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With
its
vast
plateaus,
valleys
and
forests,
the
Soissonnais
is
a
land
of
great
contrasts.
The
town
of
Soissons
was
once
capital
of
the
kingdom
of
France
and
is
also
famous
for
the
vase
of
the
same
name.
It
has
some
fine
historical
buildings,
most
notably
the
Gothic
cathedral
and
the
Abbey
of
Saint
Jean
des
Vignes.
In
the
surrounding
area
are
picturesque
villages
of
white
stone
houses,
as
well
as
some
remarkable
sights
:
the
castle
of
Septmonts,
the
abbey
of
Longpont,
the
many
wash
houses
and
wells.
All
this
was
enough
to
inspire
a
number
of
famous
writers
:
Racine,
Hugo
and
Dumas
whose
Three
Musketeers
first
came
to
life
in
the
great
beech
groves
of
the
Retz
forest. |
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Treasures
and
wonders
of
the
Aisne:
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| The
Fort
of
Condé |
Like
a
petrified
ship
in
a
sea
of
peaceful
green,
this
colossal
building
barely
shows
above
the
surface
of
the
ground.
The
fort,
designed
by
Séré
de
Rivières,
is
a
fine
example
of
late
19th
century
military
architecture,
following
in
the
fine
tradition
of
French
fortification
from
Vauban
to
Maginot.
Storm
this
bastion
built
of
dressed
stone
and
you
will
find
…
footpaths,
an
arboretum,
a
picnic
area
and
a
panoramic
viewpoint! |
Address/contact
details
Fort
de
Condé
02880
CHIVRES
VAL
Tel.:
03-23-54-40-00
e-mail:
fortdeconde@wanadoo.fr
Website:
www.fortdeconde.com |
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| Soissons,
become
a
master-builder! |
Will
you
be
enchanted
by
the
spires
of
the
Abbey
of
Saint-Jean-des-Vignes
and
moved
by
the
beauties
of
the
cathedral,
with
its
stained
glass
windows
and
painting
by
Rubens?
Soissons
was
chosen
as
the
capital
of
the
Merovingians
and
is
home
to
some
of
the
finest
treasures
of
medieval
architecture.
At
the
end
of
your
tour
of
the
Abbey
of
Saint-Jean-des-Vignes,
try
your
hand
as
a
medieval
master-builder
learning
to
rebuild
the
vaulting
of
the
ruined
church!
|
Address/contact
details
Office
du
Tourisme
16
place
Fernand
Marquigny
02200
SOISSONS
e-mail:
officedetourisme@ville-soissons.fr
Website:
www.ville-soissons.fr |
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