The best running trails around Fontaine-Lès-Clercs

"God loves every soul with an undying love. He approaches each one with repeated, unspeakably patient offers of redemption. Even a small sign of love is enough for him to forgive and redeem. Our dear departed ones lacked a life preserver for the body; but the spiritual life preserver was not lacking, the breath of God in which the soul can clothe itself in a tiny moment, much more quickly than the body could." (Text by Albino Luciani / Pope John Paul I)

The British cemetery of Seraucourt was created from 1920 to 1926, where the remains of soldiers buried in graves located on the nearby battlefield were grouped together, most of them killed in 1918. The cemetery contains 1,378 bodies including: 1 371 British, 5 Canadians and 2 Australians. Among them are around twenty airmen shot down in 1944. Only 496 bodies have been identified.

The Grand-Seraucourt British Cemetery is a historic site dating from the First World War, where nearly 2,000 British soldiers and airmen are buried. The cemetery covers an area of 4,732 m² and is surrounded by a stone wall. You can run along the paths that connect the different sections of the cemetery and admire the memorial stones and flowers that adorn them. You can also learn more about the history of the cemetery and the people buried there by reading the information panels or scanning the QR codes with your smartphone. The cemetery is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and entry is free. Running in the Grand-Seraucourt British Cemetery is a way to honor the memory of those who fought for freedom, and to appreciate the beauty and tranquility of this place.

If you're looking for a scenic and historic route, you can try the Saint-Quentin Canal in northern France. This canal connects the Escaut, the Oise and the Somme, and crosses the watershed at a summit level 20.4 km long with two tunnels. You can run along the towpath, admire the views of the countryside and the waterway, and discover the towns and villages along the route. The canal was built in the 18th century and was an important link for trade and transport. You can learn more about its history and engineering at the Musée du Touage in Riqueval, where you can also see the electric tugboats that pull the boats through the long tunnel. The Saint-Quentin canal is an ideal destination for runners who love culture and adventure.

If you are interested in the history of the First and Second World Wars, you can visit the Grand-Seraucourt British Cemetery, a British military cemetery located in the commune of Seraucourt-le-Grand, in the department of Aisne. The cemetery contains 1,378 graves of soldiers who died mostly in 1918, as well as a few airmen shot down in 1944. The information panels and memorial stones will allow you to learn more about the battles that took place in this region and on the history of fallen soldiers. The cemetery is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and entry is free. The cemetery is surrounded by a stone wall and has a staircase and a building at the entrance. There you can take a peaceful and respectful walk among the rows of white tombstones and admire the flowers and trees that adorn the site.

The path that follows the Saint-Quentin Canal from Saint-Quentin to Fontaine-lès-Clercs is approximately 13 kilometers long and will allow you to enjoy views of the water, bridges, locks and the surrounding countryside. The trail is largely flat and easy, with some gentle inclines.

Most of the soldiers who died senselessly in the First World War only lived to be 22 years old.