Rue can be explored through a range of cultural themes: a marked walking trail with ten information panels leads through the city’s history; the Musée des Frères Caudron is dedicated to aviation, and several buildings reflect different architectural and religious influences. There is also a cycling route that offers a different scale of exploration from the walking tour.
Explore the city’s history on foot or by bike
The “Rue, au Temps des Fortifications” walking trail is marked with ten information panels about the city’s history. The panels give the route a historical focus. If you would rather explore Rue along a cycling route, “Les frères Caudron” offers another option: the route is 30 kilometres long, starts and ends in Rue, and both the start and finish are at the tourist office.
The two routes differ primarily in how you travel and in their stated length: the walking tour is a trail with ten information panels, while the cycling route covers 30 kilometres. When planning, you can therefore decide whether to focus on a walk through the city’s history or a longer bike ride. Check the cycling route conditions before setting off.
Tours of the Haras Henson extensive horse-breeding farm are offered in Rue and Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont. This is a separate point of interest for travellers interested in extensive horse breeding.
Aviation history at the Musée des Frères Caudron
Several aircraft models on display illustrate the development of aviation from 1909 to 1939. Personal belongings of aviation pioneers Gaston and René Caudron complement the models. The museum thus focuses both on the development of aircraft over an extended period and on items belonging to the two pioneers.
The Musée des Frères Caudron is accessible to visitors with mobility, visual and intellectual disabilities. This accessibility information may be useful when planning your visit.
Belfry and religious architecture
The Beffroi de Rue is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its rooms are connected by a spiral staircase with 76 steps. Its World Heritage status and this specific architectural detail offer two different ways to understand the building.
The architecture of the Chapelle du Saint-Esprit is also striking: its high vaults are decorated with hanging keystones. A keystone is an element of a vault; here, it is used as a visible ornament. The description thus links the shape of the vaults with a specific architectural detail.
The Chapelle de l’Hospice is a Gothic building dating from the 16th century. It is dedicated to Saint Nicholas and Saint James of Compostela. The choir also contains a painting dedicated to Saint Augustine, attributed to Philippe de Champaigne. The dedication and the subject of the painting refer to different saints; the attribution is stated as such.
The Eglise Saint Wulphy offers another chapter in the town’s architectural history: it was rebuilt in the Neoclassical style between 1828 and 1833. Together with the 16th-century Gothic Chapelle de l’Hospice, it shows a clear difference in style and period.
Discover more destinations: Ochancourt, Poix, Naours, Cerisy-Buleux, Velennes, Ault, Béhen, Vaux-Marquenneville
For the regional travel overview: Somme.
