Folembray: Motorsport, Forest and Glassworks History

Folembray combines motorsport with traces of its former glassworks and woodland. Folembray Arena offers driving sessions in single-seaters from Formula Renault or Formula 4; the kart track has three configurations ranging from 680 to 820 metres. Other attractions include a former railway line for walks, a Romanesque-style rebuilt church and a mini-museum about the history of the glassworks. When planning your trip, you can choose between driving activities, local history and nature.

Driving Activities and Motorsport History

Two different types of motorsport take centre stage at Folembray Arena: driving sessions in Formula Renault or Formula 4 single-seaters, and karting. The kart track has three configurations ranging from 680 to 820 metres in length. This means Folembray offers both single-seater driving sessions and kart tracks in different configurations. The shortest and longest track configurations differ by 140 metres.

Folembray’s motorsport history includes the Circuit de Folembray. It opened in 1975 and was one of the few race circuits in northern France. This former race track is a historic point of interest alongside the Arena’s driving activities.

Woodland and Walks

The northern half of Folembray includes part of the Coucy-Basse state forest. It extends as far as the first buildings around the former glassworks. In the northern part of the commune, woodland and the area with its industrial past are therefore close to each other.

The Natura 2000 site SIC “Massif forestier de Saint-Gobain” is also located within the commune. The sessile oak known as Chêne du Père Augustin stands in the Coucy-Basse state forest in Folembray, adding a specific landmark tree to the area’s natural attractions.

A former railway line once served the glassworks. Today, it is suitable for walks and leads to the forest massif. The route thus links two different themes for your trip: the history of the glassworks and a walk with the forest massif as its destination.

Glassworks, Museum and Church

The former royal glassworks of Folembray operated from 1705 to 1952. Its history is also presented in a mini-museum with two display cases. The mini-museum is accessible during town hall opening hours, so plan your visit within those hours.

The Église Saint-Pierre de Folembray was rebuilt in the Romanesque style after 1918. Its stained-glass windows were made by Parisian glass artist Raphaël Lardeur. The choir windows depict the glassworkers of Folembray and their families offering themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The architecture and windows provide different points of interest: the Romanesque style is associated with the rebuilding, while the choir windows depict people from Folembray and a religious theme.

Discover more destinations: Courcelles-Sur-Vesle, Crézancy, Montreuil-aux-Lions, Puisieux-Et-Clanlieu, Beaumont-En-Beine, Vic-Sur-Aisne, Filain, Fresnes.

For the broader travel overview: Aisne.