A26 autoroute
Encyclopedia
The A26 is a 394 km long French
motorway connecting Calais
and Troyes
. It is also known as the Autoroute des Anglais as it is the main route from the Dover
-Calais ferries and the Channel Tunnel
to most parts of France and often contains large numbers of British
cars, particularly during the summer holiday season. Before the opening of the A16
in the 1990s the A26 formed part of the road route between London
and Paris
.
The road forms part of European route E-15
and E-17
.
and N216 (which links to the Car Ferries). From there it runs southeast past Saint-Omer
, Béthune
, Lens
and Arras
. Near Arras is a major intersection with the A1, which runs south to Paris.
The A26 continues southeast, passing near Cambrai
, Saint-Quentin
and Laon
before meeting the A4
at Reims
. The two motorways merge (overlap) for 36 km (22.4 mi) before splitting up near Châlons en Champagne (formerly Châlons-sur-Marne), with the A26 heading south. The terminus is at Troyes, where the A26 meets the A5
, which provides connections to southern and eastern France.
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
motorway connecting Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
and Troyes
Troyes
Troyes is a commune and the capital of the Aube department in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about southeast of Paris. Many half-timbered houses survive in the old town...
. It is also known as the Autoroute des Anglais as it is the main route from the Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
-Calais ferries and the Channel Tunnel
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
to most parts of France and often contains large numbers of British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
cars, particularly during the summer holiday season. Before the opening of the A16
A16 autoroute
The A16 autoroute – also known as L'Européenne and forming between Abbeville and Dunkirk a part of the larger Autoroute des estuaires – is a motorway in northern France....
in the 1990s the A26 formed part of the road route between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
The road forms part of European route E-15
European route E15
The European route E 15 is part of the United Nations international E-road network. It is a north-south "reference road", running from Inverness, Scotland south through England and France to Algeciras, Spain...
and E-17
European route E17
European route E 17 passes through the following cities:** Antwerp → Sint-Niklaas → Ghent → Kortrijk** Tourcoing → Lille** Lille → Arras** Arras → Cambrai → Saint-Quentin → Laon → Reims...
.
Route
The motorway starts at Calais, at a junction with the A16A16 autoroute
The A16 autoroute – also known as L'Européenne and forming between Abbeville and Dunkirk a part of the larger Autoroute des estuaires – is a motorway in northern France....
and N216 (which links to the Car Ferries). From there it runs southeast past Saint-Omer
Saint-Omer
Saint-Omer , a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais. The town is named after Saint Audomar, who brought Christianity to the area....
, Béthune
Béthune
Béthune is a city in northern France, sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department.-Geography:Béthune is located in the former province of Artois. It is situated South-East of Calais, West of Lille, and North of Paris.-Landmarks:...
, Lens
Lens, Pas-de-Calais
Lens is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is one of France's large Picarde cities along with Lille, Valenciennes, Amiens, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Arras, and Douai.-Metropolitan area:...
and Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
. Near Arras is a major intersection with the A1, which runs south to Paris.
The A26 continues southeast, passing near Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
, Saint-Quentin
Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France. It has been identified as the Augusta Veromanduorum of antiquity. It is named after Saint Quentin, who is said to have been martyred here in the 3rd century....
and Laon
Laon
Laon is the capital city of the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-History:The hilly district of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain, has always held strategic importance...
before meeting the A4
A4 autoroute
The A4 Autoroute, also known as l'autoroute de l'Est is a French autoroute that travels between the cities of Paris and Strasbourg. It forms parts of European routes E25 and E50....
at Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
. The two motorways merge (overlap) for 36 km (22.4 mi) before splitting up near Châlons en Champagne (formerly Châlons-sur-Marne), with the A26 heading south. The terminus is at Troyes, where the A26 meets the A5
A5 autoroute
The A5 Autoroute, which was constructed in 1990 to relieve the A6, links the Parisian region with the Langres area. It is a 238 km toll road under the management of the Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhône . It makes up parts of the European routes E54, E511, and E17...
