Le Neufour brings together a long history of glassmaking and a 25-kilometre forest route. Its glassmaking history stretches from the 16th to the 19th century; the hike runs from Le Neufour to Varennes-en-Argonne and passes traces of the First World War. The church is also part of the village’s cultural heritage: one window depicts Saint Francis of Assisi alongside a dying soldier. This gives you different options when planning your trip: explore glassmaking history and commemorative heritage, or set aside time for an extended hike.

Glassworks: changing names and products

Under the name “Verrerie des Recrêtes, puis Le Neuf Four”, several workshops operated in Le Neufour from 1525 to 1826, followed by a factory. The year 1539 marks the beginning of the documented history of the Verrerie du Cristallin in Le Neufour. It produced tableware from a high-quality glass known as “cristallin”. Together, the names and dates tell the story of glassmaking that spanned several centuries.

The products also changed: until the mid-17th century, the Le Neuf Four glassworks made tableware. After that, it produced bottles in various types and sizes, garden cloches, and black glass objects. The Verreries du Neufour are also a stop on the Circuit Verre d’Argonne. Those interested in the history of glass will therefore find a specific connection here to a named glass-culture trail.

The church and remembrance of the First World War

Le Neufour’s church is one of the churches in the Pays d’Argonne that have or have had commemorative windows dedicated to the First World War. One church window depicts Saint Francis of Assisi alongside a dying soldier. The regional context and the specific image offer two different ways into the region’s commemorative heritage: the church forms part of a wider tradition of commemorative windows in the Pays d’Argonne, while the image itself provides a particular point of reference in Le Neufour.

A long forest route to Varennes-en-Argonne

The route shown on the GR14B and GR14 runs from Le Neufour to Varennes-en-Argonne. It is 25 kilometres long and runs entirely through the forest. This is an extended hike, so take its distance into account when planning your day. Check route conditions before setting out.

Along the way, the route passes the Haute Chevauchée ossuary. Remains of trenches and mine-warfare craters from the First World War are also preserved along the route. This brings forest landscapes and tangible traces of wartime history together on the same trail. It sets this hike apart from a focus solely on the local history of the glassworks and complements the church’s commemorative connection with a landscape perspective.

The Easter egg hunt in 2026

In 2026, the Easter egg hunt in Le Neufour celebrated its 40th year. On Easter Monday that year, participants collected 700 fresh eggs and hundreds of sweets in the forest. Afterwards, dozens of guests shared a large omelette. These figures and details refer to the 2026 event. If you would like to plan a future Easter trip around this event, check the dates and arrangements for the relevant year.

Discover more destinations: Avillers-Sainte-Croix, Naix-aux-Forges, Montmédy, Lachaussée, Velosnes, Haironville, Nettancourt, Bras-sur-Meuse.

For the broader travel overview: Meuse.