Les Lavandières de Fontaine

This walk, accessible to all, invites you to dive into the medieval history of the capital of the Thiérache. Follow the 12 interpretation panels that tell you about the town's past thanks to old postcards, to discover the Vervins of yesterday and today!

This easy hike explores the gently sloping streets of Vervins, the capital of Thiérache, and varies the viewing angles on the ramparts. On the way back, discover the history of Verbinum, an important center in Gallo-Roman times, which was fortified by Raoul de Coucy in the 12th century. The city preserves a rich heritage, of which the church, with its paintings on pillars, constitutes the flagship.

In the 12th century, when Saint Norbert had just founded the Premonstratensian order, in the forest of Saint-Gobain, the Bishop of Laon had an abbey of this nascent order built in Thenailles. At that time, the region was, like a large part of Thiérache, covered with forests, which many place names recall today.

Whether it is the Chemin de la Tuerie or the hamlet of the Crossbow, the names here remind us that the Thiérache has been part of all wars. The church of La Bouteille, designed directly as a fortress, thus testifies to the need to defend oneself in the 16th century. However, the ruins of the abbey of Foigny reveal a completely different face of Thiérache: a haven of peace on the banks of a singing river.

Discover by bike a little piece of paradise for the whole family. The green axis, freshly fitted out, allows the little ones to evolve in excellent conditions (with or without the wheels). Parents will enjoy the majestic landscapes offered by the grove, the furrows of the Oise, and the highlight of the walk, the Ohis viaduct. In hot weather, swimming at the ford of Luzoir will delight everyone.