Laon is a French commune, prefecture of the department of Aisne
and therefore located in the Hauts-de-France region. Its inhabitants
are called the Laonnois (pronounced / lanwa / "lanoi").
Fortified city on a plateau, benefiting from the largest protected
area in France (370 hectares) Laon has many medieval monuments,
mansions and houses from the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries in large numbers, especially in the streets Sérurier,
Saint- Jean, Saint-Cyr or Vinchon, real urban museums. Its basement
is crisscrossed with underground passages, quarries and wells, the
preservation of which is one of the current heritage issues. Located
at its summit, its cathedral has earned it the nickname "Crowned
Mountain".
Evoking the city in a letter to his wife Adèle,
Victor Hugo wrote that: “Everything is beautiful in Laon, the
churches, the houses, the surroundings, everything…”.
Tourism in Laon emphasizes its Gothic and medieval splendor, with
over 7 km of ramparts offering scenic walks and views over the plains.
The star attraction is the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon, a pioneering
Gothic masterpiece built from 1150 to 1235, featuring intricate
stonework, a cloister, and 210 steps to climb for panoramic
vistas—described by Victor Hugo as a place of profound beauty. Adjacent
is the 13th-century Episcopal Palace (now law courts) with a
12th-century chapel.
Wander the upper town's cobbled streets like Rue
Châtelaine (adorned with 150 colorful parasols in summer), hidden
courtyards, and secret passages. The 12th-century Église Saint-Martin,
now part of a hospital, mixes Romanesque and Gothic elements. The Musée
d'Art et d'Archéologie boasts over 2,200 works, including a vast Greek
collection (second only to the Louvre) from prehistoric to Renaissance
eras, plus a 12th-century Templars' chapel in its gardens.
For
immersive experiences, explore the underground passages—a maze of
quarries and tunnels spanning 40 million years of history, with
audio-guided tours featuring figures like Clovis and Charles de Gaulle.
Nearby, the Chemin des Dames is a poignant World War I site,
commemorating the 1917 battle with guided tours of trenches and
memorials. Other highlights include the Porte d’Ardon gateway, the
leaning Dame Eve tower, and the former Hôtel-Dieu (now the tourist
office). Laon's medieval festivals and music events add vibrancy, making
it ideal for day trips from Paris (about 1.5 hours by train). The city's
halo-like hilltop glow at sunset enhances its romantic appeal, with
short climbs rewarding visitors with unforgettable sights.
Prehistoric and Ancient Periods
Laon's history dates back to
around 3000 BCE, when archaeological evidence indicates the first human
settlements on the hilltop plateau that would become the city. Little is
known about these early inhabitants, but the site's elevated
position—rising about 100 meters above the surrounding Picardy
plain—likely provided natural defenses and strategic advantages from the
outset. During the Gallic period, a village named Bibrax existed nearby,
where the local Remis tribe resisted the confederated Belgae tribes
around the time of Julius Caesar's conquests in the mid-1st century BCE.
The Romans recognized Laon's potential and fortified it in the 1st
century CE, establishing a settlement known as Alaudanum or Lugdunum
Clavatum. This fortified oppidum served as a key defensive outpost
against invasions by northern tribes such as the Franks, Burgundians,
Vandals, Alans, and Huns. Roman occupation brought infrastructure,
including roads and possibly early urban planning, transforming it into
a permanent hub.
Early Medieval Period (5th–10th Centuries)
With the decline of Roman authority in the late 5th century, Laon
transitioned into a Christian center. Saint Remigius (Rémi), born in the
Laonnais region around 437 CE and famous for baptizing King Clovis I in
496 CE, established the bishopric of Laon. This elevated the city's
religious and political status within the Frankish kingdom. The city
became a focal point for Merovingian and later Carolingian rulers, with
its possessions often contested due to its wealth and location.
Under
the Carolingians, Laon flourished as a royal residence. King Charles the
Bald (r. 843–877) enriched the local church with lands, and the city
hosted notable figures like the Irish philosopher John Scotus Eriugena,
who may have resided there while heading the palace school. Bertrada of
Laon (also known as Bertha Broadfoot), mother of Charlemagne, further
tied the city to the dynasty, granting it special prestige. Ramparts
were constructed during this era for defense, and Laon served as the
principal city for late Carolingian kings starting with Louis IV (r.
936–954). After the Carolingian dynasty's fall in 987 CE, Laon initially
supported Charles of Lorraine, the Carolingian heir, against Hugh Capet,
founder of the Capetian dynasty. Capet eventually seized control by
appointing a loyal bishop, who was elevated to the second ecclesiastical
peer of France, intensifying local power struggles between clergy and
townspeople.
