How to Spend 2 Days in Aisne, France: Castles, Champagne, & History

I recently traveled from Paris to the Aisne state of France located in the Hauts-de-France region of Northern France.  What I learned was that this area is incredibly underrated and bursting with history, charm, and beautiful countryside.  The best part is, that visiting is only about an hour train ride from Paris so if you’re looking for a short trip or you can only visit for one day, visiting Aisne is manageable.  This is how I would recommend you to spend 2 days in Aisne, France visiting castles, sipping champagne, and learning about history.

 

If you’re visiting Aisne, don’t miss…

• 8 Things to See & Do in Aisne, France

 

Day 1 – Champagne Tasting in Château-Thierry

 

Morning – Château-Thierry

If you arrive to the Aisne state early enough, start your morning in Château-Thierry where you can learn about the importance of the city and the history of Jean de La Fontaine who was a famous “fabulist” in France.  To get the most out of your visit to Château-Thierry I would highly suggest hiring Clementine (you can reach out to her on Instagram @clementinevousguide) to guide you around town.  She speaks great English and is incredibly engaging and informative.

 

Afternoon – Champagne Tasting

From Château-Thierry head to your first champagne tasting at Champagne PANNIER (make sure to book a cellar tour and a tasting).  Although Château-Thierry is not technically part of the administrative region of “Champagne”, due to it being an inland sea during the prehisotoric era, the subsoil allows for champagne grapes/vines to grow.

After tasting at Champagne PANNIER, head to a second tasting at Champagne Météyer Père et Fils, a family owned champagne house.  If you reach out ahead of time, you can book a picnic in the vineyards which is a really fun experience!

 

Evening – Overnight at Local Bed & Breakfast

After you finish champagne tasting, head to the family owned bed and breakfast La Porte d’Arcy.  La Porte d’Arcy is a family run bed and breakfast and it feels like a true hidden gem in the heart of the French countryside.  Not only is the property beautiful with a swimming pool, bee farm, and lush gardens; but you will also receive an incredible home-cooked meal for dinner and breakfast.

 

BOOK YOUR STAY AT LA PORTE D’ARCY HERE!

 

Day 2 – Exploring Laon & Guise

 

Morning – Guise

From the bed and breakfast, make the 1.5 hour drive north to Guise to learn about Jean-Baptiste André Godin and the Familistère.  Godin built his wealth by creating cast-iron stoves and enamelled bathtubs and then created a social utopia known as “The Familistère Guise”.  The Familistère was a unique idea at the time where people (mostly poor) lived together and worked together in Godin’s factory.  The workers paid low rent, their children were able to go to school to become educated, they worked six days/week (instead of seven which was normal at the time), and overall they were treated well.  While Godin is not credited with creating socialism, he is credited with creating one of history’s most successful socialist utopian communities.

You can purchase tickets and tour the Familistère every day from 10 am-7 pm.  They offer guided tours but you’re also able to enter and tour on your own.

 

Afternoon – Laon

From Guise, drive 45-minutes south to Laon.  Laon is a charming medieval city is perched high on a hill with a history that stretches back over 2,000 years.  It was once the capital (during the Carolingian Empire) and played a major role in medieval France becoming an important religious and political center.  Its crown jewel is the Laon Cathedral, one of the earliest examples of Gothic architecture in France, known for its striking towers and life-sized oxen sculptures.  The city’s old town is a maze of cobbled streets, ancient buildings, and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, which offers a peaceful alternative to France’s more tourist-heavy destinations.

 

Evening – Overnight in Laon

On your second night, I would either head back to the bed and breakfast or overnight in Laon.  If you’re planning to overnight in Laon, here are some hotels in (or close to) the medieval city centre…

• Le Refuge des Cordeliers
• Hotel de la Banniere de France
• Logis du Parvis

 

Optional Stop – Saint-Quentin

If you have extra time and are interested in Art Deco, I would recommend stopping in Saint-Quentin after you visit Guise and before you drive to Laon. Art Deco – which was created in France in the early 1900s – played an important role in rebuilding cities in France after WWI.  Because it’s inventive and colorful, it showcased the strength of the residents and their resiliency in being able to bounce back after war devastated people, homes, and entire cities.  Plus, Art Deco represented faith in social and technological progress, something that was important at the time.  Saint-Quentin is a great place to view Art Deco, it’s evident in their buildings and most famous monuments.

 

Where to Stay in Aisne

My top recommendation for overnight in Aisne is to stay at La Porte d’Arcy, followed by staying in Laon.  However, if there isn’t availability or you don’t want to stay in Laon, here are some other impressive hotels and quaint stays that I would recommend in Aisne…

• Villa Henri – Flavy-le-Martel
• Le Nid Dans les Bruyères – Fère-en-Tardenois
• La Fontaine Racine – Chambres d’hôtes – La Ferté-Milon
• Château de Clermont – Clermont-les-Fermes
• Château de Picheny – Picheny
• Les Alcoves – Villers-Cotterêts

 

When to Visit Aisne

The best time to visit the Aisne department in Northern France is during the late spring (May to June) and early fall (September to October), when the countryside is at its most beautiful and the weather is mild; ideal for exploring historic towns, WWI battlefields, and champagne vineyards.  These shoulder seasons also mean fewer tourists, so you can enjoy places like Laon, Soissons, and Château-Thierry at a more relaxed pace.  Summer (July to August) is warmer and livelier, with local festivals and open-air events, but also more crowded.  Winter (November to February) is quieter and colder, with some attractions offering limited hours, though it’s a peaceful time to enjoy the rural charm and cozy countryside stays.

I visited Aisne in June and experienced great weather and few crowds.

 

How to Get to Aisne from Paris

You can get to the Aisne state easily by train from Paris.  If you’re following this itinerary, you’ll book a one-way ticket from Paris to Château-Thierry; and a return ticket from Laon to Paris.  Train tickets between Paris and Aisne are affordable and should only take about an hour.

Another option is to rent a car and drive from Paris.  If you do want to explore Aisne, you will definitely need a car to get around.  So you can either rent a car and drive from Paris, or you can take the train and pick up your rental car in the town you arrive in.

 

French Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting France

 

Aisne is truly such a special area in France, and in two days you’ll barely scratch the surface.  I hope that you have the opportunity to go and see for yourself.  If you have an questions about spending 2 days in Aisne, or traveling to France in general, let me know in a comment below!

 

If you’re planning a trip to France, don’t miss…

• Everything You Need to Know About Planning a Trip to France
• The Best France Packing List

 

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For more information on things to see and do in Aisne, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinfrance” or under my highlights for “Hauts-de-France”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “France” highlight

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