Summer Breaks: Zen and Wellbeing in the Aisne Department

Do you feel like having a relaxing break not far away from the British border?

Welcome to the Aisne département, located at less than 2 hours from Calais!

The Aisne Tourism Board and its local tourist offices are organising a zen week from August 17th to 23rd, with an array of inspiring activities in beautiful settings. Following the difficult lockdown period due to the pandemic, what better way to recharge the batteries and boost your spirits?

More than 50 events will take place in the vineyards of Champagne, in lovely forests, cities and small villages.

For example, you can sign up for: Sophrology at the Templars’ Chapel in the medieval city of Laon; yoga at the Familistère in Guise, the social “palace” awarded as the third best museum in France; musicotherapy in the forest…

Booking and information about all the events here and here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pumHbR9NeBA

Welcome to the country of maroilles cheese and the “Dames Rouges”!

Come and enjoy the lovely hedge-trimmed pastureland of “Little Normandy”, in the Aisne department, dotted with charming villages over which tower imposing fortified churches, masterpieces of local architecture. And for the taste buds, there is always maroilles, a delicious AOC cheese with an orange rind.

On the little roads that wind though leafy valleys and cross the many streams and rivulets, you may come around a bend and see before you the imposing outline of one the Dames Rouges, these fortified churches standing tall above their surrounding villages.

The local villages are particularly attractive, with houses built of brick or cob with slate roofs. Why not stop in one and sample some of the excellent maroilles cheese produced in the area?

This AOC cheese with its brick red rind goes very well with some of the locally produced cider.

If you feel you need exercise after such a delicious interlude, you can always go for a hike down the ‘’EuroVelo 3 » an old railway line nicely converted into a walking and riding track.

Booking and information about all the events here and here.