the path on the left between the shell craters, which in 300 yards leads you to the lookout point. 10.3 miles. Return back to the Monument to the Unknown Soldier and turn left. On your left you will pass Abri (Shelter) 320 and on your right the National Cemetery. 11.8 miles. At the crossroads, turn left and pedal as far as the disappeared village of Fleury-devant-Douaumont. 12.2 miles. Continue straight on and pass the Mémorial de Verdun, dedicated to the Great War 1914-1918. 12.4 miles. Carry on to the Souville Lion, the monument which marks the nearest point to Verdun reached by the Germans in 1916, and where they were finally stopped. 12.75 miles. At the crossroads turn right and descend towards Verdun. You can visit the Souville fortified plateau by taking the small path on the left. There you can visit the unique Bussière twin turret, the Pamart machine gun casemates, and the ammunition shelters. 12.9 miles. On the road descending to Verdun, stop to admire the Maginot Monument on the left. A little further along there is a picnic area in the forest where you can rest. 15.3 miles. After crossing the railway bridge, at the Stop sign, cross over and pass by the Faubourg Cemetery. At the next Stop sign turn right, then immediately left, and pass the Braquier Dragée factory. At the roundabout, turn right and pass the Parc de Londres. Then at the next roundabout, turn left towards the Tourism Office.

This tour is the perfect way to discover Verdun for the first time. It invites cyclists to explore the city's history through the centuries, from the 10th century to the present day. You'll discover lively Verdun with its quays, medieval Verdun and contemporary Verdun with its art deco facades. Pedal to the rhythm of the Meuse on the Véloroute voie verte, enjoy the peace and quiet of the canal banks and explore Verdun's "Little Venice". The city boasts no fewer than five canals and twenty bridges. Originally, these canals were used by the many mills, tanneries and for navigation. Although some have been buried, you can still admire the Canal St-Airy, with its stone bridge and 16th-century house, the Canal du Puty, which runs alongside the ramparts, the Pont-écluse St-Amand and its Canal St-Vanne, and the discreet Canal de Minimes, which winds its way through the houses of Verdun.

Pedal through the rhythm of the river meuse on our green long distance cycling route to enjoy the peace of the canal and discover the «Little Venice» of Verdun no fewer than 5 canals and 20 bridges exist here in the city. Originally used by many windmills, tanneries and for navigation, some canals were buried. Today, we can admire the St-Airy canal, with its stone bridge and 16th century house, the Puty canal along the ramparts,the St-Amand bridge lock and its St-Vanne canal and the Minimes canal. discreet, making his way through the dwellings of Verdun. From the Tourist Office, cross the road and walk in the Parc Japiot, the green lung of the city center. Return to the Tourist Office along the Meuse. Take the road «Quai de la République» and take the Chaussée bridge on your left. 1 km • On the other side of the bridge is Porte Chaussée, official entrance of the city in the 14th century, and defensive element of the Grand Rempart. Turn right to take Avenue des Frères Boulhaut, then in the middle of the buildings, in the center, take the lane to reach the City Center. Continue straight on Mazel Street and look up. Contemplate the architecture and decorative arts. 2,16 km • Walk to the covered Market and turn left. Pass the Vanne Canal and then turn right. 2,75 km • Pedal to the Pré l’Evêque leisure center and turn right to pass the St-Amand Lock Bridge. It belongs to the three lock bridges designed by Marshal Vauban at the end of the 17th century to reinforce the defense of the south-east front of the city. The bridge allowed flooding of the upstream sector to keep the city out of reach of enemy cannons. Completed in 1687, it is the only one to have resisted the events related to the history of the city. Very well preserved, its maneuvering building is still in working order. 3.3 km • Turn right into Covered Market (marché Couvert) and Mazel street. Facing the do not enter, take the bridge Fernand Legay on the right. A stunning view opens up to you, on one side the Quai de Londres and its marina, and on the other side, the junction of the canal St-Vanne and the river Meuse. Go straight ahead, pass in front of the Town Hall on the left and turn right. Before the bridge, turn left. Further on, get close to the right and walk along La Digue Park. 4,25 km • Then join the banks of the river Meuse and go to the Tunnel de l’écluse. 4,66 km • Pass the tunnel and ride on the cycling path. Further on, you will see on your right, the « Grand Gueulard », spillway that divides the course of the river into two branches. 7,31 km • Pedal to l’écluse de Belleray, turn left and climb the the road. At the top, at the roundabout continue straight ahead to reach 2 roundabouts next to each other. 9,81 km • Turn left and go down the St-Sauveur road to come out on the St-Airy canal. It enters the lower town by passing under the lock bridge of St-Airy (on right), one of the 3 lock bridges designed by Vauban to ensure the defense of the place by upstream floodings. The House located at 12 rue des Remparts, half-timbered with stucco is probably and is the oldest in Verdun (15th or 16th century). Turn right, walk along the St-Airy canal and pass the lock bridge. At the Tour des Champs Gate roundabout, take the road of the left and then turn right 10,37 km • Walk along the Puty Canal (canal du Puty) and its ramparts. Pass the Tour de l’Islot (Islot Tower), an integral part of the ancient walls of the city, dating back to the 13th century. 10,5 km • At the end of the road, gaze at the Tour des Plaids (Plaids Tower) Built in the 14th century. In the shape of horseshoe, it is also known as the Puty Tower. The name of «Plaids» comes from the judicial hearings held there in the Middle Ages. 10,65 km • Cross the road and go straight. Pass the Canal des Minimes, place of the old tanneries and return to the Quai de la République. Before the roundabout, turn right and walk along the Puty Canal. Turn left and left again to find the Tourist Office.

