Meaux offers different ways to explore history, regional heritage and the landscape: the Musée de la Grande Guerre, the Cité épiscopale, Brie de Meaux and Parc du Pâtis. To choose your stay, you can start by deciding which of these themes you would like to shape your visit most. Each has its own focus.
Cultural history from two perspectives
The Musée de la Grande Guerre opened on 11 November 2011 on the site of the First Battle of the Marne near Meaux. Its collection comprises almost 70,000 objects and documents about the everyday lives of soldiers and civilians between 1914 and 1918. This means it also focuses explicitly on people's daily lives during the war. The exhibition route also features multimedia installations and immersive technologies.
The Cité épiscopale offers a different historical perspective. This architectural ensemble is centred around Saint-Étienne Cathedral and the former bishop's palace, which now houses the Musée Bossuet. The Cité still preserves the appearance it had in the 18th century. The Musée Bossuet holds more than 5,500 objects of various kinds connected with the history of the Meaux area. Guided tours introduce visitors to the cathedral and the Cité, and cover the city's history from antiquity to the Middle Ages. Check the tour schedule before your trip. By contrast, the Musée de la Grande Guerre focuses on the period from 1914 to 1918.
Discover Brie de Meaux
La Maison du Brie de Meaux has a dedicated discovery trail for Brie de Meaux AOP. Reconstructions and displays explore both the cheese's history and its production process. The focus is therefore not just on the product, but also on how its tradition and production are presented.
This is a good option for a food-focused visit: La Maison du Brie de Meaux offers tastings, guided tours and workshops throughout the year. If you would rather plan your stay around regional specialities than art and urban history, this is a distinct way to discover Meaux.
Walks and boat trips on the Marne
Parc du Pâtis brings together a variety of landscape features: its grounds include ponds, stretches along the banks of the Marne, flower meadows, a large reed bed and wooded areas to explore on walks. More than 70 bird species have been recorded in the park; this figure may be updated. Alongside the museums and food-related attractions, nature is another theme to consider for your stay.
Electric boats that do not require a licence are also available to rent in Meaux for trips on the Marne. The service is seasonal, so check before your trip whether the boats are available on your dates. The options therefore vary according to your preferred focus: cultural history, Brie de Meaux or time outdoors. You can weigh up these interests when choosing your stay without having to commit to a single fixed itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Boissy-Le-Châtel, La Haute-Maison, Longueville, Fericy, Melun, Mitry-Mory, Esmans, Amponville.
For the broader travel overview: Seine-Et-Marne.
