Château-Thierry is best known as the birthplace of the French fabulist Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95). Built along the Marne River beneath the ruins of a hilltop castle that dates from the time of Joan of Arc, it’s within sight of the American Belleau Wood War Cemetery (open daily 9–5), which commemorates the 2,300 American soldiers slain here in 1918.
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