Car Rental Sedan

Sedan is relatively easy to navigate by car, thanks to the town’s compact size. However, you do need to be aware of the one-way system that operates in the streets of the historic old town, so plan your journeys accordingly, and also note any signs for ‘priorité à droite’ – priority to the right.

Finding a parking space is rarely a problem, except during the market days on Wednesday and Saturday, when the streets of the town will get busier. On-street parking is available in and around the center and there is free parking in several parking lots, which means finding a parking spot easy. The lot on place d’Armes is most convenient for the castle.

Beautiful Charleville-Mezières is 12 miles away via the A34, while the town of Monthermé, nestled on a beautiful stretch of the river Meuse in the Ardennes, is just 20 miles north of Sedan.

Drive on the right in France. French highways are called autoroutes, prefixed with an A, and are mostly toll roads (look out for péage signs). You can pay with cash or card (Visa/Mastercard). The speed limit on autoroutes, or freeways, is 130km/h (80mph) in the dry, but lowers to 110km/h (68mph) when wet. The speed limit on main single-lane roads is 90km/h (55mph) in the dry, and 50km/h (30mph) in built-up areas.

When driving on autoroutes, be aware that lane discipline is strictly followed in France. The outside lanes should only be used for overtaking, and you should pull into the inside lane whenever there is space. When buying fuel, sans plomb is unleaded petrol and gazole is diesel.

Sedan’s attractive and historic core is protected as a Town of Art and History – one of 153 towns across France with such a title. Its streets are lined with charming little shops and restaurants, and stunning 17^th-century townhouses. The streets around Place du Château and Rue de l'Horloge in particular are a delight to wander around.

Explore the largest fortified castle in Europe

Sedan’s enormous medieval fortress dominates the town. Work started in 1424 and it was only completed one and a half centuries later. The sheer scale is mind-boggling: it covers a massive seven acres in area, its buildings are seven levels high, and its walls are nearly 100 feet wide in places. Part of the castle has been converted into a luxury hotel, but there’s still plenty to see and enjoy inside. Numerous events take place throughout the summer months to liven up your experience, from jousting tournaments and falconry displays to fireworks and even a torchlight procession to accompany the evening tours.

Enjoy a glass of bubbly in the home of champagne

One of the great pleasures in visiting this part of France is to sample the fantastic cuisine and, of course, the region’s world-famous sparkling wines. The forests of the Ardennes are a rich source of wild boar, deer, duck, and partridge, which are all part of the region’s distinctive cuisine. One of the most popular local dishes is boudin blanc – or white sausage – which is often served with local truffles and mushrooms. Two excellent places to sample the best of regional cooking are Le Saint-Michel, on Rue Saint-Michel, and Le Medieval, on Rue de l'Horloge.

A visit to Champagne-Ardenne wouldn’t be complete without sampling one of the region’s famous sparkling wines. To really experience a taste of everyday life here, enjoy your glass of champagne withthe little pink, vanilla-flavored biscuits – called les biscuits roses de Reims –

 that are designed to be dipped in a glass of champagne.

Relax in style

The enchanting town of Charleville-Mezières is a 20-minute drive away, and boasts one of the largest and most impressive squares in all of France. The magnificent Place Ducale is framed by beautiful, arcaded 17^th-century townhouses. Sit on one of the cafe terraces to take in the architectural symmetry, all while sipping some fresh coffee. A few hundred yards north from the square, overlooking the river Meuse, is a beautiful 17^th-century neo-classical mill, which is home to a museum dedicated to Arthur Rimbaud, the influential 19^th-century French poet who was born in the town.

Take a drive through spectacular Ardennes scenery

North of Sedan, the Parc naturel régional des Ardennes (Regional Natural Park of the Ardennes), a vast area of rolling hills and forests, stretching to the border with Belgium. The park is ideal for outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, mountain biking, horseback-riding, fishing and canoeing, or you can just drive round and experience French rural life at its most beautiful and idyllic.

There are many picturesque towns and villages to stop in. One of the calmest and most beautiful is the little town of Monthermé , home to the beautiful 12^th-century Abbey of Laval Dieu and Saint-Léger church.