Travel Guide Chaumont

Chaumont, prefecture de la Haute-Marne, is a pleasant city immersed in greenery, situated on a limestone spur at 315 m altitude. Its name comes from «calvus mons»; it was the residence of the counts of Champagne from 1228 to 1239, which built a castle with the last witness. The rich heritage includes part of the old belt of ramparts, tower and turrets, chapel and basilica, not forgetting the viaduct above the Suize valley, a symbol of the city. It was designed by Decomble, built in 15 months only and opened in 1857, is Europe's largest viaduct. You can empreinter the first floor to enjoy the incomparable view. Among the city's specialities, the Gantière tradition has disappeared, but at a distance, Bassigny and its cutlery offer a high-reputation craft. A homeland of Edmé Bouchardon, Louis XV sculptor, the city gives a place of choice to the graphic arts, with today the Silos and the poster festival that originates in the poster collection bequeathed to the city in 1906 by Gustave Dutailly. In 1990, the city inaugurated its first international meetings of graphic arts. Each year, the meetings revolve around a theme: environment, music… a competition from professionals accompanied by numerous other exhibitions.