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Offered languages
- English
- French
- Spanish
Laon, a city with rich medieval heritage, awaits you for fascinating exploration on foot. Discover its 15 emblematic sites, including the majestic Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Ardon Gate, and the mysterious Templar Chapel. This 4.2 km tour will take you through history, from Gallo-Roman remains to picturesque streets decorated with street art. With the navaway® app, enjoy interactive audio guides that will enrich your visit with anecdotes and historical commentary. An ideal experience for history and culture lovers.
- 4.2 km walking tour through Laon
- 15 points of interest including Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Interactive audio guides available via the navaway® app
- Ideal for history and culture enthusiasts
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
We build our circuits in the form of a loop so that you can easily start the tour at the point closest to you, the guidance will adapt automatically. If you are nearby, we recommend this ideal Check-out Point.
Itinerary
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(Pass by)
If Laon is no longer one of the great cities of France, know that it was a royal city, favorite residence of Carolingians. This gate, which opens the entrance to the city, is called the gate of Ardon.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
On your right, you have access to the Archaeological Museum of Laon. Enter his garden to discover the mysterious Templar chapel. The Templars, their name alone is full of mysteries.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
The old gate that you now see in front of you is the citadel gate. It was built in 1595 and overlooked the city on the one hand and the famous citadel desired by Henry IV on the other.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You spend a moment on the other side of the ramparts to follow the Yitzhak Rabin promenade. From here, you can easily imagine the foundations of Laon during antiquity, when the small Gallic fortress, perched on the highest hill, overlooked the surrounding plains.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Here you are on the small Place Aubry, with a sublime view of the imposing cathedral on the one hand and the Picardy plains on the other. Before I talk to you in detail about Our Lady of Laon, let me say a few words about the building on your right.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Here you are in front of the beautiful Notre-Dame de Laon. Commissioned by Bishop Gauthier de Mortagne, it is one of the first major Gothic buildings in France, before Notre-Dame de Paris! The present cathedral, which you have in front of you, was built between the end of the 12th and the beginning of the 13th century.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You will notice during your walk in Laon that the city is full of small touches of street art representing famous figures. Here you get to know Abelard, whom you certainly do not know, but at the same time he has been dead for nine centuries, you should not blame yourself.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
I quickly draw your attention to the old porch you see on your right. This is all that remains of the old Laon City Inn. The building was built in 1736 to accommodate municipal services.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You are now in General Leclerc's place. You have in front of you the new City Inn, finally, “new”, compared to the old because otherwise, it has been there since 1831.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
The building you see on your left with its two turrets facing the street dates from the 15th century. This is the Inn du Petit Saint-Vincent.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You are now facing a new witness from the medieval era of Laon, its abbey Saint Martin. And it's pretty big!
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You have just passed through the gate of Soissons, which closed one of the main accesses to the west of the medieval town. It was built in the early 13th century and topped by a guardhouse in 1562.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
While you go up Rue de la République to find the city center, I take the opportunity to talk to you a bit about a local specialty. Yes, one of the highlights when visiting a city is to taste the specialties of its region and discover the wonders of its land.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
This small platform allows you to have a nice unobstructed view of the city and the surroundings. In the distance, the infamous Chemin des Dames emerges in the Picardy plains.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You may have noticed that the city of Laon likes to decorate and brighten its streets. If you came in summer, you might have had the chance to admire streets covered in multicolored umbrellas or silver ribbons floating in the air, or some other installation they thought about to put some color and cheerfulness in the sky may too often be gray in northern France.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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