At the Chemin des Dames, a path of remembrance also leads into the digital world: the virtual memorial supports collaborative indexing and the submission of photos, letters and notebooks. On site, the visitor centre offers another way to explore history, with interactive screens, archival images, eyewitness accounts and display cases.

History at the Chemin des Dames

Admission to the visitor centre is free during opening hours. Temporary exhibitions on the Chemin des Dames and the First World War are held there regularly. As opening hours may change, it is advisable to check the latest information before your visit.

The Caverne du Dragon is also part of this historical story: the museum opened to the public in 1999, and the visitor centre was added in 2019. The Caverne can only be visited on a guided tour; tickets are available online or on site. Check the booking and ticket conditions before travelling.

Natural areas and trails

More than 200 natural areas in Aisne are designated Espaces Naturels Sensibles (Sensitive Natural Areas). The official figure may change as sites are added or reclassified. The portal also lists more than 200 marked walking trails; this total may likewise change as routes are added or modified.

The offer also includes individual circular trails that are accessible to people with reduced mobility and have been awarded the Tourisme & Handicap label. Check the details for the specific trail you have chosen. This helps you select a suitable route rather than assuming that one trail reflects the entire walking offer.

At the Hottée du Diable, visitors can climb over sandstone blocks. Bois Hariez in the Forêt de Retz is an example of an integral biological reserve managed by the ONF. These two places illustrate different aspects of nature in Aisne: a distinctive rocky landscape and a designated forest reserve.

Maroilles and wine country

Maroilles is an AOP soft cheese made from fermented cow’s milk and shaped into a square. Sorbais, Mignon and Quart are its three smaller formats. The milk is produced, the cheese is made and it is matured exclusively in Thiérache, which spans the Nord and Aisne departments. Bocage hedgerows are also part of the landscape here: they protect livestock and pastures. The product brings together its local origins, production and landscape.

The vineyards in the south of the department offer a different culinary discovery. The Champagne tourist route through the Omois wine-growing area runs for just under 50 kilometres between Trélou-sur-Marne and Crouttes-sur-Marne. If you plan to take this route, check the latest conditions. Winemakers in southern Aisne also welcome visitors for tastings in their cellars; check the availability of the cellar you plan to visit in advance.

Plan your journey

As a general guide, Aisne is promoted as being an hour from Paris, less than two hours from Lille and 30 minutes from Reims. These are not current live journey times. Château-Thierry can be reached directly by train from Paris Gare de l’Est; check the timetable before travelling.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Autreppes, Berny-Rivière, Fère-En-Tardenois, Grandrieux, Luzoir, Martigny, Origny-En-Thiérache, Besmont, Englancourt, La Fere, Saint-Eugène, Iviers, Chigny, Jeantes, Ohis, Romery, Etreaupont, Fontaine-Lès-Vervins, Missy-Lès-Pierrepont, Marly-Gomont, Proisy, Vassogne, Lavaqueresse, Dorengt, Beaulne, Moussy-Verneuil, Viel-Arcy, Hannapes, 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, Orval, Laon, Gauchy, Fresnes, Droizy, Dole, Château-Thierry, Chamouille, Berry-Au-Bac, Condé-En-Brie, Neuvillette, Boncourt, Vadencourt, Lesquielles-Saint-Germain, Oigny-En-Valois, Aisonville-Et-Bernoville, Villers-Cotterêts, Parfondeval, Saint-Michel, Samoussy, Rogny, Fontaine-Notre-Dame, Holnon, Vendeuil, Villers-Lès-Guise, Braye-En-Laonnois, Caulaincourt, Chaourse, Pargny-Filain, Serches, Ugny-Le-Gay, Guise, Rozoy-Sur-Serre, Beautor, Monampteuil, Essômes-Sur-Marne, Crécy-Sur-Serre, Vauxbuin, Housset, Villequier-Aumont, Erloy, Marigny-En-Orxois, Neuville-Sur-Ailette, Vendières, Résigny, Artonges, Bony, Beaumont-En-Beine, Dallon, Roucy, Festieux, Vauxaillon, Filain, Paissy, Grandlup-Et-Fay, Pierrepont, Oisy, Jaulgonne, Boue, Gandelu, Chézy-Sur-Marne, Clermont-Les-Fermes, Courcelles-Sur-Vesle, Clairfontaine, Wimy, Vic-Sur-Aisne, 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, Chivres-Val, Reuilly-Sauvigny, 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, 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, Blérancourt, La Chapelle-Monthodon, Saint-Christophe-à-Berry, Le Charmel, Esquéhéries, Montreuil-aux-Lions, Bouffignereux, Vendhuile, Fayet, Prémont, Wiège-Faty, Viry-Noureuil, Toulis-et-Attencourt, Ronchères, Pontavert, Chierry, Estrées, Selens, Cilly, Hirson, Monthenault, Merval, Courmelles, Tartiers, Coincy, Chevennes, Pernant, Buironfosse, La Neuville-Housset.

For the broader travel overview: Picardy.