Saint-Dizier / Joinville

From Saint-Dizier, ride on to Joinville, a town marked by the French Renaissance and its links to the mighty Catholic family of de Guise. You cycle along the towpath beside the Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne. Along the véloroute, the Château de Bienville and the exceptional Château du Grand Jardin in Joinville provide opportunities for unforgettable visits. Do also take the time to wander around the streets of Joinville, a small town designated a Petite Cité de Caractère® for its rich heritage and the beauty of its gardens. During hot summer spells, stopping here for a night, you’ll appreciate the refreshing atmosphere.

The Route

From Saint-Dizier, you cycle along the canal towpath to reach Joinville. The path is easy, without slopes, so it’s a good stretch to enjoy on family outings, including with young children. Up to the Écluse de Chevillon (lock N°50), the surface is tarmacked and in good state. Between Écluse N°50 and the Écluse du Breuil (N°49), the surface may be tarmacked, but at time of writing is in a poor state of repair (for 2km), requiring your concentration to avoid the many potholes. Between Écluse N°49 and Écluse de Bussy (N°46), for some 6.5km, the surface is in pretty average state at time of writing. After Écluse N°46, the surfacing is very good up to Joinville.

Don't miss

• Saint-Dizier: Notre-Dame Church; the château; Muse, an immersive space
• Bienville: the château grounds (parc) and orchard (verger), maintained by the association Les Croqueurs de Pommes, the espaliered fruit trees (their branches attached to a frame) reflecting 19th-century horticultural techniques
• Joinville: the Château du Grand Jardin, the castle itself a listed historic monument, the garden designated a Jardin Remarquable, reflecting so well the art of living of the French Renaissance. Petite Cité de Caractère du Grand-Est ®, a designation recognizing the little town of Joinville’s historical and cultural heritage – founded in the 11th century on the frontier between the French Kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire, Joinville’s history was largely influenced by the powerful courtly Catholic family of the de Guises (which famously married into the Scottish royal family, Marie de Guise being the mother of Mary Queen of Scots). Take it all in by wandering through the old town and along Quai des Peceaux, where the timber-frame houses and other fine homes boast ornate Renaissance details.