THE OLD MAN CRACKS

A few kilometres after the village exit, a sign indicates «Old Craonne», there is nothing, green meadows, groves… old Craonne was completely razed during the First World War. It was rebuilt 500 metres lower thanks to Sweden's financing. At the location of the old village and above many cellars was erected a arboretum of remembrance which counts fifty-seven species such as tulip of Virginia, giant Redwood, vineyards, bucolic… Currently managed by the National Forestry Office - NFB -The arboretum is, on the one hand, a place of memory and allows, on the other hand., amateurs of botany to discover a remarkable flora. It was in the cemetery of old Craonne that the famous writer Yves Gibeau wanted to be buried.