Along the Chemin des Dames (Ladies' Road) - A road some thirty kilometres long and runs along a ridge between the valleys of the rivers Aisne and Ailette. It acquired the name in the 18th century, as it was the route taken by the two daughters of Louis XV, who were known as Ladies of France. At the time it was scarcely a carriage road but it was the most direct route between Paris and the château of the former mistress of Louis XV and former lady in waiting to one of the daughters, and whom the daughters visited frequently. To make the way easier, the count had the road surfaced and it gained its new name.

During WWI, the Chemin Des Dames was the scene of several bloody battles between 1914 and 1918. It was held predominantly by the German army from November 1914. The most noted battle took place over 9 days in April 1917. The French, advocating the use of overwhelming force, attacked the German line along a front on the Chemin's ridge. The German defenders had found shelter in caves below the ridge from which they were able to dominate the ground over which the attack was made. On the first day, the French army, with support by battalions of Senegalese soldiers, lost over 40,000 men. During the entire 9 day battle, French forces lost approximately 97,000 men. The overwhelming loss of lives with insignificant strategic gain was a disaster for Nivelle, the French general, and many mutinies followed. Petain (of later Vichy fame), soon replaced Nivelle.