High and Late Medieval Periods (11th–15th Centuries)
By the 11th century, Laon was a bustling episcopal city governed by its
bishop, with a renowned theological school led by figures like Anselm of
Laon, attracting scholars from across Europe. Economic growth from trade
in wheat, wine, and other goods funded architectural expansions,
including 39 churches, 16 chapels, and a royal palace. The city's
vineyards were particularly prosperous, contributing to the funding of
grand Gothic structures.
Tensions boiled over in the early 12th
century amid the broader movement for communal emancipation in France.
Citizens secured a charter during Bishop Gaudry's absence, but upon his
return, he revoked it, sparking the 1112 Commune Revolt. Rebels burned
the episcopal palace, murdered the bishop and his supporters on April
25, and accidentally destroyed the original cathedral in the ensuing
fire. The city was pillaged, and royal interventions persisted until the
commune was abolished in 1331.
Rebuilding followed, with the iconic
Notre-Dame Cathedral constructed between the 12th and early 13th
centuries in early Gothic style. Featuring five towers (originally
planned for seven), ornate sculptures, oxen statues honoring
construction beasts, and luminous interiors with stained glass, it
stands as a masterpiece of medieval architecture. Other landmarks
include the 12th-century Church of St. Martin (a former abbey, now
partly a hospital with a restored cloister), the Templars' Chapel (12th
century, now part of the museum), and the Hôtel-Dieu (one of France's
oldest alms houses with Gothic halls).
The 13th-century ramparts,
largely intact today and spanning 8 km, earned Laon the nickname
"Montagne Couronnée" (Crowned Mountain). Gates like Porte d'Ardon (with
pepper-pot turrets), Porte des Chenizelles, and Porte de Soissons
exemplify medieval fortifications. Subterranean passages beneath
limestone quarries served as prisons and later defenses.
During the
Hundred Years' War (1337–1453), Laon changed hands multiple times:
captured by Philip the Good of Burgundy in 1419, ceded to English allies
who burned parts of the city, and recaptured by Charles VII in 1429.
Rebuilding occurred in Renaissance style. The city endured the plague,
which killed a third of its population, and the Wars of Religion
(1562–1598), serving as a Catholic League base before falling to Henry
IV in 1594.
Early Modern Period (16th–18th Centuries)
Laon
continued as an administrative and religious center, but the French
Revolution in 1789 stripped it of its bishopric permanently, marking the
end of ecclesiastical dominance. The episcopal palace became a
courthouse, reflecting secular shifts.
Modern Period (19th–20th
Centuries)
In the Napoleonic Wars, the Battle of Laon in March 1814
saw Napoleon unsuccessfully attempt to dislodge Prussian and Russian
forces under Blücher and Bülow. During the Franco-Prussian War
(1870–1871), as German troops entered on September 9, 1870, a French
engineer detonated the citadel's powder magazine, killing hundreds and
damaging the cathedral and palace.
World War I brought occupation by
German forces from 1914 until the Allied offensive in 1918. The
underground citadel passages served as headquarters and hospitals.
Nearby, the Chemin des Dames became a infamous battlefield with
memorials. World War II saw bombings, damaging sites like St. Martin's
cloister.
Contemporary Period
Today, Laon is the prefecture of
the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France, with a 2022 population of about
24,000. It preserves France's largest protected historic center,
attracting visitors to its medieval heritage, including the cathedral,
ramparts, and museums housing prehistoric, Gallo-Roman, and medieval
artifacts. The city's strategic hilltop location, once a military asset,
now offers panoramic views, while guided tours explore its underground
networks. Laon's history reflects broader French themes of royal power,
communal strife, religious influence, and wartime resilience.
Laon is a historic city in northern France, serving as the prefecture
of the Aisne department in the Hauts-de-France region. It is positioned
at coordinates 49°33′50″N 3°37′28″E, approximately 55 km northwest of
Reims, 131 km northeast of Amiens, and 138 km northeast of Paris. The
city borders several neighboring municipalities, including
Aulnois-sous-Laon to the north, followed clockwise by Barenton-Bugny,
Chambry, Athies-sous-Laon, Bruyères-et-Montbérault, Vorges,
Presles-et-Thierny, Chivy-lès-Étouvelles, Clacy-et-Thierret, Molinchart,
Cerny-lès-Bucy, and Besny-et-Loizy. Covering an area of 42 km², Laon is
often referred to as the "Montagne Couronnée" (Crowned Mountain) due to
its distinctive elevated position.
