Chateau Thierry Tourist Information - Jean de La Fontaine - Jean Racine - Paul Claudel

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Chateau Thierry Tourist Information - Jean de La Fontaine - Jean Racine - Paul Claudel

With prices starting from as little as £25* each way for a car and up to nine people and day trip fares, don't miss out on a great break this spring. More details here.

The District Of Chateau -Thierry

The district of Chateau -Thierry is known as the land of writers (Jean de La Fontaine, Jean Racine, Paul Claudel) and offers visitors a wide choice of things to do and see. The local touorism website describes the district as "A land of valleys, plateaux, hills and forests. A land where invasions and wars have left their scars."

Amongst the attractions you can visit in the area are:

Castles:

CONDE-EN-BRIE - www.chateaudeconde.com - Tél : 33.(0)3.23.82.42.25
Home of Condé Princes, this castle became the "country dwelling" of Marquis de La Faye during the XVIII° century. Passionate of art, he invited reknown painters such as Servandoni, Oudry, Watteau ... to decorate the rooms of the castle.
CHATEAU-THIERRY - Tél : 33.(0)3.23.83.03.46
On the "White Mount", overlooking the city, Charles Martel built a first castle where he imprisoned Thierry IV in the 8th century.
In 1060, Hughes Lambert levelled the top of the hill and had the first part of the fortified walls built.
Later, the Counts of Champagne, François d'Alençon and Richelieu had dwellings and churches built.
The Duchy of Château-Thierry was later given to the Bouillon Family, who left it without proper maintenance, most of its buildings falling down to their foundations.
However, the ruins of the castle give a fairly good idea of its former mightiness.
FERE-EN-TARDENOIS
The ruins of the feudal castel and its Renaissance gallery are located two miles from town centre.
The castle was built in 1206 by Robert, Count of Dreux and Braine.
From 1528 to 1560, Anne de Montmorency had important modifications made, adding a gallery bridge to it.
From 1971 on, Raymond de La Tramerie undertook a rehabilitation program, then donated the castle to Aisne General Council.
LA FERTE-MILON
Built by the Duke of Orléans, at the end of the XIV° century on the ruins of a merovingian construction, the castle was never completed after the murder of the Duke in 1407.
The magnificent facade only is now standing 200 metres wide and 38 metres high, with a superb low-relief representing the crowning of the virgin, located above the ogive of the entrance gate.
From the terrace of the castle, one overlooks the whole city and the river Ourcq valley.
free access year around.

Museums:

JEAN DE LA FONTAINE MUSEUM - Tél : 33.(0)3.23.69.05.60
12, rue Jean de La Fontaine
02400 - Château-Thierry

Monuments:

OLD COVERED MARKETS: Fère-en-Tardenois, Marigny-en-Orxois
SIGHTSEEING IN TOWN CENTRES: Château-Thierry, Chézy-sur-Marne, La Ferté-Milon, Léon Lhermitte monument

Remembrances:

THE BATTLE OF FRANCE - Tél : 33.(0)3.23.69.88.99

In february 1814, the battle extends to the south of the Aisne region. Napoléon and his army barely numbering 100.000 men, threw back the russian, austrian and prussian armies. From Champaubert to Château-Thierry, via Vauchamps and Montmirail, the memory of these battles is present along an historical and touristical itinerary, marked "Route des 4 Victoires" (Road of the 4 Victories) In the centre of this itinerary, "Room 1814" in Essises displays an important collection of weapons and documents pertaining to the 1st Empire. An original slides projection shows the capture of the Caquerets occupied by the prussians ...

THE FIRST WORLD WAR - Franco-Britannic Cemetery - Protestant Church - Quentin Roosevelt Fountain - Hill 204 Memorial - American Cemetery - Seringes-et-Nesles - American cemetery of Belleau Wood.
In 1918, the american troops engaged in the allied counter-offensive distinguished themselves for the defence of freedom.
Now, many cemeteries and memorials are reminders of the sacrifice of these young men thrown into battle, and perpetuate the memory of franco-american friendship during the 2nd battle of the Marne.
Twice during the Great War, the region of Château-Thierry was the site of battles which determined the fate of France

Churches:

Cerfroid Convent - Brumetz - trinitairescerfroid.free.fr - Trinitary Monks : 33.(0)3.23.71.44.39 - Trinitary Nuns : 33.(0)3.23.71.41.85
Clarisses Abbey - Nogent-l'Artaud
information : association "Nogent Historique"
rue des Ecoles - 02310 - Nogent-l'Artaud
Abbatial church - Essômes-sur-Marne - Tel: 33.(0)6.08.68.69.52
Commandery of Moisy - Montigny-l'Allier - Tel: 33.(0)3.23.71.41.86

As well as hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation, visitors can rent a "Rural Lodgings" or enjoy camping facilities. Château-Thierry is just off the main A4 motorway between Paris and Reims.

For more details visit the excellent district tourism website here.

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