The best walks and hikes around Lumes

The beautiful and strikingly modern town hall of the Mezières district. The adjacent forecourt was traffic-calmed a few years ago. There's also a drinking water fountain in the southwest corner of the square.

The Place du château is a reminder of the medieval keep that stood on this rock in a meander of the Meuse. A castle was built here as early as the 9th century, undoubtedly made of wood. The earthen wall, surrounded by retaining walls, is still clearly visible. Around this hill, overlooking the surroundings, the city of Mézières was built over the centuries and populated by people from Burgundy or Liège. In the courtyard of number 10 we still see remains of a Gothic archway from the collegiate church of Saint-Pierre, built around 1200.

The “Monument aux Morts” in Mézières, now part of Charleville-Mézières, is a memorial that pays tribute to the 397 inhabitants of the city who died for France. The monument is located on the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, near the Hôtel de Ville de Mézières.

The Hôtel de Ville de Mézières, was rebuilt after the bombings of November 1918 and construction was completed in 1930. The facade of the building contains elements of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. The interior of the Town Hall reveals a neo-Baroque decoration. In 1966, the municipality of Charleville-Mézières was created by the merger of several municipalities, making the Hôtel de Ville de Mézières the town hall of Charleville-Mézières. The town hall is located on Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, which was completely renovated and modernized between 2018 and 2020. It is an impressive building that reflects Charleville-Mézières' status as a department capital.

From the banks of the Meuse canal a beautiful viewpoint opens onto the Porte de Bourgogne. This is part of the city walls which overlook the canal. It was built between 1591 and 1593 and rehabilitated by Vauban from 1675 to 1698.

At the edge of this magnificent lake, you can admire the view and maybe even catch a few fish. The trail also takes dirt roads through farmland and along the Meuse River, offering a wide variety of scenery and wildlife.

Fort des Ayvelles is a fortification built at the end of the 19th century to protect the railway network from enemy attacks. You can explore the fort's massive walls, underground passages, casemates and observatory, and learn about its role during the world wars. The fort is surrounded by a beautiful park with a pond, a playground and a picnic area. You can also enjoy the panoramic view of the Meuse valley from the top of the hill where the fort is located. The fort is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the entrance fee is 5 euros per adult. Don't forget to bring a flashlight, a bottle of water and your curiosity!

The Mezières town hall was built from 1927 to 1930 on an island cleared during the reconstruction of the town. The portal is made up of an Art Deco style ironwork grille.