I continue to dig deep into my cd rom vault and got me more pictures that should be in my blog for you and me, There are many memorable moments passing and visiting many wonderful towns in deep countryside. The town of Vouziers is located in the Ardennes departmente 08 in the Grand Est region of my belle France. Therefore, let me tell you a bit on this is Vouziers !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The town is located 55 km from Charleville-Mézières, 49 km from Sedan, 56 km from Reims , 61 km from Châlons-en-Champagne, 39 km from Varennes-en-Argonne,( where Louis XVI was arrested), 232 km from Versailles, and 676 km from my current home, The town is located on the axis that connects Reims to Luxembourg via D 980 /D 946 / D 947. The Rethel area is well served by the A34 autoroute (Reims – Bouillon in Belgium), while the Argonne is bordered to the south by the A4 autoroute (Paris-Strasbourg). We came here from Versailles by Rue du Maréchal Foch, continue into Avenue de l’Europe (cross ave de Paris) continue into Avenue du Général de Gaulle and into the Rue Royale (all D10),then turn right into Rue Albert Samain, and then right into Rue du Maréchal Joffre (D91) becoming same road Ave Clément Ader to connect at exit/sortie 4 with the N12 road dir Vélizy-Villacoublay becoming the A86 outer beltway of Paris dir Créteil to connect with the A4 autoroute de l’Est dir Reims/ Metz but at exit/sortie 22 continue on A334 dir Reims, and bear left on the N244 which hook up again with the N34 at exit/sortie 28 passing from Marne dept 51 to Ardennes dept 08 becomes the N51 road get off here at exit/sortie 21 at Châtelet sur Retourne and becomes the D925 road continue to Junivlle where same road becomes the D43 at Pauvres becomes the D946 road and at carrefour de Mazagran continue on same road until reaching Vouziers, Today a lot easier with gps!
The exterior of the Church Saint Maurille façade features a remarkable portal, built between 1517 and 1548, and composed of three porches. The largest tympanum, located in the center, depicts the Annunciation, the one on the right represents the Resurrection, and the one on the left represents evil. The tympanums and keystones are sculpted and contain seven pendant stones inlaid with statuettes of the Apostles. There are also Second Renaissance-style friezes and gargoyles ,one depicting a lion holding the coat of arms of the lords of Vouziers in its claws. This façade was probably completed around 1565, as it features the emblem of the first Gonzaga, Duke of Rethel, depicting a radiant sun beneath a vault. Inside the church is a liturgical fountain and a remarkable funerary slab dating from 1275. This slab comes from the Landèves Abbey, near Vouziers and destroyed during the French revolution. You can also admire a wooden statue of Saint Maurille, a magnificent choir, capitals decorated with animals, foliage and evocations of the guilds present in the region. Contemporary stained glass windows were created in 1970. The old Gothic entrance doors of the church are preserved in the side chapels.
A bit of history tell us that we do not know much about the town before the 12C, The land on which the village of Vouziers was built belonged to the Abbey of Saint-Thierry, near Reims. The parish is mentioned at the ecclesiastical conference of Reims in 1148, presided over by Pope Eugene III. The tithe collectors of the church, under the Ancien Régime (monarchy) , were three-quarters the monks of Saint-Thierry, and one-quarter the gentlemen of the Chapter and Charity of Reims.
In April 1516, king Francis I ensured the city’s prosperity by reestablishing fairs and markets, which had been temporarily interrupted, particularly following the destruction caused by the Hundred Years’ War. On September 13, 1792, a detachment of Dumouriez’s army retreated to Vouziers before blowing up the bridge and leaving the city to the Austrians and then to the émigrés, including two future kings of France, Louis XVIII and Charles X. The same people returned to Vouziers in disorderly streams after the Battle of Valmy. The town was occupied in 1814 and then 1815 by Russian troops, who behaved correctly. During the Franco-German War of 1870, the French army corps commanded by General Félix Douay passed through Vouziers from 25 to 27 August 1870 before moving up towards Sedan, where it was caught in a trap. It was followed on 28 August by the Prussians. The town remained occupied until 18 July 1873.
For a good part of the Great War or WWI, Vouziers was one of the important towns behind the front and as such marked the memories of many combatants. The town suffered a lot of damage and destruction, particularly during the victorious counterattack led in October 1918 by General Gouraud’s army and the violent fighting that followed. During this battle, aviator Roland Garros (tennis fame) was shot down during an aerial combat over the neighboring town of Saint-Morel. He is buried in the Vouziers cemetery. The Czechoslovak Legions of the future first president Tomáš Masaryk took part in this combat. A high school in Vouziers bears his name in tribute as well as a monument. On June 9 and 10, 1940,(WWII) following the breakthrough at Sedan, the 5th RICMS (Senegalese Mixed Colonial Infantry Regiment) fought courageously at Vouziers and was almost completely annihilated.For their bravery and effectiveness in the Battle of France, the Senegalese tirailleurs received a host of individual and group decorations and citations.
The local Ardennes dept 08 tourist office on the church : https://www.ardennes.com/en/patrimoine-culturel/eglise-saint-maurille/
The local South Ardennes dept 08 tourist office on the church : https://www.sudardennes.fr/en/patrimoine-culturel/eglise-saint-maurille/
The town of Vouziers on its churches donc Saint Maurille : https://www.ville-vouziers.fr/ma-ville/vouziers/patrimoine
There you go folks, another dandy off the beaten spot in my belle France. Many memories of old in my early road warrior tours, a memorable region for us, and always looking forward to be back, eventually. There is so much choices that time is ticking, Again, hope you enjoy the post on this is Vouziers as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health ,and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 