Meaux Cathedral & Brie Cheese Route Day Trip
The cathedral city of Meaux sits just 20 km north-east of Chessy and combines one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in the Île-de-France with the Musée de la Grande Guerre (one of France's best WWI museums) and the chance to buy Brie de Meaux AOP directly from affineurs in the old town – a half-day that feels genuinely French and utterly unlike the resort.
Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Meaux
Construction of the cathedral began in the 12th century and the nave's soaring height – 27 metres to the vaulted ceiling – makes it feel larger than many more famous Gothic churches. The Bishop's Garden (Jardins Bossuet) alongside is one of the most beautiful formal gardens in the region, designed in the 17th century and immaculately maintained, free to enter and largely unknown outside France.
The old town around the cathedral has a handful of excellent fromageries where you can taste and buy Brie de Meaux at the correct ripeness – the cheese is legally required to be made within a defined zone and Meaux is its capital. Ask for a piece that's been aged 6–8 weeks for maximum flavour.
Musée de la Grande Guerre
Opened in 2011 on the edge of Meaux, this is the largest WWI museum in France by collection size, with over 50,000 objects including uniforms, weapons, propaganda posters and personal diaries from both Allied and German perspectives. The permanent exhibition is chronological and deeply moving; allow at least two hours.
The museum sits on the Marne battlefield where the First Battle of the Marne halted the German advance in September 1914. The surrounding countryside is still dotted with memorials and cemeteries, and the museum provides a self-guided driving route to the key sites – sobering and essential context for anyone interested in European history.
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