[Flamboyant style] Just a stone's throw from the Belgian border, a masterpiece of carved stone still intrigues historians.

The Basilica of Notre-Dame d'Avioth is a Gothic Catholic basilica built in the 14th century and located in the former county of Chiny (now in the north of the French department of Meuse), in the French commune of Avioth. It has been listed as a historic monument since its first listing in 1840. Because of its size, the church is also known as "La Cathédrale des champs".

[Battle] After the horrors of war, it was time to dedicate a space to thinking about peace.

The Verdun Memorial is a museum dedicated to the history and memory of the 1916 Battle of Verdun, located in Fleury-devant-Douaumont, a few kilometres from Verdun in the Meuse département of the Grand Est region.

[Limestone] These seven great ladies give us a nice walk, even though they don't move.

The Ladies of the Meuse, of which there are seven, like the seven Sisters of Norway, are a popular place for a stroll for the people of Saint-Mihiel city. The first, known as the Calvary Rock, is the site of an annual pilgrimage on the evening of Good Friday. A grotto has been carved out of the rock and houses a Christ at the Tomb, the work of a local artist called Mangeot.

[Tower] A key part of the city's defences, it became a prison and then a historic monument: what a story!

Plaids Tower, in Verdun. Built in the 14th century, it forms part of the Grand Rempart de Verdun. Shaped like a horseshoe, it is also known as the Tour du Puty. The name "Plaids" comes from the judicial hearings held here in the Middle Ages.

[Stanislas] One of the favorite residences of Poland's deposed king.

The Château de Commercy is a castle located in Commercy in the Meuse département, once the capital of a sovereign principality that fell to Charles-Henri, Count of Vaudémont, the legitimate son of Duke Charles IV of Lorraine. The château has been listed as a historic monument since 1960, while the outbuildings have been listed since June 1972. In 1744, the castle became the property of Duke Stanislas Leszczynski. The former King of Poland made it one of his favourite residences.

[La Citadelle] French in 1659, it now houses a museum of painting and naturalism.

An exceptional natural and historical site, the Citadelle of Montmédy boasts one of the largest fortresses in the Grand-Est region, with over 1.5 km of walls that can be visited.

[Runaway] Go to the village where King Louis XVI was arrested on June 21, 1791.

Varennes-en Argonne. The failed escape of 20-21 June 1791 - better known as the "Varennes Escape" - was a significant episode in the French Revolution, when French King Louis XVI, Queen Marie-Antoinette and their immediate family attempted to reach the Royalist stronghold of Montmédy, from which the King hoped to launch a counter-revolution, and were arrested en route at Varennes-en-Argonne (Meuse, Lorraine).

[L'Ornain] For many years, this was the town's only bridge. In the middle, you'll find an oratory chapel.

The Pont Notre-Dame is a masonry bridge with five arches spanning the Ornain river in Bar-le-Duc, in the Meuse département of the Lorraine region.

[L'Obelix] Big, imposing, ready to fall on our heads... Find the mastodons under which some Romans may have been flattened.

There are several possible sites to visit, here is a non-exhaustive list: Pierre de la Dame Schone in Saint Mihiel Menhir de Woinville at Buxières-sous-les-côtes Menhir de Mécrin at Mécrin Hotte du Diable (Devil's hood) at Milly-sur-Bradon Menhir le Corrois at Montplonne

[Atomic] It's a special zone, a zone of battles and ideas to defend.

The Cigéo project involves burying highly hazardous radioactive waste deep underground at Bure (in Meuse). The site is due to receive its first packages of radioactive waste in 2030. Despite a great deal of opposition (from associations and local authorities), the French Constitutional Council ruled on Friday 27 October that the Cigéo project for burying the most radioactive waste in Bure (Meuse) complies with the Constitution.

The Meuse in family

O inexhaustible Meuse that I had loved. You will always flow in the happy valley; Where you flowed yesterday, you will flow tomorrow.

Poem ‘Farewell to the Meuse’ – Charles Péguy

2022, April

This edition is a bit special!

This time we’re going with our moms! Nicolas and Lou are taking Florence and Cathy to discover a department previously unknown to them… Discovery of the ‘French diagonal of the void’ : La Meuse!

