Attractions and Places To See around Brécy-Brières - Top 13

As a memorial to the many dead, such a “MONUMENT AUX MORTS” (usually called a “cenotaph” or “war memorial” in German-speaking countries) is still very important today. "Now you, O Lord, let your servant depart in peace, as you said..." says the so-called "Song of Simeon" (Gospel of Luke chapter 2, verse 29). However, the people who are remembered here did not die in peace, but rather became victims of war and tyranny. Many places and monuments that you encounter along the way are a testament to the horror of war and tyranny - which is still significant and relevant today. They all have, and this is new for each generation, two essential functions: -1- Commemorate and remember the victims -2- Call for the preservation of peace

The Saint-Martin à Chevières church is a church located in the village of Chevières, in the Ardennes department, in the Grand Est region, in France. It is a 12th century Romanesque church dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, patron saint of the poor and travellers. The church has a sober and harmonious architecture, with a square tower, a nave with three naves and a semicircular choir. The church is decorated with carved capitals, depicting scenes from the life of Christ and the saints. The church also has a remarkable organ case from the 18th century, which is made of oak and carved with floral and leaf motifs. The Saint-Martin à Chevières church is a historical monument, protected since 1921. It is a witness to the religious and cultural heritage of the region.

The Castle of Grandpré is located in Grandpré, in the Ardennes, France. It was built by the Joyeuse, Counts of Grandpré, at the end of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century. For a long time, the place has been strategically located on the northern slope of the Aire valley, controlling one of the rare passages that cross the Argonne forest. This is the Grandpré passage.

You will find shops, bank and bar here.

Grandpré is a commune in the French department of Ardennes, in the Grand Est region. It has about 500 inhabitants and an area of 32.67 km². It is located on the River Aire and is part of the canton of Attigny. Grandpré has a rich history, dating back to the Middle Ages. It was an important city in Champagne, which became a county and later a duchy. It had a castle, an abbey and a fortified wall, testifying to its power and influence. One of the sights is the Église Saint-Médard, a Gothic church from the 13th century, decorated with stained glass windows and sculptures. Grandpré was also the scene of fierce fighting during the First World War. It was occupied by the Germans in 1914 and later liberated by the Americans in 1918. The village was largely destroyed by bombing and artillery. One of the monuments that commemorate this period is the Monument aux Morts, a memorial to the fallen soldiers, designed by the sculptor Paul Moreau-Vauthier. Grandpré is a quiet and charming place where you can enjoy nature and the rural atmosphere. You can walk, cycle, fish or taste the local gastronomy. One of the specialties is the boudin blanc, a white sausage made from pork, cream and spices.

The Nécropole nationale de Chestres is a military cemetery in Chestres, a commune in Vouziers, in the Ardennes department in the Grand Est region, France. The cemetery contains 3,065 French soldiers who died during the First World War. The cemetery is located on the right bank of the Aisne valley, at an altitude of 114 meters, a few hundred meters from the top of the hill, at the place called Les Sablons. There are also other graves in this cemetery, including a Czechoslovak section with 284 casualties in October 1918, of which 160 are unknown in an ossuary. The bodies come from Sugny, Condé-lès-Vouziers, Chestres, Terron-sur-Aisne and Vrizy. There is a monument with the inscription "In memory of the legionnaires of the 21st and 22nd Czechoslovak regiments who fell on the battlefield in 1914-1918 next to their comrades of the Allied armies for freedom"3. There is also a Russian section with 124 bodies of prisoners of the Germans, 10 graves of Belgian citizens who were deported by the Germans as prisoners for work and 3 British graves.

The old castle of the place, unfortunately closed.

In memory of the fallen.