The best city hikes and walks in Ardennes

The train station in Charleville-Mézières is well-maintained and worth a visit. Built in 1858, its original facade has been preserved to this day. The capital, Paris, can be reached in 1 hour and 45 minutes by TGV, or Sedan in 15 minutes. Place Ducall is also close to the city center (a 10-minute walk). The large station forecourt is equally well-maintained and beautiful. Restaurants, hotels, and shops are available.

Arthur Rimbaud is considered one of France's most influential poets. He was a highly gifted student and was already writing poetry at the age of seven. He consistently received prizes and awards at the end of his school year. He became an adventurer who explored many countries and a businessman. The pride of the city of Charleville-Mezieres (birthplace) in the renowned poet of his time can be felt everywhere. There is, among other things, a worthwhile museum in the city: the Rimbaud Museum

It's a shame to leave this beautiful building abandoned, the city of Sedan is really not proud of its heritage ☹️

The city of Sedan at a glance

Near the moat of the Château de Sedan is the Dauphine Fountain. The current fountain, dating from 1787, replaces a first, the original, built in honor of the Grand Dauphin, son of Louis XIV. Water from the fountain comes out through the mouth of a male face. It is made of stone and is topped with a rather neutral pediment. According to the anecdote, on the day of the inauguration, wine was served to the people there instead of water. Source: https://www.monnuage.fr/point-d-interet/fontaine-du-dauphin-a123651

On this bridge the Meuse flows under your feet. Explanation of the course of the river: The Meuse is a river that rises in France on the Plateau of Langres near Pouilly-en-Bassigny, and flows through Belgium and the Netherlands. The river is 950 kilometers long. On the French part of the Meuse, it is canalized, and is called the Canal de la Meuse (Canal de la Meuse, and before 2003 it was called Canal de l'est branche Nord.) It mainly runs as a lateral canal along the Meuse. From Sedan the Meuse itself is navigable. At Givet and Heer Agimont the Meuse enters Belgium. The Meuse in Belgium is canalized with 13 locks and weirs. The Meuse flows over 126.6 kilometers over Belgian territory. South of Maastricht, at Eijsden the Meuse enters the Netherlands. In the Netherlands there are another 7 weirs and 6 locks. The Maas is navigable from the Sluis van Klein Ternaaien to the Borgharen weir. After the weir, the Maas forms the Grensmaas. The Grensmaas is not navigable until Maaseik. After that, the rest of the Maas can be navigated. After 's Hertogenbosch, the Maas changes into the Bergse Maas. A dug canal to disconnect the Maas from the Waal. Source: https://binnenvaartinbeeld.com/nl/maas/maas

The original stained glass windows disappeared during bombings in 1815, 1870 and 1918. Today the basilica has an exceptional collection of contemporary stained glass windows, created between 1954 and 1979 by René Dürrbach, a friend of Picasso. Over 25 years, this artist has created a colossal set of 68 stained glass windows, unique in Europe, which honor the former 'Black Virgin' and the 'Virgin of Light' by referring to the universal symbols of colors, shapes and numbers, inspired through his collaboration with Henri Giriat. Since 2018, the former sacristy of the church has housed the Trésor d'art sacré des Ardennes, which contains around fifty masterpieces (ancient statues, precious relics, etc.) that were previously inaccessible to the public.

This artwork is a result of a number of organisations working together, and was revealed in October 2011. Michel Goulet, the sculptor from Québec, made these eighteen 'chair-poems' in stainless steel as a link between the Musée Arthur Rimbaud and the Maison d'Ailleurs. Here, there are eighteen extracts from Rimbaud's works, each one followed by an unpublished poem by a contemproary Francophone writer. Vandaag staan deze stoelen er niet meer.