Charleville-Mézières is a city in the Ardennes, on the border with Belgium. It is known primarily for its preserved seventeenth-century urban layout with the main square surrounded by dense buildings.
Fortunately, the city survived both wars without much damage, thanks to which its 17th century architecture can still be admired. The focal point here is the Ducale Square, which is often compared to the similar Vosges Square in Paris.
The square is surrounded by late Renaissance tenements, and the whole is symmetrical and very regular. The town hall with a richly decorated facade comes from the same period.
In nearby La Grandville there is the Charleville-Mézières Animal Park, where you can see animals living in the forests of the Ardennes.
