La Thiérache – Rocroi Plateau – Sormonne Valley - Office de ...

Hint ofHeritage
◆ Rocroi, a star-shaped walled town - A3
From above, the town of Rocroi is a stone
star nestling in lush green surroundings.
Located at the gateway to France, its history
is synonymous with the wars that
rocked the borders over the centuries and
the town’s story is closely linked to that of
its fortifications. If Rocroi had not had ramparts,
the Great Condé would never have
come here to fight Philip IV’s famous Spanish
Tercios who were laying siege to it.
As the Middle Ages reached a close and
Italy began exporting its architects and
town planners, François I chose Rocroi, set
in the middle of an almost inaccessible marshy plateau, to defend his kingdom.
Artillery developed and guns began firing huge cannonballs. The fortifications lost the need
for verticality and height. The village became a town under constant attack. Its priority slowly
changed from the protection of property and people to the protection of the kingdom.
Vauban did not come on the scene until one hundred and fifty years later. He then strengthened
the walls and gave them the appearance they have today. He also created a double
line of 26 fortresses along the North-Eastern border
known as the Pré Carré. Rocroi was part of it.
Free access to the town walls - To visit Rocroi and
its fortifications, there is a map of the town in the
centrefold. The tourist office can organise guided
tours with advanced booking.
Information:
Office de Tourisme de Rocroi
et du Nord-Ouest Ardennais
14, Place d’Armes - 08230 ROCROI
Tél./Fax. +33(0)324 542 006
Email: info@otrocroi.com
Website: www.otrocroi.com
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S ince the days of the Ancient Gauls, North-West Ardennes has
occupied a much-coveted position on the borders. In fact, its
geographically strategic location created a climate of insecurity and
instability that explains the presence of large numbers of fortified
heritage buildings here, as you can see from the map of fortifications
in the centre of the guide.
◆ The Fortifications Trail
To see the other fortifications in Ardennes, follow the Fortifications Trail. From the Meuse
Valley to the Chiers Valley and across the Rocroi plateau, the fortresses dotted along the
route are reminders of an eventful history. They include the Charlemont Fortress built by
Charles V in Givet, the largest fortress in Europe in Sedan, the star-shaped walled town of
Rocroi and the last fort on the Maginot Line in La Ferté. The destiny of France and Europe was
played out on several occasions in the Ardennes: Rocroi (1643) and Sedan (1870-1940).
Following this Trail is an unforgettable history lesson.
Information:
Vitrine Culturelle et Touristique du département des Ardennes -
Comité Départemental du tourisme des Ardennes
24, place Ducale - 08107 Charleville-Mézières Cedex - Tel. +33(0) 324 560 608
Email: info@ardennes.com – Website: www.ardennes.com
◆ Museum of the Battle of Rocroi
and the Thirty Years’ War - A3
On 19th May 1643, in the middle of the
devastating Thirty Years’ War, the name of
Rocroi entered the history books. It was
then that History, with a capital “H”, shattered
the quiet anonymity of the village
and, for decades, France’s schoolchildren
would study what historians consider to be
one of the ten greatest military victories in
the country’s history. The great philosopher
Voltaire described it in glowing terms, “The respect expressed throughout Europe for the
Spanish Army changed to respect for the French Army, which had not won such a famous battle
for a hundred years… This day was to bring about glory for France and Condé.”
The hostility between the kingdoms of France and Spain dated back to 1519, when François I
failed in his attempt to become the Emperor of Germany and preference was given to Charles
V. After Henri IV’s assassination, the future King Louis XIII married Anne of Austria who was
the daughter of King Philip III of Spain. The Defenestration of Prague on 23rd May 1618
was the incident that started the Thirty Years’ War. Soon the whole of Europe was involved
and the war resulted in huge loss of life. During this time, France was weakened by the
successive deaths of Cardinal Richelieu and Louis XIII. Meanwhile the Spaniards, who already
occupied Belgium and the Netherlands, decided to take Rocroi, an essential move if they
were to capture the kingdom as a whole. However, standing in their way, was a daring young
soldier, the Duke d’Enghien, later to be known as the “Great Condé”.
Located on Place du Luxembourg in a 17th-century guardhouse, the Museum of the Battle of
Rocroi illustrates the glorious moments in the battle using a 20-minute animated slide show.
Numerous dioramas with a total of almost fifteen thousand figurines depict the Thirty Years’
War and a superb relief map explains the history of the fortifications.
Musée de la Bataille de Rocroi
et de la Guerre de Trente Ans
Place du Luxembourg - 08230 ROCROI
Information:
Office de Tourisme de Rocroi
et du Nord-Ouest Ardennais
14, Place d’Armes - 08230 ROCROI
Tel./Fax. +33(0) 324 542 006
Email: info@otrocroi.com
Website: www.otrocroi.com
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