Maubeuge, besieged stronghold

Departure from Place Vauban (Tourist Office).

(S/E) Opposite the Tourist Office, turn left, immediately take the path going up at the corner of the building and go to the back of it. Turn left, go under the Porte de Mons and continue straight ahead. Follow Rue Casimir Fournier on the left.
Before crossing the roundabout, enjoy the view of Fort des Sarts on your left.

(1) After crossing Route de Valencienne, follow it to the left, then turn right onto Boulevard de l'Épinette (D105). After a few metres, turn into the^first street on the left and join Route de Feignies. Then turn left onto Rue du Pont de Pierre, cross Rue de Mairieux (D136) and quickly turn right onto Chemin de Buffalo just before the roundabout.

(2) Turn right onto this road. At La Bruyère, continue straight on Rue du Fort Leveau and cross the D105. Continue straight on the D136.

(3) Pass Fort Leveau on your left and join the junction with the N2 in Mairieux.

(4) Continue straight ahead on Avenue du Floricamp. In Mairieux, turn left onto Route d'Elesmes. At the roundabout, continue straight ahead until you reach the D28.

(5) At the corner of the cemetery, turn left onto Route de Binche and head towards Fort de la Salmagne on your left.

(6) Once you have seen or visited the Fort, turn around and retrace your steps back to the cemetery.

(5) Turn left onto Route de Mairieux, then left onto Rue du Ponteau and right onto Rue de Boussois. Continue straight ahead on Chemin d'Elesmes, then onto Rue de Moronval after passing under the motorway.

(7) In the centre of Boussois, turn right onto Rue Anatole France, then straight on onto Rue Eugène Chimot, which becomes Route de Boussois after the roundabout.

(8) At Rue du Béguinage on the left, continue straight ahead for a round trip to the Assevent National Necropolis.

(9) At the D136, turn right and then immediately right onto Avenue du Maréchal Delattre de Tassigny, and head for the Assevent National Necropolis.

(10) Once you have visited the necropolis, retrace your steps and turn left, then left again onto Route de Boussois.

(8) Turn right onto Rue du Béguinage and at the end, turn left onto Rue Maurice Willot and a few metres later, turn right onto Rue du^158e Régiment d'Infanterie. Head towards the River Sambre.

(11) Take Chemin de Halage to the right towards Maubeuge, follow the Sambre, pass under the motorway bridge and, at the bridge over the Sambre, join the roundabout on the right.

(12) At the roundabout, take the exit towards Avenue Jean Mabuse, which becomes Avenue Albert^1er. At the roundabout, continue straight ahead.

(13) At the end of Place Vauban, cross the street and join the square (S/E).

Bicycle racks in front of the Fort, the Necropolis and the Porte de Mons

Fort de Leveau Museum, Route de Feignies +33 (0) 27 62 37 07 Closed from December to February. Open every day and on the last two Sundays of the month from 2.30 pm to 6 pm from April to October.

Fort de la Salmagne, Vieux Reng, +33(0)6 74 74 84 37 Open on the^third Sunday of the month from March to October: between 9.30am and 11am and 1.30pm and 4pm, or by appointment.
Espace Mémoire Verrière, Boussois: 2 Rue Anatole France +33(0)6 95 02 07 62 Open by appointment, take the opportunity to visit the Notre-Dame des Glaces Church and its magnificent Art Deco glass cross.
Porte de Mons, Place Vauban, Sambre Avesnois Tourist Office: +33 (0)3 27 62 11 93