The
A26 is a 394 km long
FrenchThe 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
CalaisCalais 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
TroyesTroyes 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
DoverDover 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 TunnelThe 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
BritishThe 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
A16The 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
LondonLondon 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
ParisParis 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-15The 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-17European 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
A16The 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-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....
,
BéthuneBéthune 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:...
,
LensLens 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
ArrasArras 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
CambraiCambrai 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-QuentinSaint-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
LaonLaon 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
A4The 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
ReimsReims , 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
A5The 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 A16The 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....
(ParisParis 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-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-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....
- Rest Area: Grand Riez / Villefleur
-
Service Area: Rely / St-Hilaire-Cottes
- 5 Lillers: Lillers
Lillers 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: 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:...
- 6.1 'Aix-Noulette' A21
The 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 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: 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...
and VimyVimy 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 (Lille
Lille 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 ParisParis 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: 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...
- A2
The 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: Fins
FINS is a network protocol used by Omron PLCs, over different physical networks like Ethernet, Controller Link, DeviceNet and RS-232C....
, BantouzelleBantouzelle is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*...
- Rest Area: La Haute Bruyère L'Omignon
- 10 Saint Quentin Ouest: Saint Quentin
Saint Quentin , Quintinus in Latin, also known as Quentin of Amiens, is an early Christian saint. No real details are known of his life.-Martyrdom:...
- A29
The 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, Tergnier
Tergnier is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:...
and ChaunyChauny 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: 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...
- Rest Area: la Croisette (Southbound) Les Pélerins (Northbound)
- Service Area: Mont-de-Nizy / Champ-Roland
- 14 Berry-au-Bac: Neufchâtel-sur-Aisne
Neufchâtel-sur-Aisne is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-References:*...
and SoissonsSoissons 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: 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....
, Reims-Champagne Airport
- 16 Reims - Colbert: Reims
- A4
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....
(Paris to Strasbourg) with A26
- A4
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....
(Paris to Strasbourg) with A26
- Rest Area:Les Grands Traquiers (Southbound)
- 17 St-Gibrien: 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....
- Rest Area: La Garenne (Northbound)
- 18 Mont Choisy: 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....
and Fère-Champenoise
- Rest Area: La Bardolle (Northbound)
- 19 Europort Vatry: Europort Business park
- 20 Sommesous: Fère-Champenoise and Vitry-le-François
Vitry-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...
(RN4The 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-Aube
Arcis-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: 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...
- Rest Area: Villechétif / Les Crocs de la Terre
- 23 Thennelières: Troyes, Vendeuvre-sur-Barse and Parc Naturel Regional De La Forêt D'Orient
- A5
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...
(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 Paris250px|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....
.
External links