Chaumont Viaduct is 600 metres long, has 50 arches and is 52 metres high. It has been illuminated since 8 June 2012. These dimensions offer a first impression of this defining structure: its length, height and succession of arches reveal different aspects of its architecture. Chaumont also offers medieval architectural history, art and routes through the town and surrounding landscape.
Architectural history from the keep to the basilica
The keep is the only surviving part of the castle of the lords of Chaumont. The medieval tower is 19 metres high and has four levels. Visits are possible on request through the Médiévalys association; check in advance whether a visit is possible. This allows you to experience the keep as a distinct part of the town’s history, without confusing it with the surviving nave of the Basilique Saint-Jean-Baptiste, which dates from the church’s first building phase in the early 13th century.
The Halles are also part of the town experience, but offer a different focus from the historic buildings. A food market is held there on Saturday mornings. If you plan to visit the market, check the details locally before arranging your day around it.
Art and collections
The Chapelle des Jésuites is a contemporary art exhibition venue that hosts two to three exhibitions per year. Le Signe – Centre national du graphisme is dedicated to the production, presentation and promotion of graphic design. Together, the two venues offer different points of interest: one focuses on contemporary art, the other on the various fields of graphic design.
The Musée de la Crèche is an annex of the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire and houses an exceptional collection of historic nativity scenes. The Musée d’art et d’histoire de Chaumont has been recognised as a Musée de France since 17 September 2003. Anyone interested in the town’s history and cultural institutions can visit these venues as separate stops alongside the religious buildings and the keep.
Town routes and the surrounding landscape
Chaumont stands on a steep historic promontory above the valleys of the Suize and the Marne. A green belt and nearby forests define the surrounding landscape. Two described routes offer different experiences: the Boucle des Tanneries is 2.6 kilometres long and leaves Chaumont along a shaded path that descends towards the Suize Valley. It connects the edge of town with a route down to the valley.
The Circuit des tourelles, by contrast, is a circular route through the town. Introduced for the 2026 summer season, it takes you past more than 60 turrets built between the 16th and 17th centuries; more than 40 are still visible from the streets. The choice between the two routes therefore depends mainly on whether you are looking for a walk out of town towards the Suize Valley or a circuit through the town to see its turrets. The details about the Boucle’s length and course and the Circuit’s turrets describe different visiting options, not a single combined route.
The viaduct, keep, basilica, museums and walking routes reveal different sides of Chaumont: striking architecture, preserved history, art, and routes through the town or out towards the valley. The Saturday food market at the Halles adds to this selection. During your stay, you can choose how to balance architecture, culture and time outdoors without needing to combine the different places and routes into a fixed itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Chantraines, Ecot-La-Combe, Laferté-sur-Aube, Brainville-Sur-Meuse, Aprey, Clinchamp, Maranville, Flagey
For the regional travel overview: Haute-Marne.
