North or South of Reims

[adventuredon]

Busy Planning routes.
Laon to Epinal.
Kurviger has this suggestion for a route TO Epinal. We'll spend 3 days riding around Epinal/Colmar etc. Then heading back.
I plan to return from Epinal, north via Verdun, Sedan Bouillon.
So given the return route, should I accept Kurviger's suggestion or route south below Reims through some other foresty roads? I know it's splitting apples but anyone with input is welcome to contribute.

 

[wessie]

I often go from Reims to Alsace/Vosges, as Reims is a convenient stopover for us. Your route looks okay to me, passing through the Argonne Forest which is where the terrain gets better. A lot of WW1 activity there so quite a few graveyards and monuments if that is your thing.

most of the roads to the north go through pretty dull farmland with no hedges in sight, apart from a few km over the Montagne de Reims, and I mean a few so I don't bother now unless I specifically want to go to Epernay.

 

[Wapping]

It’s not quite six and two threes.

The ‘traditional’ route, to / from Laon is roughly: Soissons (which is away from where you want to go) > Chateau Thierry > Montmirail > Suzanne > Troyes. Then cut due east to your end point.

Me? I’d use the route you have given us, maybe fine tuning (ie checking) it a bit, not least as Kurviger can add some silly bits, as generated by its algorithms. Not least, it’s the way I go to the Vosges. The other route, via Troyes, is more suitable when coming from / going to Dijon / Morvan / Lyon and south to the Mediterranean at Marseille.

 

[wessie]

One other point, which you are doing is avoid Nancy on any route into Alsace-Lorraine. Big city, quite nice in the middle but mad with traffic. When heading to southern Alsace to a friend's place near Mulhouse I would do similar to you, but go through Bar Le Duc.

If I am heading further north to Obernai or Colmar I would swing east of Nancy, heading for the bridge over the Moselle at Pont a Mousson and seek out lunch in the pleasant Place Duroc before heading across the lovely Lorraine and Nord Vosges.

I post this, more as general advice to other travellers to the region, rather than specific to the original query.

 

[adventuredon]

I think I'lll tweak my to Epinal route to go close to verdun. Return route will be as Wapping suggested. Days in the area will be ridden choosing towns or routes in the next few days...Stay tuned for advice? Appreciated Gents

 

[Wapping]

avoid Nancy on any route into Alsace-Lorraine

Good advice. The motorway around the city is excellent and is probably free, for the section that loops the city itself. Hop on and hop off.