This tour is perfect for a first trip uncovering of Verdun city. This route invites cyclists to discover over the many centuries, from 10th to today; the lively city of Verdun with its docks; Medieval period but also the late modern period of Verdun with its facades and its Art deco. An episcopal city, Verdun has a rich religious heritage since the 16th century, it forms with the cities of TOUL and METZ the province of the «Trois Évêchés» (Three Bishops). From the St-Baptiste Church or St-Victor via the St Nicolas chapel, simply walk the streets of the upper town and stroll along the river Meuse to be convinced. Verdun has an episcopal palace (now the World Peace Center), a cathedral, two old abbeys, seven churches and chapels ... 200 m • From the Tourist Office, take the direction of the Pont chaussée. Before the bridge on the right you can see the Children’s Monument. On the other side is the Porte Chaussée, official entrance of the city in the 14th century, and defensive element of the Grand Rempart. 300 m • Go to the right and follow the road to the roundabout. You will pass in front of the « Défense de Rodin » (19th century) the « Monument to women of the rural world » (monument aux femme du monde rural) 650 m • Turn left and pass in front of the subprefecture and Porte St-Paul (19th century). 1 km • Continue on Mazel Street. You can raise to eyes and contemplate the architecture and Art deco of this street (20th century) 1,3 km • At the end of the street, turn left on the bridge, and take the roundabout and the exit on the right to the City Hall then take the first street on the right (17th century). 4.1 km • Continue your tour to Pré l’Evêque Leisure Center. Enjoy this green area to go around the water. You’ll appreciate the calm and the tranquility. Exit the leisure center and take to the left the Pont Ecluse St-Amand (17th century). It allowed the upstream flooding that keep the city out of reach of enemy cannons then head yourself towards your the left to the Underground Citadel. 6,2 km • At the end, stop yourself at the Carrefour des Maréchaux (16 statutes that represent Generals and Marshals of the First and Second Empire). Go around the ramparts of the Underground Citadel and climb the hill to the right to reach the place de l’étoile. Turn left to reach Porte Châtel, the oldest gate of Verdun (18th century). 6,8 km • Go down to the Monument de la Victoire (Victory Monument) to enjoy the view. Retrace your steps and pedal to Notre-Dame of Verdun Cathedral (10th century) and the World Center For Peace (Centre mondiale de la paix), the former episcopal palace (18th century). 7,4 km • Follow the road and go down to the city center. Pass the Princerie Museum (14th century), then turn right to face 200m lower, the Chapelle Buvignier (Buvignier Chapel, 18th century), place of many exhibitions. Continue straight on the sidewalk and pass the Tour chaussée (Pavement Tower) to reach the Tourist Office.