The two pairs set off from Nancy at 8am on Wednesday, April 27 and returned on the evening of April 28, hitchhiking only.

Follow the path of the pairs

Our cultural challenges to discover la Meuse

[Flamboyant style] Just a stone's throw from the Belgian border, a masterpiece of carved stone still intrigues historians.
The Basilica of Notre-Dame d’Avioth is a Gothic Catholic basilica built in the 14th century and located in the former county of Chiny (now in the north of the French department of Meuse), in the French commune of Avioth. It has been listed as a historic monument since its first listing in 1840. Because of its size, the church is also known as “La Cathédrale des champs”.
[Battle] After the horrors of war, it was time to dedicate a space to thinking about peace.
The Verdun Memorial is a museum dedicated to the history and memory of the 1916 Battle of Verdun, located in Fleury-devant-Douaumont, a few kilometres from Verdun in the Meuse département of the Grand Est region.
[Limestone] These seven great ladies give us a nice walk, even though they don't move.
The Ladies of the Meuse, of which there are seven, like the seven Sisters of Norway, are a popular place for a stroll for the people of Saint-Mihiel city. The first, known as the Calvary Rock, is the site of an annual pilgrimage on the evening of Good Friday. A grotto has been carved out of the rock and houses a Christ at the Tomb, the work of a local artist called Mangeot.
[Tower] A key part of the city's defences, it became a prison and then a historic monument: what a story!
Plaids Tower, in Verdun. Built in the 14th century, it forms part of the Grand Rempart de Verdun. Shaped like a horseshoe, it is also known as the Tour du Puty. The name “Plaids” comes from the judicial hearings held here in the Middle Ages.
[Stanislas] One of the favorite residences of Poland's deposed king.
The Château de Commercy is a castle located in Commercy in the Meuse département, once the capital of a sovereign principality that fell to Charles-Henri, Count of Vaudémont, the legitimate son of Duke Charles IV of Lorraine. The château has been listed as a historic monument since 1960, while the outbuildings have been listed since June 1972.

In 1744, the castle became the property of Duke Stanislas Leszczynski. The former King of Poland made it one of his favourite residences.
[La Citadelle] French in 1659, it now houses a museum of painting and naturalism.
An exceptional natural and historical site, the Citadelle of Montmédy boasts one of the largest fortresses in the Grand-Est region, with over 1.5 km of walls that can be visited.
[La Renaissance] In the capital of the "Terres Communes", you can still see the facades of the old bourgeois houses.
Bar-le-duc, in Meuse.
[Runaway] Go to the village where King Louis XVI was arrested on June 21, 1791.
Varennes-en Argonne. The failed escape of 20-21 June 1791 – better known as the “Varennes Escape” – was a significant episode in the French Revolution, when French King Louis XVI, Queen Marie-Antoinette and their immediate family attempted to reach the Royalist stronghold of Montmédy, from which the King hoped to launch a counter-revolution, and were arrested en route at Varennes-en-Argonne (Meuse, Lorraine).
[L'Ornain] For many years, this was the town's only bridge. In the middle, you'll find an oratory chapel.
The Pont Notre-Dame is a masonry bridge with five arches spanning the Ornain river in Bar-le-Duc, in the Meuse département of the Lorraine region.
[L'Obelix] Big, imposing, ready to fall on our heads... Find the mastodons under which some Romans may have been flattened.
There are several possible sites to visit, here is a non-exhaustive list:
- Pierre de la Dame Schone in Saint Mihiel
- Menhir de Woinville at Buxières-sous-les-côtes
- Menhir de Mécrin at Mécrin
- Hotte du Diable (Devil’s hood) at Milly-sur-Bradon
- Menhir le Corrois at Montplonne
[Atomic] It's a special zone, a zone of battles and ideas to defend.
The Cigéo project involves burying highly hazardous radioactive waste deep underground at Bure (in Meuse). The site is due to receive its first packages of radioactive waste in 2030. Despite a great deal of opposition (from associations and local authorities), the French Constitutional Council ruled on Friday 27 October that the Cigéo project for burying the most radioactive waste in Bure (Meuse) complies with the Constitution.