Charleville Mezieres (Ardennes) Information - Holidays in France, Gites de France, Villas in France

Place Ducal Arcade, Charleville Mezieres

Charleville Mezieres (Ardennes) mini guide

Guide point	Details
Department:	North East France > Champagne Ardenne > Ardennes >
Location:	Charleville-Mézières is 15 to 30min away from Sedan, and 50 min from Reims. It is the gateway to the Ardennes with its dramatic valleys and deep forests.
Public Transport:	By train: TGV from Paris takes about 1.5 hours By car: motorway A4 to Reims, exit Reims Saint-Rémi, then head for Charleville-Mézières by the RN 51-E46. By plane: The nearest international airports are Reims or Paris.
Tourist information website:	http://www.tourisme.fr/office-de-tourisme/charleville-mezieres.htm
Tourist information contact email:	charl.mez@wanadoo.fr
Tourist information switch board number:	+33 (0)3 24 55 69 90
Tourist information address:	Charleville-Mezieres, 4, place Ducale, BP 229, 08000. France
Quick links to accommodation:	Holiday rentals near Charleville Mezieres (Ardennes) - Hotels in Charleville Mezieres (Ardennes) Show all rentals in Ardennes - Self catering in Ardennes - Bed and Breakfast in Ardennes properties with pools in Ardennes -

The medieval citadel of Mezieres and the classical town of Charleville merged in 1966 to create Charleville-Mezieres. In fact Charleville-Mézières is made up of five very different communes, not just the two as its name suggests. In later years Mohon an industrial area, Etion with its village air and Montcy Saint-Pierre la Mosane where added.

Mézières is the original settlement and began life in 899 as a town replete with fortifications. Some remains of the fortifications can still be found on the west side of the town. The Porte de Bourgogne, the Tour des Liégeois and the Tour du Roy and the ramparts stand testament to the past.

In 1606 a young 26 year old citizen of Mézières named Charles de Gonzague decided to establish his own town, Charleville. Charles de Gonzague was an Italian prince with lands less than a league away, he commissioned the architect Clément Métézeau and gave the new town an innovative architectural style. An example is La Place Ducale, an architectural gem, with pavilions and arcades that form a beautiful symmetrical shape.

Charleville and Mézières amalgamated in 1966 and together with the three newer additions make Charleville-Mézières the interesting place it is today. It is situated amongst Ardennes dramatic valleys and deep forests, shaped by the meandering river Meuse which makes it ideal for walkers, fishermen and nature lovers who come to enjoy the peace in an area where tourism is largely undeveloped.

The poet Arthur Rimbaud (1854–1891) was born in Charleville at No 12 rue Beregovoy and further along from here is the Vieux Moulin, the town house that inspired his poem, 'Le Bateau Ivre'.

This wonderful town invites you to stop and relax in one of the many terraces on Place Ducale to enjoy a drink and watch the world go by, do some shopping in the beautiful town centre, watch the Great puppeteer’s clock play a scene of the legendary 4 Sons of Aymon (between 9am and 10pm, on the hour). From here you could visit the Ardennes Museum or sample local delicacies at the market on Place Ducale (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays).

The River Meuse is only a stroll from the Place Ducale, where a new facility has just opened, a 3 star camp site in a green area. It is connected to the centre of Charleville-Mézières by a footbridge which crosses the river. If you like sailing, you will also appreciate the beautiful river port and its houseboats.