cathedral
Reims Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims)
The coronation cathedral of French kings, celebrated for its High Gothic architecture and sculptural program.
37 km · about 45 min drive
EuropeFranceGrand Est
Rethel
Grand Est, France · Europe
About Rethel
Rethel sits on the route: 15 minutes from Château-Porcien, 41km from Montagne de Reims.
Rethel is in Grand Est, France, with about 8,500 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Château-Porcien, about 9 km away.
Rethel (French pronunciation: [ʁətɛl] ) is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture and third-most important city and economic center in the department. It is situated on the river Aisne, near the northern border of Champagne and 37 km from Reims.
Its inhabitants are calledRead more
Rethélois.
Where to Stay in Rethel
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Rethel?
Within an hour or so of Rethel: Reims Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims) (37 km), Montagne de Reims (41 km), Circuit de Reims-Gueux (42 km), Rocroi (48 km).
Are there any good drives near Rethel?
The nearest famous roads are Chimay Street Circuit, Voie Sacrée and Baraque de Fraiture.
Where is Rethel?
Rethel is in Grand Est, France, about 9 km from Château-Porcien.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 8,505
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- France
- Region
- Grand Est
- Timezone
- Europe/Paris
- Coordinates
- 49.5098, 4.3674
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in France
Carrying a warning triangle and hi-vis vest in your vehicle is mandatory. Motorway emergency phones connect to official breakdown services only.
Full driving guide for FranceTags
Worth the detour from Rethel
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
national park
Montagne de Reims
A wooded plateau of grand-cru champagne villages and the curious twisted 'Faux de Verzy' beech trees.
41 km · about 45 min drive
racetrack
Circuit de Reims-Gueux
Hauntingly preserved pit buildings and grandstands of the abandoned Grand Prix circuit that hosted F1 races from 1950 to 1966, standing beside public roads amid Champagne vineyards.
42 km · about 50 min drive
landmark
Rocroi
Perfect star-shaped bastioned town in the French Ardennes, laid out in 1555 and remodelled by Vauban, its five-pointed geometry of ramparts and radial streets still fully intact.
48 km · about 55 min drive
photogenic
Belvédère de la Longue Roche
Quartzite ledge 140 m above Monthermé with the classic head-on view of the Meuse doubling back in a full horseshoe meander: the signature photograph of the French Ardennes, a short walk from roadside parking.
49 km · about 55 min drive
landmark
Hautvillers
The hilltop village where Dom Pérignon perfected champagne, surrounded by sweeping vineyard slopes.
57 km · about 65 min drive
castle
Château de Bouillon
Godfrey of Bouillon's rambling medieval fortress sprawls over a rocky spur in a loop of the Semois in the Ardennes.
59 km · about 70 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Tombeau du Géant
A famous Semois viewpoint where the river loops around a tree-covered ridge resembling a giant's tomb near Botassart.
59 km · about 70 min drive
Driving roads near Rethel
4 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 59 kmTombeau du GéantA famous Semois viewpoint where the river loops around a tree-covered ridge resembling a giant's tomb near Botassart.
- 62 kmChimay Street CircuitA Belgian village street circuit running since 1926, still used for historic car and motorcycle racing on closed public roads. Between meetings you can drive the whole flat-out 4km lap through farmland and the town outskirts.
Driving in France
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.85/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€10.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
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