The enthusiasm around the fortified castle of Sedan, designated a favorite monument of the French thanks to Stéphane Bern’s broadcast, is already evident in the Ardennes. Hotels are already full for the European Heritage Days, and tourist numbers are expected to increase throughout the 2023/2024 season.
The “complete” panels should be out this weekend of September 16 and 17 in the Charleville-Mézières and Sedan region. For the European Heritage Days, and the day after this consecration for the castle of Sedan as “French’s favorite monument”, the hotels are full to bursting.
Hoteliers can therefore have a smile… and not much time to devote to us, given their workload. On the phone, the receptionist at a Sedan hotel seems in a hurry. “Yes we are full“… Before hanging up on us.
Same story in another establishment in the city, which this time agreed to give us a few words. “We have 38 rooms, all filled for two weeks already“says the switchboard operator. She’s going to take care of customers.”which go both to Charleville-Mézières Puppet Festivalboth at the fortified castle of Sedan“as part of the European Heritage Days. Without having a precise figure to give us, she affirms that this month of September”is much better than last year’s“.
On the Sedan hotel reservation site, no more rooms available for the weekend of September 15, 16 and 17. • © Screenshot
If the city’s hotels are full, that of the Sedan castle logically follows the same trend. “We stocked up for the weekend. Not only for the castle, but also for the World Festival of Puppet Theaters” explains Aurore Iwanciw, director of the establishment and vice-president of the hotel branch of UMIH, the Union of Hotel Trades and Industries.
“CThis is excellent news for the hotel“whose accommodation building was declared a favorite monument of the French, during the program presented by Stéphane Bern, on September 13.”We received a lot of calls just to say “congratulations” she cried out. “It must still be noted that the Ardennes fought and voted in numbers. We are proud of that. We often talk about Breton pride, Basque pride, Norman pride… now, let’s talk about Ardennes pride!” she exclaims.
From now on, the hotel wants to take a step forward. “We are expecting real recognition of the territory and more and more tourists. There is also a real combination of circumstances, because the castle celebrates its 600th anniversary next year. With the communication campaign that we are going to carry out, we hope to attract tourists all year round” enthuses Aurore Iwanciw.
We received a lot of calls just to say “congratulations”
Aurore Iwanciw, director of the Sedan castle hotel
A hope that could emerge, only if there is a difference in attendance between the month of October 2023 and that of 2022. “This month, we are still low on reservations, but it’s starting to pick up.” says the hotel manager. Over the following months, Aurore Iwanciw did not hide her fears. “There are still doubts about the months of November and December. But maybe the reservations will come late“.
No matter, the director keeps smiling, because 2023 “is already a wonderful year“She defends what she calls “slow tourism” and which is the opposite of “overtourism”, which can be found on beaches or in seaside resorts. “Territories like the Ardennes which are not in a situation of overtourism have seen their tourist flows increase” she explains. “Slow tourism is green, ecological tourism“turned towards forests and nature,”or patrimonial“when tourists go on vacation to less frequented places but full of history and ancient monuments.”We don’t go where it’s crowded, like by the sea for example.” she concludes.
The Sedan castle represents the Grand Est for the show Le Monument Préféré des Français. • © France Télévisions
The fortified castle of Sedan is therefore experiencing an unexpected revival of interest. Unexpected is the word that the director of the Charleville-Mézières and Sedan tourist office often uses. “It is still too early to see if there is an influx of tourists linked to the consecration of the castle, but we think it will come this weekend with the heritage days” believes Romain Henry.
The establishment, a central place for tourism in Charleville as in Sedan, will double its staff for these three days. “There will be two people instead of one at the Sedan reception point“.
There is therefore no immediate physical presence of tourists, however, “information gathering has increased significantly”, says the director. “The day after the broadcast, the phone rang non-stop. Information on the castle, tourists finding out about schedules, accommodation, places to eat… in short, everything that revolves around the castle. It was quite impressive” he comments.
According to him, this first place was unexpected. “We hope for a crazy attendance, like the one there was in Cherbourg last year (the Cherbourg-en-Cotentin ferry terminal won the 2022 edition, editor’s note). “This will position the Ardennes destination as a real tourist destination“.
The day after the broadcast, the phone rang non-stop.
Romain Henry, director of the Charleville-Mézières Sedan tourist office
Not to mention that the timing is perfect for the office, which is already being prepared for next year, and the festivities for the 600th anniversary of the castle. “We capitalize a lot on it” explains Romain Henry. “Charleville-Mézières and cultural actors had already started working on it before Stéphane Bern’s show“.
In the Ardennes, the tourist season lasts from mid-April to mid-October. But this year, the office is also hoping for attendance in the winter. “The majority of the castle is covered, so you can visit it all year round.” he recalls.
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