Well established in the Grand Est region for two days, the Olympic torch relay decided to highlight the Haute-Marne department this Friday, June 28.
One hundred and seventeen porters will take turns all day from Langres to Saint-Dizier, the city where the cauldron is lit. But before that, it is Langres which gets the ball rolling at 9:30 a.m. This hilltop city is recognized as one of the most beautiful fortified towns in France and nicknamed the “Carcassonne of the North”. Before leaving, a collective relay will be devoted to weightlifting with its captain Jean-Philippe Gudin, the president of the local club for more than thirty years, at the Town Hall Square at 10:18 a.m.
Direction ensuite Bourbonne-les-Bains, a spa town known since Antiquity, at 11 a.m. with a departure from the old station for the Place des Bains at 11:25 a.m. Renowned for its dolmens and the corner tower, the remains of an ancient fortified castle, Nogent takes over at 11:39 until 12:25.
At 2:01 p.m., Colombey-les-Deux-Eglisesknown worldwide for having had General de Gaulle as a resident, who had his family home there, La Boisserie, welcomes the flame which will shine at 2:31 p.m. in front of the Charles-de-Gaulle Memorial.
We could not ignore the Haute-Marne prefecture, Chaumont, which will offer a visit from 2:45 p.m. to 4:06 p.m. including its viaduct, a 19th century railway bridge. One last hook by Fronclesrich in its industrial past with its forges, at 5:04 p.m. and until 5:29 p.m.
The final stage will be held at Saint-Dizier from 6:21 p.m. Renowned for its industrial past and its Belle Époque foundries, the city where the cauldron will be lit at 7:20 p.m. will launch its tour of the socio-cultural center of the Vert Bois urban area.
It will head towards lock 58 to the Saint-Dizier peninsula. The Miko tower and the city theatre, which looks like a small Italian-style theatre, will then appear. The Jard park will be the setting for the cauldron lighting festivities, in the middle of a green expanse, which hosts the Musical’été festival every year.
