Vienne-le-Château

History

The village dates back to the 6th century when it was the possession of the Bishop of Verdun. A castle stood on a hill in the west of the town. It was destroyed in 959 by Count Grandpre. Rebuilt several times, only ruins remain. In the 12th century, the area was purchased by Count of Bar. The village was destroyed during the Great War.

Culture and heritage

Religious heritage

L'église Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul is a church built during the 16th century. Built in the style of a Latin cross, the choir and the crossing were repaired between 1680 and 1690. It became a protected monument in 1922.

Civil heritage

A castle was recorded here in the middle of the 11th century, belonging to the Count of Grandpré, and in the 13th century to the Count of Bar. In the 14th century, it became the property of the king of France. It was destroyed in 1810 and all that remains is the site with a moat and a motte and the courtyard.

Places of remembrance of the Great War

Le Camp de la Vallée Moreau

Around 3 km north of the town, is the site of a German Camp called the "West Moreau Valley", where troops held in reserve during World War One stayed. It was occupied from February 1915 until September 1918. In 1997, work started to reconstruct the camp.

La Nécropole Nationale de La Harazée

This military cemetery was created in 1915 during the Battle of Argonne and has bodies exhumed from two other cemeteries. It has been enlarged over the years, first in 1924 then again in 1935 and 1936. It contains the graves of 1,672 French soldiers from Great War and one from World War Two. The last renovation of the site occurred in 1963.

L'ossuaire de La Gruerie

The ossuary was created in 1923 and houses the remains of around 10,000 unnamed soldiers. The site was inaugurated on 7 July 1929. A stone wall, with the inscription Aux Morts de la Gruerie 1914-1918 stands over the ossuary with a niche containing a female statue with folded wings representing Victoria. With the face of Marianne and wearing a Phrygian cap, she holds the flame of remembrance in her right hand while her raised left arm and hand symbolise the collection of the dead. A basement lies below with a gallery with plaques to the dead. The statue is by Raoul Lamourdedieu.

Gallery

File:Church - Vienne-le-Chateau.jpg| File:Camp de la Vallée Moreau2.jpg|

References

References

1. (13 September 2022). "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises.
2. (1919). "The Americans in the Great War - Vol III". Michelin Guides.
3. {{Base Mérimée. IA00060049. Eglise paroissiale Saint-Pierre, Saint-Paul
4. Richy, Etienne. "Vienne-le-Château : Église Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul.".
5. {{Base Mérimée. IA00060052. Château fort
6. "War site in Argonne 1914-1918".
7. "La nécropole nationale de La Harazée à Vienne-le-Château".
8. "OSSUAIRE DE LA GRUERIE".