Loop of the Great War Museum

On the riverside, the City Hall is a building that attracts the eye.Its monumental facade, as we see it today, is the result of a work campaign carried out around 1900. Before, the city hall was smaller, though located roughly at the same place. In 1710, it was situated in the shade of the castle of the Counts of Champagne. After successive restorations, the city hall delivered in 1833 was then facing the North of the city, near the place Henri Moissan. Today, this building is the northern wing of the city hall. The destruction of the castle of the Counts of Champagne (between the 20th of August 1888 and the 31st of December 1890), allowed the municipality to extend the city hall: Auguste Boudinaud is in charge of the works in 1892. In 1895, the municipal council adopt the project’s completion: the construction of a central building thus takes place, and the original building of the city hall (left/North wing) is renovated. The city hall’s inauguration took place on the 4th of March 1900. The main facade was moved to the West (as we know it today), and a public garden was created in 1902 to further highlight it. Must see: the monumental façade of the city hall is worth seeing (balcony, staircase, columns, clock, and small bell tower). The city’s coat of arm crowns the clock (sculptor: Devêche). But there is more to discover! Enter the building to see the main staircase, as well as a stained-glass showcased at the exhibition of 1900: it represents the Count of Champagne giving Meaux its first Communal Charter in 1179. The scene takes inspiration from a book published in 1865 by Antoine-Etienne Carro counting the history of Meaux and its surroundings. The artist who worked on the stained-glassed added the portraits of the craftsmen who built the city hall, including the portrait of the architect, Boudinaud.

The Episcopal City, Jewel of the Heritage of Meaux.Come to Meaux and take a stroll through history, from the Cathedral to the Palace of Bishops, past the Old Chapterhouse and the magnificent Bossuet Garden -- it’s a fascinating pastime! In the Middle Ages, the Episcopal district of Meaux extended from the Cathedral to the ramparts or ancient city walls. As indicated by the name, the Episcopal district was reserved for the Bishop, the chapter of the cathedral canons and their lay or ecclesiastical entourage. The Episcopal city, in its present condition, remains largely unchanged since the 18th century. The variety of architectural styles, dating back to different historical periods, form a prominent part of the city’s architectural heritage. The Episcopal City of Meaux retained its religious function par excellence until the French Revolution, as an ecclesiastical city adjoining the lay city. In the 19th century, the Episcopal Palace of Meaux was disputed between the lay power and the Church. Finally, the Law of 1905, on the separation of Church and State, completed the transfer of this historical heritage into the hands of the State. Today and since 1927, the former palace of the bishops houses the Bossuet museum.

A discovery tour around the Brie de Meaux AOP is waiting for you.Historical reenactments and tableaux will allow you discover more about the history of this famous cheese. You will discover the different steps in its making, from the milk harvest to the maturing in cellars. You will then learn about the current stakes for the Brie de Meaux AOP which is proudly represented by its Brotherhood. To top off this discovery, a tasting will be offered every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 am and at 04:00 pm by reservation. * We provide free booklets in English, Dutch, German, Spanish and Italian to accompany you on your visit to the Maison du Brie de Meaux.

The former episcopal palace, located in the centre of the remarkable ensemble of the Episcopal City, has housed the Bossuet Museum since 1927.The city's historical collections were assembled in the 19th century through donations, bequests, archaeological excavations and some state deposits. In the 20th century, two donations from eminent scientists considerably expanded the painting collections. The bequest of Henri Moissan's son, received in 1914, made it possible to present works by Jean-François Millet, Jean-Léon Gérôme, Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps and Charles-François Daubigny. Since 1983, the museum's collections have been regularly enriched by Jean-Pierre and Annie Changeux with 17th and 18th century paintings by Mathieu Le Nain, Claude Vignon, Jacques Blanchard, Sébastien Bourdon and other artists... Temporary exhibitions are held in the lower medieval rooms, while the first floor is devoted to the permanent collections and the bishops' flat, whose study is dedicated to the famous bishop Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet.

The Gallo-roman sections of the ramparts are characterized by an alternation of brick chains and layers of small materials. These ruins demarcate the northern side of a castrum built in the South of the conurbation at the end of the 3rd century.In all likelihood, it was used by inhabitants as a shelter at the times of barbarian invasions. The Crossbowman Tower is an example of the network of defensive towers constructed in the 15th century to reinforce the city’s fortifications. From 1563, it was ceded to the crossbowmen company, who could practice crossbow shooting outside the city’s walls. The ramparts extend over 250m along the Jean Rose boulevard, next to the Bossuet garden. Erected at the end of the 3rd century, they have been reworked and extended several times since the Middle Ages, notably during the 14th and 15th centuries through the construction of circular defensive towers, at varying distances. Our good plan: It is possible to overlook the Remparts by accessing the Remparts garden from the bottom of the Bossuet garden (Saturdays and Sundays, from May to September from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.).

Meaux’s war memorial was inaugurated on May 24 1903, following the 1870 Franco-Prussian war.This column, topped with the Winged Victory first paid tribute to the children of the Meaux community who died during this conflict. At the base of the sculpture, a lion watches, its eyes fixed on the East and the “Blue line of the Vosges.” It reminds of the work of the sculptor Bartholdi, and of the Belfort resistance under the lead of colonel Denfert-Rochereau against the Prussian army. After the Great War, the monument was extended. The names of peoples who died during 19th century conflicts are written on the other faces of the pedestal. In 1923-1924, Meaux builds the wall surrounding its monument, with the Adrian helmet on the pillars of the railings. Names of children of Meaux, who died for their country in 1914-1918, and 1939-1945, are engraved on metal plates mounted on the wall.

An essential collection on the First World War.With a collection of nearly 70,000 objects and documents tracing the paths of daily and military life in the 14-18 war, the Great War Museum, which opened its doors on November 11, 2011 on the territory of the First Battle of the Marne in Meaux, is the largest museum in Europe on the First World War. It presents, on 3 000 sqm, one of the richest and most diversified collections of the 14-18 war in the heart of an attractive and innovative scenography. The Great War Museum is an ideal place for a family visit. A real educational treasure through the collection: see, hear, touch, handle.... A playful tour accessible from 5 years old: projections of archival images, reconstructions of trenches, a video space in which visitors are immersed among the soldiers in the trenches or on the battlefield, games to discover the composition of uniforms, the sounds of war, the geographical evolution of the conflict zones ... Several audio tours are available free of charge on your mobile phone or tablet, ask at the reception for instructions.

The Meaux region is crossed by the Ourcq canal and the Marne river. These two watercourses offer wonderful landscapes with a rich wildlife and lush vegetation. You will be able to enjoy the calm through your walks or while on a guided tour.The Ourcq canal, which is approximatively 100km long, passes through nine cities of the urban community from Varreddes to Trilbardou. The canal have been considered a place of relaxation and leisure for a long time. The towpath is perfect for a family stroll ; the setting being sometimes urban, sometimes green. You can take advantage of the layout to practice roller or hiking. We advise you visit the elevatory factory of Trilbardou, which is open on appointment, in order to better understand the history of the Ourcq canal.