, which provides connections to southern and eastern France.
Junctions
-
1 Junction with A16A16 autorouteThe A16 autoroute – also known as L'Européenne and forming between Abbeville and Dunkirk a part of the larger Autoroute des estuaires – is a motorway in northern France....
(ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to Dunkerque, A216 spur to RN216 and the Calais Ferry Port, and the A26.
Rest Area: Nortkerque (Northbound), Zutkerque (Southbound)
2 Nordausques: Ardres- 3 Saint-Omer Centre – Boulogne: Saint Omer and Boulogne-sur-MerBoulogne-sur-Mer-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
Péage Saint-Omer
- 4 Saint-Omer Centre, Thérouanne: Saint-OmerSaint-OmerSaint-Omer , a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais. The town is named after Saint Audomar, who brought Christianity to the area....
- Rest Area: Grand Riez / Villefleur
-
Service Area: Rely / St-Hilaire-Cottes
- 5 Lillers: LillersLillersLillers is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A small farming and light industrial town situated some 15 km northwest of Béthune and 40 km west of Lille, at the junction of the D185, D182 and the D69 roads...
and Saint Pol-sur-Ternoise- Rest Area: Le Réveillon / La Grande Bucaille
- 6 Béthune: BéthuneBéthuneBéthune is a city in northern France, sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department.-Geography:Béthune is located in the former province of Artois. It is situated South-East of Calais, West of Lille, and North of Paris.-Landmarks:...
- 6.1 'Aix-Noulette' A21A21 autorouteThe A21 autoroute is a toll free highway in north western France it is also known as the Rocade Minière.-Completed:*01 D301 Start of autoroute Towns at junction with D937 Towns served: Barlin...
to A26: LensLens, Pas-de-CalaisLens is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is one of France's large Picarde cities along with Lille, Valenciennes, Amiens, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Arras, and Douai.-Metropolitan area:...
- Service Area;: Souchez / Angres
-
- 7 Arras nord: ArrasArrasArras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
and VimyVimyVimy is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography and history:Vimy is a farming town, situated some north of Arras, at the junction of the D51 and the N17 roads....
- Rest Area: Les Trois Crêtes / La Cressonière
- A1 (LilleLilleLille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
to ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
with A26- Rest Area: Bonnettes (southbound) Bois-Dhuez (Northbound)
- Service Area: Rumaucourt (Southbound) Baralle (Northbound)
- 8 Marquion: CambraiCambraiCambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
- A2A2 autorouteThe A2 Autoroute is a French autoroute that travels 76 km from the A1 near the commune of Combles in Picardie to the border with Belgium, where it continues on as the Belgian motorway A7...
(Paris to Brussels) with A26- Rest Area: Plateau (Southbound) Vacquerie (Northbound)
- 9 Masnières: FinsFINSFINS is a network protocol used by Omron PLCs, over different physical networks like Ethernet, Controller Link, DeviceNet and RS-232C....
, BantouzelleBantouzelleBantouzelle is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*...
- Rest Area: La Haute Bruyère L'Omignon
- 10 Saint Quentin Ouest: Saint QuentinSaint QuentinSaint Quentin , Quintinus in Latin, also known as Quentin of Amiens, is an early Christian saint. No real details are known of his life.-Martyrdom:...
- A29A29 autorouteThe A29 is a motorway in Normandy, northern France. The road is also European Route 44.-Route:The road connects the port of Le Havre with the A26 autoroute at Saint-Quentin...
(Rouen) with A26 - 11 Saint Quentin Sud: Saint Quentin, TergnierTergnierTergnier is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:...
and ChaunyChaunyChauny is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Geography:Built on the banks of the Oise and the Saint-Quentin canal, the town still retains its port to this day...
- Service Area: Urvillers
-
- 12 Courbes: La Fere
- Rest Area: St Brice / Broyon
- 13 Laon: LaonLaonLaon is the capital city of the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-History:The hilly district of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain, has always held strategic importance...