The topography of Laon is
dominated by its dramatic elevation, rising about 100 meters above the
surrounding Picardy plain on an isolated limestone rock formation. This
creates a stark contrast between the upper town—the historic core
perched on the plateau—and the lower town at the base. Elevations range
from 63 meters to 183 meters above sea level, with an average of 83
meters and the city hall at approximately 160 meters. The upper town is
encircled by about 8 km of medieval walls and gates, emphasizing its
fortified, hilltop nature. Access between the upper and lower sections
historically involved steep staircases, winding roads, or a now-defunct
cable car system (Poma 2000, discontinued in 2016). This elevated
outlier—a geological term for an isolated hill detached from a larger
massif—has long provided strategic advantages, making Laon a key
defensive site throughout history.
Geologically, Laon is situated
on a limestone bedrock, part of the broader Paris Basin sedimentary
formations. The hill is composed primarily of limestone, with underlying
quarries and a network of subterranean passageways extending on three
levels beneath the citadel. These tunnels, carved into the rock, have
served various purposes over time, including as prisons, defensive
systems, military headquarters, and hospitals. Nearby areas feature sand
quarries, such as those at Amigny-Rouy, and fossil-rich strata like the
Sables de Cuise from the Eocene epoch (56–47.8 million years ago). The
region around Laon is fossiliferous, with 7 documented fossil localities
and 93 occurrences spanning from the Late Cretaceous (89.3 million years
ago) to the Eocene (41.3 million years ago). Notable fossils include
gastropods (e.g., Amaurellina, Gisortia tuberculosa), bivalves (e.g.,
Pterolucina consobrina), reptiles (e.g., Allaeochelys, Diplocynodon),
amphibians, fish, mammals (e.g., Pantolestes, Oxyaena), and sponges
(e.g., Ventriculites radiatus). Minerals found in the vicinity include
pyrite at Cessières, quartz, and chalcedony at locations like Beautor.
The geological setting reflects erosional processes that isolated the
hill from surrounding plateaus, contributing to the flat plains below.
In terms of hydrology, Laon itself lacks major rivers or water
bodies within its urban limits, as noted in land registers that exclude
such features for area calculations. However, the city overlooks the
Ardon River, which flows through the plain below the ridge, contributing
to the local drainage. Nearby water bodies include Lac d'Ailette, a
scenic lake surrounded by forests and hills, popular for recreation and
located within the Aisne department. The broader region features ponds
in the Forêt de Saint-Gobain and various river trails, supporting
activities like hiking and wild swimming in creeks and rivers.
Laon's climate is temperate oceanic, influenced by its northern French
location and moderate elevation. Based on data from nearby
Aulnois-sous-Laon (1991–2020 normals, extremes from 1988–present),
temperatures show seasonal variation with mild winters and warm summers.
Record highs reach 40.8°C (July), while lows dip to -17.0°C (January).
Annual precipitation averages 685.6 mm over about 120 days, with
December being the wettest month. The following table summarizes monthly
climate averages:
The surrounding landscape is predominantly flat
and open, characteristic of the Picardy plain, with agricultural fields
extending outward. To the southwest lies the Forêt de Saint-Gobain, a
6,000-hectare mixed forest of oak, beech, birch, and poplar,
interspersed with quarries and ponds. This forested ridge adds diversity
to the otherwise low-lying terrain, while the overall region reflects
the sedimentary lowlands of the Paris Basin.
Laon's culture revolves around its medieval legacy, with preserved
architecture, festivals, and intellectual history. The city hosts events
like medieval reenactments in June and a classical music festival in
autumn, drawing on its past as a theological center. It is twinned with
Soltau, Germany (since 1972), and Winchester, United Kingdom, fostering
cultural exchanges. Local transport includes TUL bus routes, and the
former Poma 2000 cable car (closed in 2016) was a unique automated
system linking the upper and lower towns.
Notable figures born in
Laon include Bertrada of Laon (690–721), mother of Charlemagne;
theologian Anselm of Laon (d. 1117); Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette
(1636–1675), who explored the Mississippi; the Le Nain brothers
(Antoine, Louis, and Mathieu, 17th-century painters); astronomer Pierre
Méchain (1744–1804); author Champfleury (Jules François Felix
Fleury-Husson, 1820–1889); and modern footballer Florent Raimy (b.
1986). These individuals highlight Laon's contributions to religion,
art, exploration, and science.