Discover Chevières

Chevières connects several long-distance routes with a specific memorial to the First World War. If you are planning a stay, you can consider the hiking options in terms of route length, path and walking time; the memorial to Hamilton Coolidge provides a separate historical connection.

Hiking and comparing routes

The GR 14 runs along the section from Harricourt to Apremont-sur-Aire via Grandpré and then through Chevières. The section through Chevières is marked with the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre’s red-and-white blazes. It passes through forest ponds, villages and places shaped by the battles of the First World War. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

The Grande Traversée de l’Argonne is a 100-kilometre marked route for hiking, trail running and mountain biking; for the most part, it follows the GR 14. Its Grandpré–Châtel-Chéhéry stage approaches Chevières via a white farm track through a landscape of woodland and open terrain. The GR 14 section from Mont-Dieu to Apremont-sur-Aire is listed as 40 kilometres, with an approximate walking time of nine hours. When planning a hike, it is therefore important to compare like with like: the 100 kilometres refer to the Grande Traversée as a whole; 40 kilometres and an approximate walking time of nine hours refer to the GR 14 section mentioned. This helps distinguish the full route from the specific stage information. Check current waymarking and trail conditions before planning a specific hike.

Nature conservation and other routes

The official INPN record, updated on 16 January 2025, places Chevières within the Natura 2000 site FR2112006 “Confluence des vallées de l'Aisne et de l'Aire”. The site is designated as a Special Protection Area for birds.

The Route d’Artagnan also passes through Chevières and is certified as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. It comprises more than 8,000 kilometres of riding trails; the route as a whole is described as suitable for exploring on foot, by bicycle, on horseback or by horse-drawn carriage. Unlike the specific GR 14 details, the emphasis here is on the variety of ways to travel.

Hamilton Coolidge and remembrance

The Hamilton Coolidge Memorial marks the place where the American aviator lost his life on 27 October 1918 during an aerial battle over Chevières. Coolidge was a descendant of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, and a close friend of Quentin Roosevelt. These biographical connections add another historical dimension to the local memorial site.

The Église Saint-Martin in Chevières is also associated with a dated event: it was the site of Captain Hamilton Coolidge’s reburial ceremony on 15 September 2024. The date records a specific event in the town’s history and complements the memorial’s connection to his death in 1918.

Discover more destinations: Signy-Montlibert, Cornay, Savigny-Sur-Aisne, Les Mazures, Chatel-Chéhéry, Hannappes, Tailly, Sapogne-et-Feuchères.

Go to the regional travel overview: Ardennes.