Travel diary :  Culture & Heritage, In town

Visit Charleville-Mézières in 48 hours

In Charleville-Mézières, we like to count in pairs: the city and its two faces, medieval and poetic, the Place Ducale reflected in a checkerboard of 4, the artists who have come from the 4 corners of the world for the World Festival of Puppet Theatres... But above all, we're in for a treat!

DAY 1 - 10.00 am

Visit to the Arthur Rimbaud Museum

Charleville was the birthplace of the famous French poet Arthur Rimbaud, so the museum is a must-see! Located in the heart of the town in an old 17th-century mill, the building is listed as a Historic Monument. Follow the museum trail and immerse yourself in the life of the author through historical documents, manuscripts, photographs and contemporary works. The tour begins in the mill's attic, where you can immerse yourself in the author's poems, before moving on to the second floor, which is devoted to his childhood, before plunging into his adolescence on the first floor: love life, political commitment, passion for writing - a room as intense as it is fascinating. We continue on the ground floor in a room where photographs and works of art retrace all the poet's travels; then a cabinet of curiosities displays all the objects that Arthur Rimbaud cherished.

12h00

Passage through the Place Ducale

Considered one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, the Place Ducale is an 18th-century architectural gem. Listed as a historic monument, the square is the symbol of the dual city of Charleville and Mézières. Originally a commercial and administrative crossroads, it now brings together the political, economic and commercial life of the centre of Charleville. The best way to admire this square with its many details? Sit down at a table on one of the many terraces!
Once you've settled in and ordered a coffee, you can contemplate the work of Clément Métezeau, the square's architect. With its harmony and symmetry, everything seems to fit together perfectly - it's so pleasant! You can't wait to immortalise this scintillating landscape of red, ochre and grey.

13h00

Savour a typical Ardennes dish

The Ardennes have a lot to offer, including their gastronomy! After a morning of culture, let's continue our discovery with a meal. The emblematic Ardennes dish, cacasse à cul nu, dates back to the 18th century. This dish is made up of potatoes cooked in a roux into which bacon is added to flavour the whole, so comforting! You can also opt for Bayenne des Ardennes, a rustic dish in which slices of potato are layered with strips of onion cooked in a casserole dish with lots of butter, accompanied by a good piece of meat. A real treat!

15h00

A journey through history at the Musée de l'Ardenne

After a good lunch, we return to Place Ducale to visit the Musée de l'Ardenne, dedicated to the history and heritage of the Ardennes region, highlighting local history, crafts, traditional architecture and key events in the destination. The tour is punctuated by videomapping, a collection of weapons from the Charleville Royal Manufactory and a presentation of an 18th-century apothecary. You can also discover the secrets of the Place Ducale, which you visited earlier in the day, as well as the history of the founding of Charles de Gonzague's dream city. Finally, the tour ends with a visit to two rooms devoted to puppets, the symbols and patrons of Charleville-Mézières.

18h00

Meet the Basilica of Notre-Dame de l'Espérance

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de l'Espérance is one of Charleville-Mézières' landmarks. Its unique architecture, a blend of flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance influences, gives it a unique character: impressive and imposing, it is also colourful thanks to the stained glass windows that adorn more than 1,000 m2 of it! Listed as a historic monument in 1912, the basilica is home to the Trésor d'Art Sacré des Ardennes, a panorama of religious art from the 13th to the 19th centuries in the Ardennes, bearing witness to the skills of craftsmen as well as popular devotion. Inaugurated in July 2018, the treasure houses ancient statues, precious reliquaries, ornate chalices, embroidered chasubles and paintings in a modern museum space in the Basilica of Notre-Dame d'Espérance.

20h00

Night in the centre of Place Ducale

To end our day as it began, we head to Place Ducale to spend the night in the centre of this royal square of a thousand colours! With a privileged view over the square, adorned with pavilions and arcades, we're continuing our city break in style. In a flat where comfort and modernity go hand in hand, we're getting ready to spend a wonderful night in the centre of this fascinating modern square, facing a panorama that is emblematic of the Grand Est region.

DAY 2 - 10.00 am

Walk on the ramparts of Mézières

Head for the fortifications of Mézières: with its ideal location on the banks of the Meuse, Mézières was a commercial hub in the Middle Ages, but its ramparts also made it a strategic centre for the defence of the kingdom. Although partly destroyed, you can still admire the Porte de Bourgogne, the Tour du Roy and the Tour Millard, proudly defended by the knight Bayard against the armies of Charles V in 1521. Today, Mézières shines thanks to the Art Deco influence of its buildings!

Château-fort de Sedan
Château-fort de Sedan

13h00

Visit Sedan Castle

The largest in Europe, the Sedan fortress is the pride of the Grand Est region! A must-see in the Ardennes, it's the perfect place to take a fun and fascinating tour of 6 centuries of history. Through anecdotes, stories and videos, the castle, including its Twin Towers, will no longer hold any secrets for us! Putting yourself in the shoes of a lord and preparing for war is a real eye-opener: we end our visit with a fabulous medieval banquet, held in the castle's former kitchens. Impressive!