The best traffic-free bike rides around Lehaucourt

This is where the Somme River rises. Its name is traced back to Celtic origins and also gives its name to the department of the same name. At the time when Gaul was part of the Roman Empire, the river was called the Samara. It ends its approximately 245-kilometer-long river life in the Baie de Somme, where it flows into the English Channel.

The listed building is striking for its original architecture with a porch tower over 34 meters high, a double transept or a radio-concentric choir. Inside, the visitor is seduced by the ancient 260 m long labyrinth engraved in the paving of the nave. Stained glass windows installed at different times complete the artistic offer of the Saint-Quentin Basilica, with in particular medieval stained glass windows in the apse chapels dating from the 12th century. These depict episodes from the life of the Virgin Mary and Saint Stephen.

"God loves every soul with an undying love. He approaches each one with repeated, unspeakably patient offers of redemption. Even a small sign of love is enough for him to forgive and redeem. Our dear departed ones lacked a life preserver for the body; but the spiritual life preserver was not lacking, the breath of God in which the soul can clothe itself in a tiny moment, much more quickly than the body could." (Text by Albino Luciani / Pope John Paul I)

The Basilique Saint-Quentin is a beautiful Gothic church in the heart of Saint-Quentin, France. Built between the 12th and 15th centuries, this basilica is dedicated to the martyr Saint Quentin. With an impressive 133 meters long and 40 meters high, it is a real eye-catcher. What makes this basilica really special are the unique architectural elements such as the tower-portico at the front, the double transept, and the choir with radiating chapels. Inside, you will also find an ancient labyrinth of 260 meters in the floor of the nave, which is a fascinating detail. The basilica has a rich history and contains the relics of Saint Quentin, who were an important object of veneration in the Middle Ages. Although the building was badly damaged during the First World War, it was reopened in 1956 after extensive restoration.

Joncourt British Cemetery is a serene military cemetery located in Joncourt, France, and contains the graves of British soldiers who died during the First World War. Designed by William Cowlishaw, the cemetery is situated on the road from Joncourt to Levergies, approximately half a mile south of the village centre1. With a rectangular plan and surrounded by a stone wall, the cemetery provides a peaceful place for reflection. The Cross of Sacrifice, a hallmark of British military cemeteries, stands in the western corner1. The graves of 61 soldiers, three of whom are unidentified, belong to the 10th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders1. The cemetery is lovingly maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, who ensure that the memory of these soldiers is kept alive.

Nice rest and picnic area

As a memorial to the many dead, such a "MONUMENT AUX MORTS" (usually called a "Central Memorial" or "War Memorial" in German-speaking countries) is still very important today. "Now, Lord, you let your servant depart in peace, as you have said..." it says in the so-called "Hymn of Simeon" (Luke's Gospel, Chapter 2, Verse 29). However, the people who are remembered here did not depart in peace, but became victims of war and tyranny. Therefore, the term "fallen memorial" is now sometimes used instead of the "war memorial" that was previously common in German. In the French-speaking world, however, this aspect of commemoration of the dead has long been included in the most commonly used term "MONUMENT AUX MORTS". Regardless of language and nation, such a memorial has two important and at the same time everlasting tasks: -1- to keep the memory of the suffering and horror of war alive, -2- and to remind people of the need to maintain peace in the long term.

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