Top 5 things to do in Laon

Looking for a medieval adventure? Laon is the perfect place for you. You’ll discover an exceptional town nestling in the Hauts de France region, and more specifically in the Aisne département. A town much loved by Victor Hugo himself, Laon is unanimously acclaimed by those who deign to visit. A fortified town on a small hill, Laon has a population of no more than 25,000, making for total immersion with the locals. You won’t have to deal with mass tourism, and you’ll be able to enjoy this charming town in perfect peace and quiet.

1- Discover an important First World War site

Category : Cultural

Description: Located just a twenty-minute drive from Laon, you will have the opportunity to discover one of the sadly symbolic sites of the First World War. This is where the Battle of the Chemin des Dames took place. This devastating offensive, launched by General Nivelle on 16 April 1917, ended six months later on 24 October. The toll was terrible. Between 100,000 and 200,000 French and Germans lost their lives. On this tour, your guide will tell you all about the battle and its consequences. It’s a memorable and moving visit that will give you a better understanding, as a duty to remember, of one of the tragic events that took place in France that year.

2- Let us guide you to discover Laon

Category : Cultural

Description: A surprisingly medieval town, Laon has the largest protected area in France (370 hectares). This gives you an idea of just how beautiful the town is. Accompanied by your guide, he’ll tell you all about the different places in Laon. Contemplate the medieval monuments, private mansions and houses dating back several centuries while learning about the history of this mythical town.

3- Admire Notre-Dame de Laon Cathedral

Category : Cultural

Description: When you arrive in Laon, there’s one monument you just can’t miss: Notre-Dame de Laon Cathedral. It towers over the city as if watching over its inhabitants. This cathedral is very well known in France and is even considered to be one of the most beautiful in the country, with good reason. Construction began in 1150 and was completed in 1235, making it one of the first Gothic-style buildings in the country.

4- Visit the Laon underground passages

Category : Cultural

Description: When we tell you that Laon hides secrets, it’s partly thanks to its underground network! Visiting the underground passages is like learning the basics of the town’s history. As you visit, you’ll be travelling through the centuries. And I’d go so far as to say over 40 million years! Because yes, Laon was once underwater. You’ll be given an audio guide, which will tell you all about the history of the different sites as you go along.

5- Discover Laon’s main museum

Category : Cultural

Description: Labelled as a Musée de France, Laon’s Museum of Art and Archaeology was created in 1861. With over 2,200 works on display, you can retrace the history of the region through the centuries. The museum includes archaeological finds from the region dating from prehistoric times to the Renaissance. The museum is also renowned for its extraordinary Greek collection, with 1,700 items relating to this period. It is one of the largest collections of its kind in France, after the Louvre.