The best running trails around Ployart-Et-Vaurseine

In 1914, the peasant village of Ailles covered about 340 hectares, one third of which was forest. 61 houses were grouped around the church of Saint-Martin. The population was declining: in the 1901 census there were still 147 inhabitants, while in 1911 there were only 118. In honor of the Battle of Craonne, a magnificent elm had been planted on March 7, 1814. A century later, it witnessed a new battlefield as French and German shells wiped the village off the map...

The observation tower, inaugurated on April 16, 2013, overlooks the Plateau de Californie, a strategic site of the battles of the Chemin des Dames. The 20-meter-high, freely accessible tower offers a historical insight into the landscape and recalls the importance of the heights during the war. It also offers visitors who climb it an unparalleled view of the village of Craonne below, but also of the Chemin des Dames and the Champagne plain... The observation tower is topped with a blue beacon that is activated at night, thus forming a monument in the landscape. During the day, it allows one to survey the plain of Reims, while at night, conversely, it is visible from this plain. The structure of the tower consists of a spatially modular wooden Mikado, whose arrangement has been chosen according to the configuration of the terrain and the orientation of the viewpoints. The dimensions of the steps and handrails facilitate the climb and mitigate the feeling of vertigo that may arise. For this structure built amidst trees, wood was the obvious material. Renewable materials were selected: glued laminated timber from pine for the long supports, posts and beams from larch, larch wood for the steps, and tropical woods (Massaranduba, Cumaru, Ipé, Doussié…) for the platforms and railings. These woods, originating from French Guiana, are certified and their extraction is controlled. Source and further information: https://www.chemindesdames.fr/

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...

Inaugurated on April 16, 2013, the observation tower overlooks the Plateau de Californie, a strategic location during the war on the Chemin des Dames. Standing at a height of 20 meters and freely accessible, it offers a historical perspective on the landscapes and serves as a reminder of the importance of high points during the war. It also offers visitors who climb it an incomparable view of the village of Craonne below, as well as the Chemin des Dames and the Champagne plain. Equipped at its summit with a blue lighthouse, put into operation at night, the observation tower constitutes a beacon of memory in the landscape. Allowing a view of the plain of Reims during the day, it is, in a reverse movement, visible at night from this plain. 

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 Plateau de Californie, above the former village of Craonne, stands a 20-metre-high watchtower that was inaugurated in 2013. This tower offers a panoramic view of the battlefield of the Chemin des Dames and allows visitors to understand the strategic importance of this height during the First World War. The tower is freely accessible and equipped with information panels that historically explain the landscape.

The California Plateau Observation Tower is a wooden tower inaugurated in 2013 that stands 20 meters high on the eastern edge of the California Plateau, a strategic site during the First World War. From the top of the tower, you can admire the landscape of the Chemin des Dames, the village of Craonne and the Champagne plain. You can also discover the importance of the high points during the war and the battles that took place on this plateau. The tower is freely accessible all year round, but may be closed in case of bad weather. The California Plateau Observation Tour is a unique place to discover the history and beauty of this region.

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.