Attractions and Places To See around Sainte-Croix - Top 20

This stone statue of Napoleon I , sculpted by Georges Thurotte in 1974, commemorates the victory of the French armies at Craonne against the Russian and Prussian armies of General Blücher on March 7, 1814 . It was built on the site of the Vauclair mill which served as an observation post during this battle...

This stone statue of Napoleon I, sculpted by Georges THUROTTE, commemorates the victory of the French armies at Craonne against the Russian and Prussian armies of General Blücher on March 7, 1814, which left 12,000 dead (7,000 French and 5,000 Russians, whose mass graves were scattered during the fighting of the First World War. Placed high on a mound and built on the former site of the Moulin de Vauclerc, which served as an observatory for the emperor, the limestone statue represents the Emperor scanning the horizon in a dignified position.

On the eastern edge of the Chemin des Dames plateau lies the Ferme d’Hurtebise, a place that played a crucial role during both the Napoleonic Wars and the First World War. In 1814, it was the scene of the Battle of Craonne, and exactly a century later it again became a strategic junction in the struggle between French and German troops. From September 1914 onwards, fierce fighting took place here. The farm overlooked the Ailette and Aisne valleys, making it a fiercely contested observation post. French units, including Zouaves and the 12th and 49th Infantry Regiments, tried to hold or retake the farm, often with heavy losses. The family that owned the farm sheltered in the cellar for days while the building was under fire. After months of fighting and bombardment, the farm was reduced to ruins, crisscrossed by trenches. Today the site is a symbol of resistance and sacrifice, and is part of the Chemin des Dames memorial landscape.

During the First World War, Cerny-en-Laonnois was a strategic point along the Chemin des Dames, a ridge fiercely contested by French and German troops. In September 1914, the village was taken by the Germans, who used it as a defensive post. They dug deep underground networks in the limestone, which served as shelters and munitions stores. In the spring of 1917, the area became the scene of the Nivelle Offensive, a large-scale French attack that resulted in heavy losses and eventually led to mutinies within the French army. Cerny-en-Laonnois was completely destroyed by artillery fire and fighting. After the war, the village was rebuilt a little further south. Today, the military cemeteries, the memorial chapel and the “Lanterne des Morts” bear witness to the immense human suffering that took place here.

A remarkable remnant of what was once a large and important abbey. Caesar, Napoleon and German troops are said to have passed through this area during the First World War.

This abbey, which was founded in 1134 by St. Bernard, was severely damaged in a bombardment in 1917. The best preserved buildings are the pantry, the refectory of the lay brothers, the chapter house and the monks' hall. The foundations of the abbey church and the inn are still visible. Next to the garden with medicinal plants there is an exhibition space. Surrounding it is the monastic forest of Vauvelair, which covers 1000 hectares.

The Étang des Moines lake is one of the four ponds that were dug by the monks of Liessies Abbey at the end of the 17th century. Covering an area of approximately 20 hectares, it is home to various species of fish, such as carp, pike, perch, roach and tench. The lake is also a haven for wildlife, particularly birds, such as herons, ducks, coots and kingfishers. You can appreciate the tranquility and beauty of the lake from different viewpoints, such as the wooden bridge or the picnic area.

Between the woods and the greenway, this former abbey is interesting from a historical point of view