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So close to Paris, with one foot in Champagne and the other in Picardy, is the Aisne department.
Around Soissons
Capital of the Frankish kingdom and city of the famous vase, Soissons and its surrounding area were a source of inspiration for some of the greatest writers in Aisne, notably Racine, Dumas and Hugo.
They were all captivated by true beauty of the châteaux, castles and abbeys of the charming Soissonnais villages.
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Soissons was chosen by Clovis to be the first capital of the Frankish kingdom and is still remembered as the city of the legendary vase.
Built on the banks of the river Aisne , the town stands tall above a landscape of vast plateaus planted with cereals and large areas of woodland, such as the state-owned Retz forest.
The local limestone rock produces the superb dressed white stone used to build houses in the lovely villages and the fortified farms that can be seen dotted over the broad agricultural land.
This stone was also used to construct magnificent abbeys, cathedrals and other crypts, châteaux and castles, such as the one at Septmonts on whose walls Victor Hugo carved the name of his beloved.
These stone masterpieces are an integral part of the rich and varied scenery which no doubt inspired some of the most famous writers from the Aisne, such as Alexander Dumas. |
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Visit Laon, the Chemin des Dames, taste our Champagne, book your hotel, gîte, self-catering, camp site or a delightful chambre d’hôtes (B&B), enjoy a stay at Center Parcs in a spacious cottage in a natural environment! Come with family or friends, and try one of a host of ideas for getting out and about. Relax, explore, walk, visit or choose from a wide range of leisure activities… Aisne, an ideal weekend getaway destination!