Attractions and Places To See around Gruyères - Top 20

The Île du Vieux Moulin, or the Island of the Old Mill, is a beautiful park located on the River Meuse, between the city center and Mont Olympe. This island offers a relaxation area at the foot of the Rimbaud Museum. You can enjoy a walk at the viewpoint which offers a pleasant view of the Meuse and the water sports center on one side, and a rest and relaxation area on the other side with benches and the sculpture “Le Défrichement”, originally 2 ox drivers depicted pulling a plow pulled by 6 oxen. Only part of the original work remains (inaugurated in 1931) which was looted and destroyed during the occupation. The island is connected to Mont Olympe by a pedestrian bridge inaugurated in September 1934. It is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the area, with stunning views of an unspoilt natural landscape in the middle of the city.

The église Saint-Rémi was built in 1860-63 in neo-Romanesque style. Since the cathedral that Carlo Gonzaga wanted to build never came to be, the Eglise Saint-Rémi became the parish church of Charleville. The nave contains beautiful stained glass windows, made by the Troeyer studio in Reims in 1953-1954.

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 statue of Carlo Gonzaga is the work of Alphonse Colle, from Charleville, who also created the monuments to the fallen of Charleville and Mézières. The fountain was first built on Place Ducale in 1899 at the initiative of a wealthy patron of the Industrial Revolution and then moved to its current location in 1999.

Place Ducale in Charleville-Mézières is the nerve center of the city. Built at the beginning of the 17th century, this square has a decor similar to the Place des Vosges in Paris. In fact, it was two architect brothers, Louis and Clément Métezeau, who designed these places with their unique charms. Surrounded by pavilions and arcades, the square today brings together tourists and locals to café terraces.

The spacious square with similar architecture, the surrounding arcades with shops and cafés provide a high quality of stay.

If you're looking for a scenic ride with a touch of history, you can head to Belvédère sur Charleville. It is a tower built in 1848 by a forge master named Monsieur Lolot, who gave it his name. The tower is located on Mont Olympe, a hill that offers a panoramic view of the city of Charleville-Mézières and the Meuse. You can access the tower by following a path that starts from Square du Mont Olympe, a park where there is a statue of the poet Arthur Rimbaud. The course is not too difficult, but it will reward you with a glimpse of the past and a breathtaking view of the present.