Départements de France: Ardennes

 

This is the next instalment of a new monthly feature going through the 95 Departments of France in alphabetical/numerical order to check out things of interest. I hope you enjoy it

 

Location – In the North East – has a border with Belgium

 

Origin of name – named after a Forest of the same name

 

 

Flag

 

Prefecture – Charleville-Mézières (only about 50K). Place Ducale.  Home to an international Puppet festival.

 

Historical titbits – the only department to have been fully occupied by Germany in WWI.  Also part of the site for the Battle of the Bulge in WWII.

 

Signature foods – Boudin blanc de Bethel, Jambon Sec

 

Famous places to visit – Chateau de Sedan, Mézières (stained glass), Monthermé,

 

 

Famous people from Ardennes – Robert de Sorbon (founder of the Sorbonne), Rimbaud (poet), Yannick Noah (tennis)

 

Go to this Pinboard to see the Departments of France so far.