Laon, Medieval fortress city in Hauts-de-France, France
Description
Laon is a small town perched on a limestone plateau in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France, divided between an upper and a lower town. The upper town preserves its medieval layout with narrow streets, ramparts and towers, while the lower town accommodates modern residential areas and the railway station.
History
The Romans built a military post here, which developed into a major Frankish settlement and episcopal seat in the 5th century. During the Middle Ages, the site became the seat of a powerful county and witnessed several sieges during religious conflicts.
Culture
The cathedral is famous for the ox-head sculptures on its western towers, a tribute to the animals that hauled building material up to the plateau during its construction. Visitors today notice the many staircases and narrow lanes of the upper town, which shape daily life in this elevated urban core.
Practical
The cable railway connects the lower town to the upper town, saving visitors the steep climb on foot up numerous staircases. The upper town is easily explored on foot, as its size is manageable and most points of interest lie close together.
Did you know?
Beneath the upper town lies a network of tunnels and cellars originally used for stone extraction and later as shelter during wartime. Some of these underground passages stretch more than 100 meters and run through the plateau at several levels.
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Laon Cathedral
147 m
Poma 2000
544 m
Gare de Laon
812 m
Abbey of St. Vincent, Laon
911 m
Chapelle des Templiers
257 m
Abbey of St. Martin
845 m
Abbey Saint-Jean de Laon
146 m
Église Saint-Martin de Laon
854 m
Musée d'art et d'archéologie de Laon
256 m
Porte d'Ardon
113 m
Palais épiscopal de Laon
230 m
Citadelle de Laon
467 m
City walls of Laon
910 m
Hôtel-Dieu de Laon
194 m
Laon Champ de Manœuvre German military cemetery
2.9 km
Église de Vaux-sous-Laon
944 m
Institution La Providence
110 m
Porte de Soissons
987 m
Laon Bousson German military cemetery
1.4 kmChâteau d'Aulnois-sous-Laon
5.7 km
Maison des Arts et Loisirs
221 m
Building of the Savings Bank of Laon
325 m
Hôpital général de Laon
716 m
Ancien couvent des Dames de la Congrégation Notre-Dame
695 m
Ancien Hôtel de Ville de Laon
192 m
Hôtel du Petit-Saint-Vincent
535 m
Ancienne église St-Martin-au-Parvis, Laon
144 m
Église Saint-Rémy-au-Velours
259 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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