Attractions and Places To See around Neuville-Lez-Beaulieu - Top 20

Rocroi is a charming town in the French Ardennes, known for its unique star-shaped fortification structure dating back to the 16th century. By order of King Henry II, Rocroi was fortified as a strategic stronghold against Spanish influence, which later proved its worth during the Battle of Rocroi in 1643, a decisive French victory in the Thirty Years' War. The town is distinguished by its radial layout, with ten streets radiating from the central square, and, along with Palmanova in Italy, is one of the few European towns to have completely preserved this military architecture. Today, Rocroi is a protected heritage town, beloved for its historic charm, walking trails along the ramparts, and local specialties such as Rocroy beer and cheese.

The Halle de Rocroi is a historic market building dating from the 17th century and is a central feature of the Place d’Armes in Rocroi. Originally built as a covered market hall, it served as a meeting place for merchants and citizens in this strategically located fortified town. The hall was constructed in a classical regional style, with a wooden roof and open arcades that provided protection from the elements. Although the building was modified several times over the centuries, it retained its function as a social and economic hub well into the 20th century.

The King's Bastion in Rocroi is one of five bastions that together form the city's characteristic star-shaped fortification structure. These bastions were built in the 16th century by order of King Henry II in response to the military threat from the nearby Fort Charlemont in Givet. Situated at one point of the star, the King's Bastion played a crucial role in the city's defense and offered strategic views of the surrounding landscape. The bastion was built according to the principles of Renaissance military architecture, with thick walls, low profiles, and a geometric design designed to ward off enemy attacks. Today, the King's Bastion remains largely intact and is open to visitors. From its ramparts, you have an impressive view of the city and the surrounding Ardennes, and the bastion forms a key part of the heritage route that crisscrosses Rocroi.

Very nice building with large picnic tables for a break

This casemate is typical of that encountered along the Maginot Line. This fortification line was built in the 1930s to prevent a German invasion. The casemates of the La Neuville-aux-Joutes forest mainly served as shelters for troops and locations for machine guns and light artillery.

built in 1555 under Henry II to serve as a shelter in the event of a siege.

Built in 1996/97. Benches right next to take a break.

Silent witnesses of the Maginot Line. The Maginot Line was a French defense line constructed between 1930 and 1938 on the borders with Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany in the north and with Italy in the south. The purpose of the line was to protect France against a surprise attack such as that which had taken place in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, in which France had lost Alsace and part of Lorraine to Germany. When Alsace and Lorraine became part of France again after the First World War, the old defenses were not only outdated, but also too far from the new border. Moreover, France had lost so many soldiers in the First World War that its borders could not be adequately defended without additional measures. French Minister of War Paul Painlevé was the driving force behind the line, but ultimately his successor and war veteran André Maginot submitted the construction plan to the French parliament in 1930. His 2.9 billion francs (today: 1.5 billion euros) project placed a heavy burden on the French economy, especially at a time of economic crisis. However, defense against Germany was considered vital, especially when Adolf Hitler came to power. In addition, it created 20,000 jobs and electrified the border areas. Source: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maginotlinie