Aisne: Nature, History and Regional Delights

In the Aisne department, green landscapes, forests, protected open spaces and traditional know-how come together. More than 200 natural areas are designated as “Espaces Naturels Sensibles” (Sensitive Natural Areas). This official figure may change as areas are added or reclassified. Aisne offers a range of reasons to visit: nature experiences, memorial sites, regional specialities, and activities on trails and routes.

Landscapes and trails in Aisne

In Thiérache, the hedgerows of the bocage shelter cattle and pastures. In the Forêt de Retz, Bois Hariez is an example of an integral biological reserve managed by the ONF (French National Forests Office). The Hottée du Diable woodland offers a different natural feature: visitors can climb its sandstone boulders. These examples show different facets of the natural environment, though not every hike or route passes through the same landscapes.

Aisne has more than 200 marked hiking trails. The network also includes circular routes accessible to people with reduced mobility and bearing the Tourisme & Handicap label. Check the accessibility information for the specific circular route you choose. The department’s route resources also cover mountain biking, road cycling, véloroutes and greenways. This lets you choose between walking and different kinds of cycling, rather than assuming you will use a particular mode of transport for the whole trip.

Chemin des Dames: history and planning your visit

The Caverne du Dragon museum opened to the public in 1999; the visitor centre at Chemin des Dames followed in 2019. Admission to the visitor centre is free during opening hours. Its offerings include interactive screens, archival images, eyewitness accounts and display cases. Temporary exhibitions on Chemin des Dames and the First World War are also held there regularly; the programme changes. Check opening hours and the current exhibition before your visit.

The Caverne du Dragon can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Tickets are available online or on site; check booking and ticketing arrangements before travelling. This differs from a visit to the visitor centre, where admission is stated to be free during opening hours. If you are interested in the history of Chemin des Dames, the virtual memorial also offers ways to contribute: users can work together to index the collection and submit photos, letters and notebooks.

Regional specialities and wine landscapes

Maroilles is a soft, fermented cow’s milk cheese with a protected designation of origin (AOP), produced in part in the Nord and Aisne departments. Milk production, processing and ageing are restricted to Thiérache in both departments. Its distinctive feature is its square shape. Smaller formats include Sorbais, Mignon and Quart. These names therefore do not indicate a different region of origin, but smaller formats of the cheese.

In the south of Aisne, winemakers welcome guests for tastings in their cellars. Check before travelling which individual cellars offer visits. Another point of reference for wine enthusiasts is the Champagne tourist route through the Omois vineyards: it runs for just under 50 kilometres between Trélou-sur-Marne and Crouttes-sur-Marne. Route conditions may change independently of this geographical description. A cycling tour with a stop in Château-Thierry includes a ride through Champagne vineyards and a visit to the cellar of a local producer. Confirm the specific travel and booking conditions before booking this tour.

Getting there and choosing a base

Château-Thierry can be reached by direct train from Paris Gare de l’Est station; check the timetable for your travel date. As a general guide, Aisne is advertised as one hour from Paris, less than two hours from Lille and 30 minutes from Reims. These are guide times, not current journey times for a specific connection. You can then choose your accommodation based on the visits you actually plan to make.

Discover more destinations: Villers-Cotterêts, Parfondeval, Saint-Michel, Samoussy, Chivres-Val, Reuilly-Sauvigny, Ronchères, Pontavert, Chierry, Jeantes, Ohis, Autreppes, Berny-Rivière, Fère-En-Tardenois, Grandrieux, Missy-Lès-Pierrepont, Vendières, Résigny, Artonges, Bony, Beaumont-En-Beine, Dallon, Braye-En-Laonnois, Caulaincourt, Chaourse, Pargny-Filain, Serches, Ugny-Le-Gay, Guise, Rozoy-Sur-Serre, Beautor, Erloy, Marigny-En-Orxois, Housset, Villequier-Aumont, Saint-Eugène, Iviers, Chigny, Grandlup-Et-Fay, Fresnes, Droizy, Dole, Courcelles-Sur-Vesle, Clairfontaine, Wimy, Vic-Sur-Aisne, Beaulne, Moussy-Verneuil, Viel-Arcy, Hannapes, Roucy, Oigny-En-Valois, Aisonville-Et-Bernoville, Rogny, Fontaine-Notre-Dame, Holnon, Vendeuil, Marly-Gomont, Proisy, Vassogne, Lavaqueresse, Dorengt, Romery, Pierrepont, Oisy, Jaulgonne, Boue, Gandelu, Chézy-Sur-Marne, Luzoir, Martigny, Origny-En-Thiérache, Besmont, Englancourt, Château-Thierry, Chamouille, Berry-Au-Bac, Condé-En-Brie, Neuvillette, Boncourt, Vadencourt, Lesquielles-Saint-Germain, Orval, Laon, Gauchy, Septmonts, Saint-Paul-Aux-Bois, Braine, Martigny-Courpierre, Vauxcéré, Craonnelle, Seraucourt-Le-Grand, Laval-En-Laonnois, Cuiry-Lès-Chaudardes, Sorbais, Grougis, Crouy, Bouconville-Vauclair, Épieds, Corbeny, Guignicourt, Festieux, Vauxaillon, Monampteuil, Neuville-Sur-Ailette, Vauxbuin, Essômes-Sur-Marne, La Fere, Toulis-et-Attencourt, Filain, Bruyères-Et-Montbérault, Coucy-Le-Château-Auffrique, Saint-Pierre-Aigle, Maissemy, Marchais, Puisieux-Et-Clanlieu, Orgeval, Mont-Saint-Jean, Mondrepuis, Bourguignon-Sous-Montbavin, Coucy-Lès-Eppes, Brunehamel, Archon, Courtemont-Varennes, Bourg-Et-Comin, Saulchery, Fossoy, Paissy, Villers-Lès-Guise, Etreaupont, Fontaine-Lès-Vervins, Crézancy, Ribemont, Cugny, Suzy, Folembray, Noyant-Et-Aconin, L'épine-Aux-Bois, Bernot, Marle, Chauny, Cuffies, Missy-Sur-Aisne, Rouvroy-Sur-Serre, Liesse-Notre-Dame, Esquéhéries, Montreuil-aux-Lions, Bouffignereux, Vendhuile, Saint-Christophe-à-Berry, Le Charmel, La Chapelle-Monthodon, Blérancourt, Fayet, Prémont, Wiège-Faty, Viry-Noureuil, Estrées, Selens, Cilly, Hirson, Monthenault, Merval, Courmelles, Tartiers, Coincy, Chevennes, Pernant, Buironfosse, La Neuville-Housset, Baulne-En-Brie, Trélou-Sur-Marne, Mons-En-Laonnois, Parpeville, Connigis, Mézy-Moulins, Beuvardes, Anguilcourt-Le-Sart, Viels-Maisons, Chacrise, La Chapelle-Sur-Chézy, Moulins, Mercin-Et-Vaux, Veuilly-La-Poterie, Ambleny, Chézy-En-Orxois, Besmé, Vermand, Montigny-L'allier, Rosay, Chéry-Chartreuve, La Neuville-Lès-Dorengt, Ostel, Presles-Et-Boves, Sinceny, Achery, Charly, Montigny-Lengrain, Vendresse-Beaulne, Vervins, Soissons, Saint-Quentin, Saint-Pierre-De-Franqueville, Sainte-Preuve, Crécy-Sur-Serre, Clermont-Les-Fermes.

For the wider travel overview: Picardy.