Montcy-Notre-Dame: Meuse, Greenway and Architectural History

Montcy-Notre-Dame lies in a bend of the Meuse, surrounded by a natural landscape between river and forest. You can explore the town through a variety of themes: the Greenway, walks in the countryside, and the ruins of the Château des Fées and Notre-Dame Church. These highlights can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

The Greenway: a route for different activities

Montcy-Notre-Dame is the starting point of the 83-kilometre Greenway. It was built along a former towpath that was converted into a walking route. The route is 83 kilometres long in total; the year 2002 refers to the first section, which was created between Montcy-Notre-Dame and Nouzonville at that time.

The Greenway can be used on foot, by bike, on roller skates, on a skateboard or scooter, in a Rosalie pedal car, or on horseback. Cycling is therefore just one of several options: if you prefer to cover a route on foot or on wheels, you’ll also find a practical point of reference here when planning your trip. Its former use as a towpath and its later conversion into a walking route mark two distinct phases in the route’s history.

The Meuse, the forest and the Château des Fées

The bend in the river shapes the setting of Montcy-Notre-Dame, which also lies between the Meuse and the forest. The natural surroundings invite you to go for a walk and take in the landscape. You can also explore the area through its scenery, rather than focusing solely on a landmark or a particular activity.

The ruins of the Château des Fées, also known as the Château du Waridon, offer a distinct historical point of interest. The medieval fortress is located in the hamlet of Le Waridon in Montcy-Notre-Dame, in the Ardennes department; its origins date back to between the 9th and 11th centuries. It stands at an altitude of 175 metres on the natural hill of Le Waridon. Here, the hill overlooks the Meuse, and the Fontaine and Soiru streams converge.

The Château des Fées site is now used for recreational activities. Some of the ruins can be reached via a small path. This distinction is useful when planning your visit: the stated access applies to part of the ruins, while the hilltop setting explains the site’s relationship to the surrounding landscape.

Notre-Dame Church: architecture and reconstruction

Notre-Dame Church offers a different perspective on the town’s architectural history from that of the medieval ruins. It was rebuilt between 1835 and 1837 to plans by the architect Labarre of Charleville. One distinctive feature is its unconventional orientation. The floor plan and layout of the church interior also offer specific insights into its architecture.

The nave is elongated and has three aisles; it comprises five bays. “Aisles” refers to the lengthwise sections of the church interior, while the bays divide it into individual sections. The church also has a partially projecting bell tower flanked by chapels. Together, these features describe the layout without reducing it to a single architectural element.

The roof and interior furnishings are also among the church’s notable features: it is roofed with slate, and the nave and choir have roofs with long slopes. Inside is an altar made of pink marble. Together with its 19th-century reconstruction, these details make the church a distinctive architectural highlight alongside the history of the Château des Fées.

Connection to Prix-Les-Mézières

Bus route 7 connects Montcy-Notre-Dame with Prix-Les-Mézières. If you’re planning to use this connection during your trip, check the current timetable in advance.

Discover more destinations: Étalle, Olizy-Primat, Chevières, Semuy, Monthermé, Margut, Ham-Sur-Meuse, Joigny-sur-Meuse

For the broader travel overview: Ardennes.