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.  

the little
Ardennes has capitalised on its privileged geographical location to develop an interesting coherence favouring international business.

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

Charleville-Mézières

THE CHARLEVILLE-MEZIERES EMPLOYMENT AREA IN 2017

158 470
inhabitants
54 438
salaried employment
59 682
total jobs
Sed

Sedan

THE SEDANS EMPLOYMENT AREA IN 2017

96 890
inhabitants
24 688
salaried employment
28 826
total jobs
Ret

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

59274
salaries
23248
employed workers aged 15 to 64 in 2015
Givet

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:

Villers-Semeuse
Peugeot Citroën
Metallurgy
Bazeilles
Unilin
Veneer and wood panel manufacturing
Fromelennes
Tréfimétaux
Metallurgy
Charleville-Mézières
Mondelez
Production of biscuits, rusks and pastries (Production of LU trays)
Challerange
Nestlé
Manufacture of other dairy products
Rouvroy-sur-Audry
Canelia (Lactalis)
Production of other dairy products
Jandun
Cristalline
Production of drinks

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.