In Vitry-Le-François, historic details of the city meet waterside routes. The Parcours de mémoire vitryat brings the two together with a specific choice: two circuits, 3 or 7 kilometres long, trace the city’s history using 47 information panels. You can start your stay with the city’s history or make the longer circuit your main activity.
History among buildings and in the exhibition
Porte du Pont is one of the last surviving remnants of Vitry-Le-François’s fortifications. Shortly before the start of the Second World War, it was dismantled stone by stone and rebuilt in 1985. Collégiale Notre Dame reveals another aspect of the city’s history: there is a sundial on its south side, while inside you’ll find chapels, altarpieces, paintings and relics. Those interested in architectural history can focus on a range of different details.
Espace Vitry Champagne et Der complements the historic sites with a 124-square-metre museographic exhibition space. Its content is organised around the four elements: earth, fire, water and air. You can visit the permanent exhibition independently and free of charge; guided tours are available on request. This choice between exploring on your own and requesting a guided tour offers a distinct way to experience the exhibition, while the parcours presents the city’s history through its information panels.
Walks among greenery and by the water
There are several options for a stay that includes time outdoors. The Arboretum du parc de l’Hôtel de Ville covers more than 2 hectares and features 41 notable trees. A map and QR-code information accompany the tree collection. The Jardin de l’Hôtel de Ville offers a family-friendly walk with a playground, the Adam & Eve sculpture and an open-air theatre. If you’d rather be by the water, you’ll find walking routes along the banks of the canals and the Marne around Vitry-Le-François.
Two of Vitry-Le-François’s three canals have been developed as greenways. This distinguishes the designated routes from the general walking paths described along the banks. The Parcours de mémoire offers a choice of distance: 3 or 7 kilometres. You can decide whether to focus your stay on a short circuit, a longer route or the waterside paths, without combining these options into a single outing.
Cycling routes and harbour
The designated cycling routes also have different directions. The cycle path along the Canal latéral à la Marne in Vitry-Le-François is the arrival point of Véloroute 52. The Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne, by contrast, is the starting point of Véloroute 53 towards Langres. If you include one of these routes in your travel plans, you can distinguish between an arrival point and a starting point on the way to Langres.
At the Port de plaisance, the Capitainerie has a reception point. A greenway starts there, offering walks or cycle rides along the canal. Depending on the size of the boats, the harbour can accommodate 10 to 12 vessels. This figure describes capacity and takes different boat sizes into account; on its own, it does not indicate whether spaces are available at any particular time.
More ways to enjoy your stay
Vitry-Le-François is also the starting point of the Champagne des Coteaux Vitryats tourist route. For a different kind of leisure activity, the Centre Aquatique La Salamandre has swimming, play and leisure pools, a Pentagliss slide and a separate wellness area. Culture, walks, cycling routes and swimming each offer a different focus for your trip.
If you’re looking for hotels in Vitry-Le-François, it helps to decide first what you’d like to focus on: historic details of the city, waterside walks, cycling routes, or parks and swimming.
Discover more destinations: Lʼépine, Le Gault-Soigny, La Chaussée-Sur-Marne, Tinqueux, Warmeriville, Vienne-Le-Château, Esternay, Boursault.
Back to the main travel overview: Marne.
