La Fere brings together art and archaeology at the Musée Jeanne d’Aboville, military history and a cycling route along two canals. This gives you a clear choice when planning your trip: you can focus on cultural history, green spaces or a 43-kilometre bike ride. If you’re looking for a hotel in La Fere, these themes give your stay a clear focus.
Military History and the Quartier Drouot
La Fère’s history as a fortified town dates back to the conquest of Gaul: the Romans established a military post here, after which the town was fortified. A later chapter can be traced through the Quartier Drouot’s distinct construction phases. The old quarter was built from 1720 to 1732; the new quarter was established in 1767 to house the first French artillery school. Louis XV had founded the school in 1719. The dates therefore distinguish the school’s founding from the later establishment of the new quarter. A decree dated 19 January 1994 listed the façades and roofs of both the old and new quarters as protected monuments.
Art, Archaeology and Historic Buildings
The Musée Jeanne d’Aboville brings together an art collection and a local archaeology department. Assembled in the 19th century, the art collection includes works from Flemish, Dutch, French and Italian schools. The archaeology department spans the period from prehistory to the Merovingian era; it also includes a significant Gallo-Roman collection with several rare pieces. These offer different ways to explore the past: artworks from four schools and archaeological finds with local connections.
The Church of Saint-Montain and the Château de La Fère also offer their own connections to the past. The church was classified as a historic monument by decree dated 7 January 1921. The château was built for Marie of Luxembourg and has been part of the Crown estate since 1596. One wing survives and is considered an example of Renaissance architecture in brick and natural stone in Picardy. Both the château’s history and the architecture of its surviving wing are therefore significant.
Arboretum, Park and Cycling Route
The La Fère arboretum showcases a wide variety of trees, including wild service tree, alder, catalpa, swamp oak, giant sequoia and Japanese pagoda tree. The plantings may change over time. The entrance to Parc de la Mairie is through the gateway of the Musée Jeanne d’Aboville on Rue du Général de Gaulle.
For an active trip, consider the 43-kilometre cycling route “L’écrivain qui a jeté l’ancre.” It runs between Chiry-Ourscamp and La Fère, can be ridden in either direction and follows EuroVelo 3 along the Canal de Saint-Quentin and the Canal latéral à l’Oise. Its length, endpoints and canal route provide practical guidance for choosing your route. Check the latest route information before setting out, as infrastructure or signposting changes may affect route details.
Getting There and Choosing the Focus of Your Stay
La Fère railway station is an SNCF access point, located two kilometres from the Ribemont–Tergnier stage of La Scandibérique. This distance refers to the stage and is a different planning detail from the length of the “L’écrivain qui a jeté l’ancre” cycling route. If you’re planning to combine train and bike travel, you can treat these two figures separately.
The station and its stated distance from the Ribemont–Tergnier stage offer an additional point of reference for planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Crécy-Sur-Serre, Craonnelle, Viel-Arcy, Saint-Christophe-à-Berry, Laon, Guise, Festieux, Épieds
For the wider travel overview: Aisne.
