Ardennes an authentic industrial territory
Bordering Belgium and Luxembourg, this territory of Eastern France has a unique personality, with multiple openings to all types of activities.
Employment areas
As a mosaic of rural soils and towns on a human scale, Ardennes concentrates most of their activity in three areas with a renewed dynamism.
Charleville-Mézières and Sedan are the two largest towns in Ardennes, about 20 kilometers apart, form an important urban unit, where industry and tourism are the predominant sectors.
Charleville-Mézières
THE CHARLEVILLE-MEZIERES EMPLOYMENT AREA IN 2017
Sedan
THE SEDANS EMPLOYMENT AREA IN 2017
Rethel
The third economic centre of the Ardennes, Rethel is located in the heart of the region and benefits from good access to Paris, the other cities of Eastern France, and the international market.
The RETEL Employement area in 2017
Givet
As the last town on the Meuse before Belgium, Givet benefits from a remarkable strategic position, as evidenced by its river port which can accommodate barges of up to 1,350 tonnes.
Infrastructure and connectivity
As border territory, Ardennes is connected by river, land and rail to the major cities in the region as well as to Belgium and Luxembourg.
- Direct low-speed TGV between Charleville-Mézières and Paris (1 hour 44 minutes)
- Fast access to the A4 Reims-Paris, and links to Lille and Brussels
- A34 / A304: strategic motorway route with direct access to the Belgian motorway network and the major North Sea ports.
Economic sectors, research and training
The industrial tradition is still very present in Ardennes. Diversified and internationally oriented, it relies on the excellence of the subcontractors present in the region, but also on research and training.
Agriculture and the bioeconomy are also leading sectors.
Platinium 3D industrial additive manufacturing platform
Agriculture: wheat, sugar beet, maize, methanisation facilities
Campus Sup Ardennes (technology, management, commercial) and EiSINe (School of Industrial and Digital Sciences)
They are located in the Ardennes:
Tourism and quality of life
A beautiful valley, a majestic forest, landscapes that breathe serenity: Ardennes is full of natural escapades that allow you to recover and escape from the city to recharge.
But Ardennes also has a remarkable historical heritage, with majestic and emblematic castles such as those in Sedan, and sites of remembrance marked by the Great War. The industrial heritage is also increasingly highlighted, like the museum of Ardennes’ metallurgy in Bogny-sur-Meuse.
Rimbaud’s native land, the region is also culturally very active, with many quality festivals and museums.
- Culture: world festival of puppet theatres, Rimbaud Museum, Sedan castle and memorial sites
- Gastronomy: dry Ardennes ham, Rethel white pudding
- Leisure, nature and sport: regional nature park, Vieilles Forges lake, cycle route, river tourism.