The best cycling routes around Montaigu

This memorial stone, located on the Plateau de Californie above the old Craonne, commemorates the fierce fighting of April-May 1917 during the Nivelle Offensive. It stands on the spot where the French army suffered heavy losses in the battle against the German defenses. The stone also pays tribute to the destroyed village of Craonne, which was not rebuilt after the war. The site is closely linked to the famous “Chanson de Craonne”, the pacifist song of the French soldiers

On the eastern edge of the Chemin des Dames plateau lies the Ferme d’Hurtebise, a place that played a crucial role during both the Napoleonic Wars and the First World War. In 1814, it was the scene of the Battle of Craonne, and exactly a century later it again became a strategic junction in the struggle between French and German troops. From September 1914 onwards, fierce fighting took place here. The farm overlooked the Ailette and Aisne valleys, making it a fiercely contested observation post. French units, including Zouaves and the 12th and 49th Infantry Regiments, tried to hold or retake the farm, often with heavy losses. The family that owned the farm sheltered in the cellar for days while the building was under fire. After months of fighting and bombardment, the farm was reduced to ruins, crisscrossed by trenches. Today the site is a symbol of resistance and sacrifice, and is part of the Chemin des Dames memorial landscape.

During the First World War, Cerny-en-Laonnois was a strategic point along the Chemin des Dames, a ridge fiercely contested by French and German troops. In September 1914, the village was taken by the Germans, who used it as a defensive post. They dug deep underground networks in the limestone, which served as shelters and munitions stores. In the spring of 1917, the area became the scene of the Nivelle Offensive, a large-scale French attack that resulted in heavy losses and eventually led to mutinies within the French army. Cerny-en-Laonnois was completely destroyed by artillery fire and fighting. After the war, the village was rebuilt a little further south. Today, the military cemeteries, the memorial chapel and the “Lanterne des Morts” bear witness to the immense human suffering that took place here.

Ailette Lake is a haven of tranquility surrounded by greenery. Its calm and clear waters invite you to relax, whether for a stroll along the lake, a canoe trip or a picnic break. The preserved natural setting offers magnificent views of the surrounding wooded hills and the developed beaches.

Passage Via Francigena 17: You will pass through Bièvres, a green seaside resort with underground quarries and the Saint-Pierre church with its slate-covered bell tower

The church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste is listed as a historical monument: nave from the twelfth century, square tower of the crossing from the thirteenth century, traces of fortifications on the walls of the transept and on the bell tower from the fifteenth century. The rose window was influenced by that of the cathedral Notre-Dame de Laon.

Vorges is a small village located approximately 6 km south of Laon, in the Hauts-de-France region. The village has a rich history dating back to Roman times, when it was part of the territory of the Rèmois, a Gallic tribe. In the 5th century, the Germanic and Frankish people settled in the area, which led to the further development of the village. During the early Middle Ages, under the rule of Clovis and the influence of Bishop Saint Rémy, Christian influence began to grow in Vorges. Archaeological excavations have uncovered Merovingian tombs, which contain some of the first Christian cemeteries in the region. In the 12th century, Vorges was mentioned in several historical documents and had a thriving wine-growing sector with 512 vineyards owned by various abbeys. The village also has a fortified church, built between 1180 and 1230, which was reinforced during the Hundred Years' War to withstand attacks from the English and Burgundians.

Craonne is special among the memorial sites for France. In addition to the tragic destruction of the place, this has to do with the unfortunate battle, the errors of the army leadership and the soldiers' protests. A testimony is the famous song "Chanson de Craonne".