Vesle
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The Vesle is a river of France, left tributary of the Aisne River. It is 140 kilometres long and flows mainly through the département of Marne. It is the river on which the city of Reims stands.
The Vesle rises at an altitude of about 187 metres, on the dip slope of the Upper Cretaceous chalk, near the village of Somme-Vesle, east of Châlons-en-Champagne. Though still passing through the chalk country, it soon begins to flow on its own Quarternary deposits. It passes through Reims (Latitude 49° 15’ 57’’ N, Longitude 4° 1’ 46’’ E). On leaving the city's western outskirts, it enters the much more wooded landscape of the Eocene geology.
This part of its valley accommodates the road, now the N31/E46, between the two former Gaulish tribal centres of Reims and Soissons. Halfway between the two, at Fismes (Latitude 49° 18' 28" N Longitude 03° 40' 53" E) it receives the river Ardre from its left bank. The road has seen the passage of many kings, emperors and armies over the centuries. The French kings were crowned at Reims and usually returned to Paris this way.
The Vesle joins the Aisne River at Condé-sur-Aisne (Latitude 49° 23' 56" N Longitude 03° 28' 11" E), having descended to an altitude of about 45 metres.
The Vesle flows through the following départements and towns:
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