The best traffic-free bike rides around Orainville

Pouillon is a former Gallo-Roman village that once served as a fortified camp along a Roman road between Bordeaux and Pamplona. In the centre you will find traditional houses, a village square and the impressive Église Saint-Martin, an 11th-century Romanesque church with Gothic features, colourful stained glass windows and a marble altar. The Bénarrucq chapel, a former stop for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela, is nearby and adds to the historic character of the village.

Villers-Franqueux was badly hit during the First World War. In 1915, the village was almost completely destroyed by artillery bombardments. Reconstruction only began after the war, during which the current village image largely emerged. The war memorial and the town hall are reminders of this dramatic period in the village's history. The town hall dates from the 1920s and has remained virtually unchanged in terms of architecture since then. It is a fine example of the reconstruction architecture of the interwar period, with a sober but elegant style that is typical of that period.

This monument honours the inhabitants of Villers-Franqueux who were killed or missing during the First World War. The village itself was badly affected by war violence and largely destroyed. The monument symbolises the local suffering and the resilience of the community.

The Moulin de Sapigneul refers to Lock 2 on the Canal de l'Aisne à la Marne, located near Berry-au-Bac in the Marne department. The lock is also known as Écluse n°2 du Moulin de Sapigneul and is operated by Voies Navigables de France (VNF). The lock has a chamber length of 38.50 metres, a chamber width of 5.05 metres and a maximum draught of 2.20 metres. Nearby attractions include the Forêt Dommainiale les Blanches Terres and the ruins of Entonnoir.

The town hall of Guignicourt, now part of the merged municipality of Villeneuve-sur-Aisne since 2019, is located in the historic heart of the village. The building reflects the classic style of French rural municipalities and serves as the administrative centre for the region. Situated on the Aisne River, Guignicourt has a long history as a railway junction and trading centre in the former Laonnois.

In 1924, this memorial was erected in memory of the 22 soldiers and 12 civilians from Guignicourt who died during the First World War. The monument, located near the church, shows in relief a peasant couple mourning at a grave – a rare human and modest image rather than a classic military symbol. It recalls the deep suffering that the war left in this hard-hit municipality.

This church, built between the 11th and 13th centuries, is a fine example of transitional architecture between Romanesque and Gothic. It was built on the site of an earlier wooden church and possibly even a Gallo-Roman sanctuary. The construction was partly financed by the Abbey of Saint-Hubert (Belgium), which owned land in the region. The church has been protected as a historical monument since 1921.

To the northwest of Reims, the Chenay vineyard is made up of a vast plateau on which stretch beautiful champagne vines. In autumn, the spectacle is even more magnificent.