Aisne – our history is an open book

Château-Thierry
The birthplace of Jean de La Fontaine, France’s renowned writer of fables, was once a mediaeval stronghold. Today it is a major centre of mediaeval archaeology.

Laon
This mediaeval town perched on a geological outcrop boasts more than 80 listed historic monuments!

Saint-Quentin
Discover the architectural marvels of this beautiful town: the basilica, the town hall in flamboyant gothic style, “Art Deco” facades built after the war. The town’s museum has a collection of pastel drawings by Maurice Quentin de La Tour also worthy of a detour.

Soissons
Clovis I, king of the Francs, defeated the Romans in Soissons (giving rise to the famous anecdote about the vase of Soissons, one of France’s founding legends). Soissons was the capital of the Francs at the start of the Merovingian dynasty and also at its end (with the advent of Charles Martel in 710). Do not miss: the Cathedral and Saint-Jean-des-Vignes Abbey.

Vervins
Over the centuries, this town, which was a thriving settlement in Roman times, has hosted Charlemagne, the Burgundians, and the troops of Charles V. No less than ten of the twenty two towers of the town’s walls, which were built from 1163 onwards, are still standing.

Visit the Dragon’s Lair, the Museum of the Dark Ages, the Museum of Jean de La Fontaine, the Museum of Antoine Lécuyer, the Ateliers de l’Abeille (Bee-keeping workshops), the Museum of Jean Racine, and the Museum of the French Resistance and of the Deportation.

Jean-Baptiste André Godin dreamed up and built his “Palais Social” utopian colony in Guise from 1859 onwards, complete with stores, a theatre, a library, a school, a laundry / swimming pool and a nursery. This is the world’s only instance of a working utopian colony. The whole complex has been a French listed monument since 1991.