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The church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste is listed as a historical monument: nave from the twelfth century, square tower of the crossing from the thirteenth century, traces of fortifications on the walls of the transept and on the bell tower from the fifteenth century. The rose window was influenced by that of the cathedral Notre-Dame de Laon.

Vorges is a small village located approximately 6 km south of Laon, in the Hauts-de-France region. The village has a rich history dating back to Roman times, when it was part of the territory of the Rèmois, a Gallic tribe. In the 5th century, the Germanic and Frankish people settled in the area, which led to the further development of the village. During the early Middle Ages, under the rule of Clovis and the influence of Bishop Saint Rémy, Christian influence began to grow in Vorges. Archaeological excavations have uncovered Merovingian tombs, which contain some of the first Christian cemeteries in the region. In the 12th century, Vorges was mentioned in several historical documents and had a thriving wine-growing sector with 512 vineyards owned by various abbeys. The village also has a fortified church, built between 1180 and 1230, which was reinforced during the Hundred Years' War to withstand attacks from the English and Burgundians.

The Basilica of Notre Dame de Liesse is a Gothic basilica dating from the 12th century and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who is said to have miraculously freed three knights from captivity during the Crusades. The basilica was a place of pilgrimage for many kings and queens of France, who came to pray for various favors and blessings. You can admire the beautiful architecture, the statue of the Black Madonna, the frescoes and relics of the basilica, and learn about its rich history and culture. The basilica is located in the town of Liesse-Notre-Dame.

Here, the city walker will find an early masterpiece of Gothic architecture, a style often found in this part of France – Chartres and Reims, for example, attract enthusiastic international visitors and are far more famous than Laon. In the following 13th century, many Gothic churches were built, not only in their country of origin, France, but also beyond the country's borders, where this sky-high, light-filled architectural style was now in great demand for new churches (for example, the laying of the foundation stone for Cologne Cathedral in 1248).

Pretty pedestrian medieval town, with here and there magnificent paintings of scenes, and as well as portraits of famous characters. Too bad there are so many shops closed.

The cathedral stands in the old town of Laon on Table Mountain and can be seen from afar. The detailed front and the balanced proportions make the building worth seeing from the outside. But you should definitely take your time and look inside one of the earliest Gothic masterpieces. The feeling of space in the light-flooded church is amazing. There are many side chapels, beautiful stained glass windows, remains of the interior painting and much more to admire. We were thrilled!

After climbing to the top of Laon, you are rewarded with the historical city center and the cathedral of the Notre Dame.

Very pretty cathedral which is one of the first Gothic buildings in France