The best traffic-free bike rides around La Moncelle

The beautiful and strikingly modern town hall of the Mezières district. The adjacent forecourt was traffic-calmed a few years ago. There's also a drinking water fountain in the southwest corner of the square.

This section is part of the Trans-Ardennes, a cycle route that is fully signposted in both directions and which links beautiful historical sites in the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

The Trans-Ardennes Greenway follows the old towpath along the Meuse. As you leave Lumes, you pass under the railway bridge, then the motorway, before entering quieter lands.

The bright colors of the local materials can be seen on the facades that were previously painted: yellow for the natural stone from Dom-le-Mesnil, red for the bricks and purple-white for the Ardennes slate. The whole falls under monument protection.

Place Ducale is the central and historic main square of Charleville, the northern part of Charleville-Mézières. The square is a copy of the Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris. The only big difference is that the square in Paris was designed by Louis Métezeau and that of Charleville by Clément Métezeau, so brothers. The square is a feast for the eyes with 28 monumental buildings, built in the same Baroque style. In the center of the square there is a fountain and a classic merry-go-round. The Place Ducale became the beating heart of the city and still is. The symmetrical lines, the chessboard pattern, the arcades and the facades in red and yellow stone now regularly form the backdrop to events for which the city is known. The square was founded by its ambitious founder, the Italian prince Charles de Gonzague, who had a completely new city built in the 17th century. The square is 126 by 90 meters and the current buildings on the edge of the square all date from the 17th century.

The Hôtel de Ville de Mézières, was rebuilt after the bombings of November 1918 and construction was completed in 1930. The facade of the building contains elements of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. The interior of the Town Hall reveals a neo-Baroque decoration. In 1966, the municipality of Charleville-Mézières was created by the merger of several municipalities, making the Hôtel de Ville de Mézières the town hall of Charleville-Mézières. The town hall is located on Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, which was completely renovated and modernized between 2018 and 2020. It is an impressive building that reflects Charleville-Mézières' status as a department capital.

Sedan is a town with a great history. Also with Dutch connections. A daughter of William of Orange became the mother of two brothers here who both fought battles in the Netherlands. Marshal Turenne besieged Den Bosch in his younger years and later returned on behalf of Louis the 14th. His brother was, in addition to Prince of Sedan, governor of Maastricht for a while. There were also many contacts between the Protestants of both countries. You can find all these things in the castle and in the streets of Sedan. And that, between the restaurants, hotels and shops. The town is slowly recovering from the poverty and desolate impression of the past decades. It is becoming more and more beautiful. In addition, there are many events. The surroundings are also attractive. In short: A must-see a short distance from the Netherlands

Sedan is a historic city in the French Ardennes, located on the Meuse River. The city is known for the Château de Sedan, the largest fortified castle in Europe12. Other important sights include the Saint Charles church and the Place Turenne. Sedan has a rich history, with influences from the Counts Van der Marck and the De la Tour d’Auvergne family. From 1547 to 1642, Sedan was a principality independent of the Kingdom of France. The city was a refuge for Protestants during the Reformation and played an important role in several wars.