- Rest Area: la Croisette (Southbound) Les Pélerins (Northbound)
- Service Area: Mont-de-Nizy / Champ-Roland
- 14 Berry-au-Bac: Neufchâtel-sur-AisneNeufchâtel-sur-AisneNeufchâtel-sur-Aisne is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-References:*...
and SoissonsSoissonsSoissons is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France, located on the Aisne River, about northeast of Paris. It is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the Suessiones...
- Rest area: Cauroy / Loivre
- Péage Courcy
- 15 Reims - La Neuvillette: ReimsReimsReims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
, Reims-Champagne Airport - 16 Reims - Colbert: Reims
- A4A4 autorouteThe A4 Autoroute, also known as l'autoroute de l'Est is a French autoroute that travels between the cities of Paris and Strasbourg. It forms parts of European routes E25 and E50....
(Paris to Strasbourg) with A26
- A4A4 autorouteThe A4 Autoroute, also known as l'autoroute de l'Est is a French autoroute that travels between the cities of Paris and Strasbourg. It forms parts of European routes E25 and E50....
(Paris to Strasbourg) with A26- Rest Area:Les Grands Traquiers (Southbound)
- 17 St-Gibrien: Châlons-en-ChampagneChâlons-en-ChampagneChâlons-en-Champagne is a city in France. It is the capital of both the department of Marne and the region of Champagne-Ardenne, despite being only a quarter the size of the city of Reims....
- Rest Area: La Garenne (Northbound)
- 18 Mont Choisy: Châlons-en-ChampagneChâlons-en-ChampagneChâlons-en-Champagne is a city in France. It is the capital of both the department of Marne and the region of Champagne-Ardenne, despite being only a quarter the size of the city of Reims....
and Fère-Champenoise- Rest Area: La Bardolle (Northbound)
- 19 Europort Vatry: Europort Business park
- 20 Sommesous: Fère-Champenoise and Vitry-le-FrançoisVitry-le-FrançoisVitry-le-François is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France. It is located on the Marne River and is the western terminus of the Marne-Rhine Canal.- History :In 1142, Louis VII invaded Champagne and seized Vitry-le-François...
(RN4Route nationale 4The Route nationale 4 is a trunk road in France between Paris and the frontier with Germany.-Reclassification:The RN 4 has been re-classified around Nancy as the RD 400 as through traffic is now directed onto the Autoroutes A 31 and A 33....
)- Service Area: Sommesous
- Rest Area: Le Champ du Carreau / Champ-L'Épée
-
- 21 Arcis-sur-Aube: Arcis-sur-AubeArcis-sur-AubeArcis-sur-Aube is a commune in the Aube department in north-central France.It is located north of Troyes.-Personalities:George Danton was born the 26th October 1759 in Arcis-sur-Aube to a respectable though not wealthy family...
and Brienne-le-Château- Service Area: St Arcis-sur-Aube
-
- 22 Charmont: TroyesTroyesTroyes is a commune and the capital of the Aube department in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about southeast of Paris. Many half-timbered houses survive in the old town...
- Rest Area: Villechétif / Les Crocs de la Terre
- 23 Thennelières: Troyes, Vendeuvre-sur-Barse and Parc Naturel Regional De La Forêt D'Orient
- A5A5 autorouteThe A5 Autoroute, which was constructed in 1990 to relieve the A6, links the Parisian region with the Langres area. It is a 238 km toll road under the management of the Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhône . It makes up parts of the European routes E54, E511, and E17...
(Paris to Dijon) with A26
Future
The A26 will be extended to Bourges via Auxerre until 2025. It will replace N77 and N151 as part of the second version of the Grand contournement de ParisGrand contournement de Paris
250px|thumbThe grand contournement de Paris is the fourth ringroad around Paris and is made up of several sections of other motorways ranging from 80 to 200 km distance from Paris....
.