Perched majestically on a rocky promontory overlooking the surrounding countryside, the Town of Art and History of Langres is one of the fifty most beautiful towns of France, with its medieval, Renaissance and classical heritage.
Its wonderfully well-preserved fortified enclosure, with its seven doors and twelve towers, is best seen from its wall walk...which is 3.5 kilometres long! Dotted with orientation tables, this superb walk takes you around the old town and is a chance to admire some beautiful panoramic views: to the east are Liez Lake, the Marne Valley and the Vosges; to the west, the Bonnelle Valley and the Langres Plateau! Open to the public, the imposing and mighty Navarre Tower measures 28 metres in diameter and stands 20 metres tall - with walls up to 7 metres thick! It contains two rooms with vaults and casemates, along with a magnificent roof structure made of chestnut wood.
Once you have taken a tour of the ramparts, continue your visit to Diderot's birthplace along the old streets dotted with elegant private mansions. You can also admire the Renaissance houses, the 12th-18th-century Romano-Gothic Cathedral of St. Mammès and its cloister, and Place Diderot, where a bronze statue of the illustrious philosopher Denis Diderot stands, a work by the famous sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi...
Not far from the cathedral, the Guy-Baillet Museum of Art and history, a museum of modern architecture, offers a fine range of things to see, from the remarkable mosaic of Bacchus from the 2nd century, and other archaeological relics, to collections of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts, via the temporary exhibitions of archaeology, history and contemporary art.
At nightfall, take advantage of the illuminations at the main monuments in Langres to discover the town from another angle!
At the end of May, the Grenade Festival (Fête du Pétard) celebrates street art, with a range of performances such as theatre, dance, music, circus...
Another event not to be missed is the Halberdiers' Summer Festival (L'Estival des Hallebardiers), on Friday and Saturday nights in August, with its historic tour-performances in the streets of the fortified town.
You can practise water sports on four lakes in the area around Langres - Liez, Charmes, Mouche and Vingeanne.