The River Meuse
The River Meuse runs through the centre
At the heart of the Parc des Ardennes, where Belgium and France form a single landscape of rolling hills and leafy valleys, lies the Meuse Valley. Symbolising the whole region, the Meuse was for centuries an important trade route, then a frontier between France and firstly the Holy Roman Empire, then Belgium. A symbol of fighting spirit during the First World War, the Meuse has focused so much on its industrial and military past that it is easy to forget that it once teemed with salmon and trout. In actual fact, the Meuse is perhaps above all a natural attraction.
Continue with the family on your journey through the countryside beyond the Parc Naturel Régional des Ardennes to discover a string of attractions such as the Maison Espagnole or the Dames de Meuse. Then, in the middle of a thick forest, enter the world of the ancestral Meuse of medieval legends and mysterious meanders like the village of Monthermé. Take the children on a walk up the hill known as Longue Roche, admire the sun reflecting off the rocks and enjoy the splendid views of the Meuse and Montfermé.
Unexpected activities at the heart of the Meuse
The Meuse Valley at the heart of the Ardennes has many places for memorable family outings like the Grotte de Nichet, an important caving site rich in minerals, a few minutes from the Belgian border and Fromelennes. It is the only cave open to the public in north-eastern France and has magnificent stalactites. Come back out into the fresh air and take the family to Terraltitude Adventure Park in Fumay for fun and thrills. Fly through the air above the Meuse at 100kph on the longest zip wire in northern France and take perilous leaps on the six secure treetop adventure trails. The most daring can jump 8m from the jump tower onto a giant mattress. For gentler family fun, hire quadricycles and pedal along the Trans-Ardennes greenway to Monthermé.
Broaden your horizons at the heart of the Ardennes
Leave the meanders of the Meuse for in search of more treasures, this time in the wide-open spaces of the Parc Naturel Régional des Ardennes. Contemplate the hills from the Pointe de Givet, admire the slate roofs of Val Sormonne then head for the wooded countryside of Thiérache criss-crossed with mountain bike tracks and home of the Château de Hierges.
If you have time, visit Charleville-Mézières, a peaceful town with an unusually rich cultural heritage including the Hôtel de Ville (town hall) at Mézières and the Musée Rimbaud, a building with a symmetrical façade and impressive columns, devoted to the poetic genius who was born in the town. Enjoy an afternoon snack on the magnificent Place Ducale, the main square, with a few ‘biscuits roses de Reims’ and a few verses by Rimbaud.
Useful Information
Access and Transport
To get to Monthermé, take A304 towards Belgium and exit at Sainte-Ponce. Go past Charleville-Mézières then take D989 to Monthermé.
To get to Fromelennes, leave A34 at Charleville-Mézières, take D989 to Sécheval, continue on to Mazures, then take D988 to Fumay. Then head towards Givet.