This tour allows you to discover the Left Bank and the beauty of the landscapes of the Meuse Valley along the canal. Dead man’s hill (Le Homme-mort) has suffered some of the most deadliest combats just as much as those on the right bank. Today, it is a pleasant wooded mound that you can enjoy visiting. This course is perfect for a first try of the electric bike. Easy and with little difference in altitude, it will be perfect for a nice stroll with family or friends ! Limited in supply and manpower, the Kronprinz army cannot attack simultaneously on both banks of the Meuse. In order to obtain better results on the right bank, C.Q.G. German prepared the second phase of its offensive whose main objective was to take control of the hills of Mort-Homme (Dead man’s hill) and the Côte 304. These two natural observatories regulated the fires of the French artillery; it is in fact a crucial stake for the offensive continuation. The fighting raged on there for weeks, destroying villages of Esnes-EN-ARGONNE and Chattancourt. Rapidly, the battle peaks became untenable volcanoes; suicidal assaults fade to move on to countless murderous gunshots . To protect themselves from bombing, both sides took refuge on the hillside, digging tunnels. On August 20, 1917, the generals Guillaumat and Pétain begin a to put victorious offensive which has the effect four German divisions attached to the sector Mort-Homme-cote 304 to flight. To the thousands of prisoners, material and armaments captured, must also be added more than twenty thousand victims whose units appear on the current monuments. In this inferno, the village of Cumières will disappear completely and will never be rebuilt.

From the Tourist Office, join the walking and cycling path by Japiot Parc. 2 km • Go in the direction of BELLEVILLE-SUR-MEUSE. Arrived on the square, turn right after the Community youth club and arts Center (MJC for french people) to reach the main road. Take the road opposite and go past the pizzeria. 2,52 km • Take the direction of Commandant Drouot and go up to the street of the quarry to reach the cemetery. Going up the quarry path, you will begin to see the city of Verdun. Further, at the roundabout, turn right towards rue du fort. The very steep coast can be climbed easily with an electric bike. It’s a real pleasure. 4,4 km • You arrive in front of Fort Belleville, one of the first works built in Verdun. It was used to observe the road coming from Montmédy. It was considered a redoubt but quickly took the name of Fort because it becomes a second line work since it is placed too close to the central core. 4,65 km • At the end of the dirt road, you can enjoy an overview of VERDUN. Take the opportunity to do a landscape reading ! You will recognize certain monuments : in the center, the upper town and the 2 towers of Notre-Dame Cathedral, just to the right the very verdurous Citadel, then even more to the right, you will see the modern bell tower of the Jeanne D’Arc church. 6,65 km • Continue your visit and enter the National Forest of Verdun. At the intersection, turn left and continue until Fort St-Michel. It allowed to watch the means of communication coming from Metz and to protect the intervals with the works of Belrupt, Souville and Belleville. Access to this fort is restricted to the military men. 9,07 km • Take the path on the right and stay on the dirt road to the path of the Valtoline (D112), turn left on the road and change direction on the right on «path of Souville» to discover the fortified Massif of Souville. Take the opportunity to visit, you‘ll find a gun-turret, unique in France: the turret «Bussière». Follow your path to D913 where you will turn right in a few meters and join another path on your right 120 meters further. Once on the road, keep right along the railway. At the cobbled bridge, continue straight ahead to Verdun. At the crossroads, take in front. 15,51 km • At the bottom of the cemetery, turn right and then left, Commandant Raynal Street. You will then pass in front of the BRAQUIER Dragées factory, a gourmet specialty of Verdun. Verdun has been making this delicacy since 1783, knowing that the Dragee was born in this city in 1220. Always go straight and at the first roundabout take on your right. On the left is the Park of London. At the roundabout turn left to join the tourist office.

