The best road cycling routes around La Bouteille

The faithful trust in the help of the Mother of God – who in France is always venerated under the title “Notre-Dame” (which corresponds to the German name “Our Lady”) – was expressed by the French nun, mystic and Doctor of the Church, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (religious name Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, 1873 to 1897) as follows: “In trials or difficulties I turn to Mother Mary, whose gaze alone is enough to dispel all fear.”

The Église Notre-Dame de Plomion is a historic church located in Plomion, in the Aisne department, France. The church was built between the 12th and 16th centuries and is an example of a fortified church. The building consists of a large quadrangular tower between two towers, with a truncated tower at each end of the transept. The church has an impressive interior with a choir and transept covered with ribbed vaults. There are several paintings and sculptures on display, including a depiction of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane in the left transept.

A short tour in the Avesnes countryside offering beautiful views of Solre-le-Château and its leaning bell tower. Route mainly on asphalt paths with however a grassy path over 600m. Possibility of walking from Lez-Fontaine to the hamlet of l'Epine via the greenway. Ideal departure: the square of Solre-le-Château where parking is easy and where it is possible to eat or refuel.

Without doubt one of the most beautiful of the 65 fortified churches in Thiérache. Remarkably restored. A must-see!

Very nice asphalted railway line cycle path EV3.

The fortified church of Plomion is one of the most remarkable in Thiérache. Completely renovated and freely accessible upstairs, since June 25, 2022, it was built in bricks and stands on the foundations of an old church, where a permanent garrison was stationed. This church is the "finished" type of fortress church which includes all the elements of fortification: tower, keep, turrets, watchtowers and a set of more than 60 loopholes including 42 on the keep! Numerous geometric patterns in vitrified bricks such as hearts and diamonds adorn the building.

The Ax Vert de la Thiérarche is a former railway line that has been converted into a cycling and walking path. The trail of almost 40 kilometers runs from Guise to Hirson, via Autreppes, and offers a pleasant and peaceful environment for walking, cycling and horse riding. The path runs along the banks of the Oise River and offers beautiful views of the natural and cultural heritage of the Thiérache.

Locomobile No. 3003, which can be seen at the entrance to the town of Buire and the former railway depot, was manufactured in 1900 by the construction engineer Emile Salmson. Its operating pressure was 7 bars. Property of the Northern Railway Company, it was used to drive the machine tools of the Hellemes Workshops (North). As the SNCF machine tools became autonomous, she ended her career in 1939. It was Monsieur Raclot, director of the Leclerc center, who offered her second youth to the ECO-RAIL association.