Route nationale 3
Encyclopedia
The Route nationale 3 is a trunk road (nationale
) in France
connecting Paris
to the frontier of Germany
.
. As a result sections have been or are proposed to be de-classified. The road is now numbered the RD 3 through the Department of Marne
.
at the Porte de Pantin becoming the Avenue Jean Lolive. It heads through the Eastern Paris suburbs including Bobigny where it crosses the A3 autoroute
and then the A104 autoroute after which it passes through Clare-Souilly and into the Marne valley. After 15 km the RN 3 enters Meaux
after which it crosses the Marne and heads through the Forêt de Montceaux. The A4 autoroute
crosses the road which turns north 7 km further at la Ferté sous Jouarre and crosses to the Marne again. The road crosses the Marne again at Château-Thierry
and heads east through the Bois de Condé. The road comes to Épernay
, to the North is the Parc Naturel Régional de la Montagne de Reims, the heart of the Champagne
region. The road is then called the RD 3 to Châlons-en-Champagne
where it leaves the Marne valley. The A26 autoroute
passes North-South between Reims
and Troyes
.
and then the TGV Est (high-speed line)
. The road passes through Saint Menehould before passing over the Forêt D'Argonne which rises to over 250 m. The road heads through ondulating countryside before joining the Voie Sacrée
and the Verdun
passing several war memorials and Fort de Regret. The road heads North East out of Verdun aqnd through the Forêt de Verdun and the ruins of the Fort de Tavannes.
At Etain the road passes south east and then through Jarny and then over a ridge of hills and the Bois de Vaux into Metz
and the River Moselle
.
parallel to the A4 autoroute
. The road continues over the hills now over 300 m high before a steep incline down into Saint-Avold
now only 4 km south of the frontier with Germany. The RN3 passes through the Foret de Steinberg and then north east passing through Forbach
and Stirling Wendel before reaching the German
border. Thereafter it becomes the B 41 to Saarbrücken
8 km to the north west.
Route nationale (France)
A route nationale, or simply nationale, is a trunk road in France. Trunk roads are in France are important roads which cross broad portions of the French territory, as opposed to secondary or communal roads who only serve local areas....
) in 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...
connecting 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...
to the frontier of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Reclassification
For the majority of its route the RN 3 runs parallel to the A4 autorouteA4 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....
. As a result sections have been or are proposed to be de-classified. The road is now numbered the RD 3 through the Department of Marne
Marne
Marne is a department in north-eastern France named after the river Marne which flows through the department. The prefecture of Marne is Châlons-en-Champagne...
.
Paris to Châlons-en-Champagne (0 km to 162 km)
The road begins in ParisParis
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...
at the Porte de Pantin becoming the Avenue Jean Lolive. It heads through the Eastern Paris suburbs including Bobigny where it crosses the A3 autoroute
A3 autoroute
The A3 Autoroute is a French autoroute located entirely within the départment of Seine-Saint-Denis, serving Montreuil-sous-Bois, Rosny-sous-Bois, and Bondy. Its southern terminus is an interchange with the Boulevard Périphérique at the Porte de Bagnolet, and its northern terminus is an interchange...
and then the A104 autoroute after which it passes through Clare-Souilly and into the Marne valley. After 15 km the RN 3 enters Meaux
Meaux
Meaux is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located east-northeast from the center of Paris. Meaux is a sub-prefecture of the department and the seat of an arondissement...
after which it crosses the Marne and heads through the Forêt de Montceaux. The A4 autoroute
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....
crosses the road which turns north 7 km further at la Ferté sous Jouarre and crosses to the Marne again. The road crosses the Marne again at Château-Thierry
Château-Thierry
Château-Thierry is a commune in northern France about east-northeast of Paris. It is a sub-prefecture of the Aisne department in Picardy.-History:...
and heads east through the Bois de Condé. The road comes to Épernay
Épernay
Épernay is a commune in the Marne department in northern France. Épernay is located some 130 km north-east of Paris on the main line of the Eastern railway to Strasbourg...
, to the North is the Parc Naturel Régional de la Montagne de Reims, the heart of the Champagne
Champagne (province)
The Champagne wine region is a historic province within the Champagne administrative province in the northeast of France. The area is best known for the production of the sparkling white wine that bears the region's name...
region. The road is then called the RD 3 to Châlons-en-Champagne
Châlons-en-Champagne
Châlons-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....
where it leaves the Marne valley. The A26 autoroute
A26 autoroute
The A26 is a 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...
passes North-South between 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....
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...
.
Châlons-en-Champagne to Metz (162 km to 298 km)
The road crosses the plain and the RD994 an ancient Roman roadRoman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
and then the TGV Est (high-speed line)
LGV Est
The LGV Est européenne is an extension to the French high-speed rail network, connecting currently Vaires-sur-Marne and Baudrecourt , and later Vaires-sur-Marne and Vendenheim . , it is the newest high-speed line in France and still under construction, with of a planned in service...
. The road passes through Saint Menehould before passing over the Forêt D'Argonne which rises to over 250 m. The road heads through ondulating countryside before joining the Voie Sacrée
Voie Sacrée
The Voie Sacrée is a road that connects Bar-le-Duc to Verdun , France. It was given its name after the end of World War I because of the vital role it played during the Battle of Verdun.-History:...
and the Verdun
Verdun
Verdun is a city in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital of the department is the slightly smaller city of Bar-le-Duc.- History :...
passing several war memorials and Fort de Regret. The road heads North East out of Verdun aqnd through the Forêt de Verdun and the ruins of the Fort de Tavannes.
At Etain the road passes south east and then through Jarny and then over a ridge of hills and the Bois de Vaux into Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
and the River Moselle
Moselle
Moselle is a department in the east of France named after the river Moselle.- History :Moselle is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
.
Metz to German Frontier (298 km to 374 km)
After Metz the road crosses the A31 autorouteA31 autoroute
The A31 autoroute is a French autoroute. It runs from the Franco-Luxembourg border to Beaune where it joins the A6. The north of the autoroute is free, up to the town of Toul, but it is a toll road south of there...
parallel to the A4 autoroute
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....
. The road continues over the hills now over 300 m high before a steep incline down into Saint-Avold
Saint-Avold
Saint-Avold is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is situated twenty-eight miles east of Metz and seventeen miles southwest of Saarbrücken....
now only 4 km south of the frontier with Germany. The RN3 passes through the Foret de Steinberg and then north east passing through Forbach
Forbach
Forbach is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is located near the German border. Population : 22,784....
and Stirling Wendel before reaching the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
border. Thereafter it becomes the B 41 to Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken is the capital of the state of Saarland in Germany. The city is situated at the heart of a metropolitan area that borders on the west on Dillingen and to the north-east on Neunkirchen, where most of the people of the Saarland live....
8 km to the north west.