The Road of D'Artagnan, the first European equestrian route, takes you at your horse's pace through six European countries: Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy and Spain. This equestrian trail of more than 8000 km begins in Lupiac in the Gers, birthplace of d'Artagnan, Captain-Lieutenant of the Musketeers of King Louis XIV, and ends in Maastricht in Limburg, where he died in combat. This path passes through the Ardennes.
Six thematic routes including one that passes through the Ardennes!
From a few days to several weeks, your choice, explore on foot, by bike, on horseback or even in a carriage these magnificent trails which make up the European Route d'Artagnan.
The six thematic routes, each offering a unique experience:
- The Royal Road: In the service of King Louis XIV.
- Madame d'Artagnan's Road : In the footsteps of Madame d'Artagnan (she passes through the Ardennes!).
- The Route of the Cardinals: In the footsteps of Richelieu and Mazarin.
- The Route of the Musketeers: From Gascony to Béarn via Navarre.
- The Infanta Route: To reach Pheasant Island.
- The Route of Pinerolo: To watch over Fouquet arrested by d'Artagnan in Nantes.
The Route d'Artagnan and the Ardennes
Crossing the Grand Est, The Route de Madame d'Artagnan follows the GR 14 in the Ardennes, where several historical sites are linked to the life of the most famous musketeer: Grandpré, Charleville, Rocroi, Sedan.
This route of Madame d'Artagnan offers 2 complementary itineraries
So arrival in the South Ardennes is either:
- From Champagne and Reims, via Roizy, L'Écaille, Le Châtelet-sur-Retourne, and Ambly-Fleury
- Coming from Lac du Der and the Argonne massif, via Apremont-sur-Aire, Chevières, Grandpré, Briquenay, Bar-lès-Buzancy, Saint-Pierremont, Oches, Les Grandes Armoises
These two alternatives come together further north in the Ardennes in the Sedan area., direction Belgium (Bouillon, Liège) to Maastricht.
Certified as a cultural itinerary by the Council of Europe, the Route d'Artagnan thus proposes more than 8000 km of equestrian trails for riders, but also for hikers, cyclists, and carriage driving enthusiasts.
Useful Information
Along the route currently being marked, you will find tourist spots suitable for welcoming riders and their horses (accommodation, restaurants, places to visit, etc.).
A little extra
A road book has been thought of!
Get your " Musketeer's Booklet » to take with you during your hike on the Route and have it stamped at each of your stops to justify the kilometers traveled.
You may be able to obtain this the Dartagnane, the diploma awarded to those who reach the birthplace or death place of the d'Artagnan spouses (Lupiac and Maastricht for Monsieur, Sainte-Croix and Champlecy for Madame). It rewards hikers who have covered at least 100 km on the Route.
And get the “Bronze / Silver / Gold Musketeer” distinction which rewards hikers (on foot, on horseback, on bikes and others) who have completed respectively 400 km, 800 km or the entire length of one of the 6 Routes d'Artagnan.
Themes
