Braye-en-Laonnois offers several clearly distinct historical points of interest. At Moulin de Delay, the Canal de l’Oise à l’Aisne emerges from its underground section; the Froidmont quarry brings together the history of stone extraction and traces of war, while church architecture and monuments offer further perspectives across time. You can therefore choose your destination based on whether you are more interested in water engineering, quarry history or places of remembrance.
Canal History and the Napoléon Tunnel
The Braye-en-Laonnois tunnel is also called the Napoléon Tunnel. The Canal de l’Oise à l’Aisne opened to navigation on 28 April 1890. The canal’s history therefore draws attention both to the named underground section and to the waterway’s opening on a specific date. Those interested in engineering history will find two distinct points of interest here: a distinctive tunnel name and a fixed historical date.
The Froidmont Quarry: Dimensions and Traces
The Froidmont quarry cuts through the Chemin des Dames plateau at a depth of 15 metres and covers about 40 hectares. These two measurements describe different dimensions: the depth of the passage through the plateau and the quarry’s approximate area. In February 1918, it served as accommodation for French and American troops, including the 26th US Division with the 101st and 102nd Infantry Regiments. Its walls bear sculptures and graffiti made by quarry workers of the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as by First World War soldiers. In this way, the quarry’s physical dimensions sit alongside wall markings left by quarry work and wartime activity.
Church and Monuments
The Monument de la 26e Yankee Division stands on the heights of the commune of Braye-en-Laonnois, in front of the entrance to the quarry. It commemorates the division’s presence from February to March 1918. The dates highlight different aspects: the quarry served as accommodation for French and American troops in February; the monument commemorates the division’s presence throughout February and March.
The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin was originally built in the 13th century; the sanctuary and choir were part of this original structure. The Monument du 27e Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins focuses on a different subject: it commemorates those who fought in the First World War, the 1939–1940 battles and the Resistance. The 27e and 67e BCA are also part of this commemoration. While the Monument de la 26e Yankee Division commemorates a division’s presence from February to March 1918, this monument covers several periods of conflict and the Resistance.
Circular Route and Walk to the Monument
The “Autour de Braye-en-Laonnois” circular route is signposted for hiking, Nordic walking, running and VTC cycling. This gives you a choice of different activities. The access route to the Monument du 27e Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins is a separate matter: it can only be reached on foot. The walk takes about 15 minutes from the car park on the heights of Braye-en-Laonnois. If this monument is your destination, allow for the approximate walking time from this car park.
Discover more destinations: Grandlup-Et-Fay, Brunehamel, Vermand, Baulne-En-Brie, Vervins, Villequier-Aumont, Jeantes, Montigny-L'allier
For the regional travel overview: Aisne.
