Arras (population 42,000) lies 115 miles north of Paris. This is Le Grand Place, the main square in the city center. Those Flemish-Baroque-style townhouses date back to the 16th and 17th centuries.
This is why I'm in Arras---to see Vauban Citadel. Built 1667-1672, the fortress is of course named after one of the most famous military engineer's of all time: Sebastian Le Prestre Vauban (1633-1707).
A moat surrounds the citadel. During World War ll the Germans occupied the place and 218 French Resistance fighters were shot and dumped in the ditch.
Jeez, it's hard to see what the inside of the citadel looks like as a huge grandstand is being built for an upcoming music festival.
Laon (population 25,000) 85 miles north of Paris wasn't on my radar but, ended up having a nice old town area. See way up on the hill? That's the old town.
Shopping street in old town area of Laon.
Like what they did with the umbrellas.
Laon's cathedral.
See the brown metal tracks? Until 2016, there was a funicular ferrying people from the valley floor below to the old town.
It's quite a hike getting up to the old town.
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