Rocroy in the Ardenne

 

Thursday 29th August 2024

Our first night in France / Belgium  was a hot one in Thieu.

It was relaxing though watching the huge barges go past on the canal.

After a bit of a lie in, we set off for the small fortified town of Rocroy, just over the border back in France in the Ardenne region.

The town was built in the 16th century to a star design which I think is unique to France.

Gravelines near Dunkirk is built in a style but has water in the moats which makes it rather more attractive, to tourists anyway, maybe not to invaders who don't want to get a soaking ?

There's a great free motorhome aire just outside the town walls so after lunch we walked the short distance into the town.

There's not a lot to see but it's quite pretty and there is a lot of history to the town.

It's been fought over a number of times by different armys including the English.

Apparently in the late 19th century, the locals decided they needed a railway, so tracks were laid through the town centre, in one side and out the other, and a station built.

There's no sign of it now, I don't think it lasted long.

After tea, Louis and I walked the ramparts and saw the remains of the fortifications and the surrounding countryside. 

The best view of the town is from above, but a drone is needed of that and I don't have one, so I took a photo of a display in the tourist office.

It's been a lovely day today, but much cooler and more comfortable this evening.

Rocroy

Rocroy fortifications

Rocroy town square

I managed to capture an old Citroen 2CV in the photo,
much more French than most of the other cars around

Rocroy from above