Town Hall has a flamboyant Gothic façade, inside the council chamber and wedding hall are distinctively Art Deco. The Rue de la Sellerie is a living gallery of Deco’s floral friezes, geometric ironwork, and bas-reliefs. The Buffet de la Gare, in the 1926 railway station, is a riot of gold and silver mosaics and floral motifs. 60 kilometres south, Soissons is known as the first capital of France, where Clovis I succeeded in uniting the Frankish tribes in the 5th century. The city has two remarkable examples of religious architecture. The Cathedral of Saint-Gervais- et-Saint-Protais dates from the 12th century and reflects the transition from Romanesque solidity to the soaring elegance of Gothic style. Large rose windows flood the interior The Aisne countryside rolls gently, dotted with small villages, historic abbeys, with coloured light, changing with the movement of the sun. Just a short walk away, the Abbey of Saint-Jean-des-Vignes was founded in the 11th century and its twin spires still dominate the skyline. Unfortunately, it was dismantled during the French Revolution and is now in ruins. But its surviving portions, including the dramatic Gothic façade and cloister, still manage to evoke the spiritual and political power the monastic orders once held. 80 kilometres north east is the town of Guise, where the Familistère de Guise stands as a monumental testament to 19th century utopian vision. Conceived and built by stove manufacturer Jean Baptiste André Godin, it comprises three large residential blocks, with glazed inner courtyards. He also provided schools, a swimming pool, a crèche, even a theatre, all surrounded by lush gardens. By the 1870s, nearly 1,000 workers and memorials to the World Wars.
OPPOSITE PAGE FROM TOP Bow of boat sailing along Canal De L’Oise A L’Aisne; Anna and Vineyards Chateau Meteyer. THIS PAGE FROM TOP Champagne Pannier Cellars; Familistere de Guise Godin Canoeists; Godin stoves.
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EC Magazines | Hong Kong Edition 2025
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