The best cycling routes around Pierrepont

The charming Romanesque chapel of the Templars is located in the museum park. The Order of the Temple was founded in 1128 and the bishop of Laon favored their installation in the city on land belonging to the king of France, located south of the canons' enclosure. The Saint-Jean-Baptiste chapel was erected around 1140: the octagon and the choir are the oldest parts; the porch was added a few decades later.

Ardon Gate

The Porte d’Ardon is one of the medieval city gates of Laon. The current structure dates from the 13th and 14th centuries. Originally, this gate was called “Porte Royée” because of its proximity to the royal palace of Laon. The gate consists of a châtelet with a portcullis and used to have doors. There was also a barbican, but this has now disappeared. Under the gate there was a fountain and wash houses, some of which still exist. The Porte d’Ardon was classified as a historical monument in 1909.

When you enter, take note of the well-preserved death statue of Guillaume de Harcigny (14th century). This healer learned his trade from Arab doctors in Syria. He was the personal physician of Charles VI and a psychoanalyst avant la lettre. The commandery of the Order of the Temple dates from the 12th century, housed the administration and served as a recruitment centre for monks-knights. After the order was abolished, the commandery came into the hands of the Hospitallers of Jerusalem. The cemetery of the Templars is now a garden. The Romanesque chapel with its bell tower and a choir that ends in an apse with a semi-dome are well preserved. Inside, you can see two statues of prophets from the facade of the cathedral.

The Palais de Justice in Laon, also known as the former Bishop's Palace, is a historic building that now serves as a courthouse. It is located on Place Aubry, next to Laon Cathedral. The building has a rich history dating back to the 6th century, when it was originally built as a bishop's palace. Over the centuries, it has undergone several renovations and extensions, particularly after being damaged during the fiscal revolt of 1112.

Viewpoint with bench and binoculars overlooking the vast surroundings.

The Basilica of Notre Dame de Liesse is a Gothic basilica dating from the 12th century and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who is said to have miraculously freed three knights from captivity during the Crusades. The basilica was a place of pilgrimage for many kings and queens of France, who came to pray for various favors and blessings. You can admire the beautiful architecture, the statue of the Black Madonna, the frescoes and relics of the basilica, and learn about its rich history and culture. The basilica is located in the town of Liesse-Notre-Dame.

Here, the city walker will find an early masterpiece of Gothic architecture, a style often found in this part of France – Chartres and Reims, for example, attract enthusiastic international visitors and are far more famous than Laon. In the following 13th century, many Gothic churches were built, not only in their country of origin, France, but also beyond the country's borders, where this sky-high, light-filled architectural style was now in great demand for new churches (for example, the laying of the foundation stone for Cologne Cathedral in 1248).