The enchanting landscape, misty rivers and endless forest of the Ardennes have inspired many poets in the past and continue to inspire them today. The towns of Charleville-Mézières, Juniville, La Roche-en-Ardenne and Bouillon were visited by two of the most famous enfants terribles of nineteenth-century French poetry, Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine, who shared the rebellious and defiant character of the Ardennes. They were two poetic geniuses who were complete opposites: Verlaine, the academic, formal poet and Rimbaud the instinctive, social-commentator poet. What a magnificent combination! They would shake up poetry for ever. This trail takes you through places where they sought refuge, places where they recharged their batteries, and places that inspired them.

This 83 km green way runs between Givet and Charleville-Mézières along the former towpath by the Meuse. Its asphalt coating allows access to any type of bicycle and roller skating enthusiast. It crosses through the grandiose landscape of the Ardennes massif, from north to south, following the meanders of the river.

Take to the skies during a hot air balloon flight over Reims and its surroundings!  You will enjoy an exceptional view of the Champagne region, taking in all of its distinct natural and architectural heritage. TAKE TO THE SKIES DURING A HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT OVER REIMS AND ITS SURROUNDINGS! You will enjoy an exceptional view of the Champagne region, taking in all of its distinct natural and architectural heritage. Upon your arrival, attend the inflation of the balloon before climbing into the basket and leaving Taissy behind for an escapade in the skies above Reims. Rising with the wind, you will fly over Reims at high altitude to gaze down on its renowned architectural heritage from the sky. You'll then be treated to spectacular views of the iconic vineyards and hillsides of Champagne as you fly over the Champagne Tourist Route or the Montagne de Reims Regional Nature Park. Once you return to solid ground, you’ll share a traditional balloonists toast to celebrate your adventure. A charming interlude in the airs of Reims to discover the landscapes of Champagne.

Take a trip back in time aboard a vintage 2CV, the iconic French mid-century automobile, to discover the must-see sights of Reims and the nearby vineyards. In the company of your driver-guide, set off on an original 2-hour ride. ON THIS QUIRKY 2-HOUR TOUR, YOUR DRIVER-GUIDE WILL TAKE YOU INTO THE HEART OF THE CITY OF REIMS AND OUT TO THE FAMOUS VINEYARDS OF CHAMPAGNE COUNTRY. From the car, you’ll be able to admire fine examples of the city’s rich heritage including the Reims Cathedral and Tau Palace, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Abbey of Saint-Remi, a registered historic monument, also lays on the tour circuit.  Your driver will then head out to Hautvillers in the Montagne de Reims, home of Dom Perignon and the birthplace of champagne. Take advantage of this original tour to see the best of historic Reims and the prestigious champagne vineyards! 

Discover the unmissable sights of the “City of Kings” and its surroundings thanks to this 1-hr-15-min. tour in a classic 2CV car. Fall under the charm of Reims and the surrounding countryside on this tour with a private chauffeur-guide. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS UNUSUAL TOUR IN A VINTAGE 2CV TO ADMIRE REIMS AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. ACCOMPANIED BY YOUR DRIVER-GUIDE, SET OFF FOR A 75-MINUTE RIDE THROUGH THE TOWN AND COUNTRY. You’ll be able to admire the valleys and hills that characterize the region of Reims as you make your way out of the city. Stop off on a hillside close to some vineyards, where your guide will reveal all the secrets of the history and production of champagne. As you head back into Reims, you’ll pass some of city’s most important heritage sites such as the Reims Cathedral and Tau Palace, which are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Abbey of Saint-Remi, a registered historic monument, also lays on the tour circuit.  Altogether, this tour by vintage car is a novel and efficient way to discover the “City of Kings” and the champagne vineyards! 

In the Middle Ages, the abbeys of Chéhéry and Montiers-en-Argonne (Marne) and of Lachalade (Meuse) were established in Argonne Forest: the monks’ task was to overpower the devilish forces and Celtic beliefs that haunted the region. To do this, they cleared the land – to excess. Razed in 1657, Chéhéry Abbey was to be rebuilt at the end of the 17th century. The classical, harmonious façade is a fine illustration of the Cistercian order. Today a substantial edifice of bricks and stone still remains, the former abode of priors and monks. The courtyard is flanked by two pavilions (outbuildings and shed).

Located in a rural setting. Easy to find. Just opposite the church.