Grand Est

Chaumont (pop. ~ 22.000) is located in the centre of Haute Marne. Peasants and artisans settled around an early existing fortified motte and so started the development of Chaumont, owned since the 12th century by the Counts of Champagne. - "Saint-Jean-Baptiste" was built at the beginning of the 13th century to meet the needs of a growing population. It was made a collegiate church in 1474 by Pope Sixtus IV and raised to "basilica minor" in 1948 by Pope Pius XII. - The Entombment of Christ ("mise au tombeau") is known in art since the 11th century, though the icon was rarely seen in medieval times. At the beginning of the Renaissance, the "Mise au Tombeau" got very popular in France. Here is a 15th-century mise au tombeau, which was donated by the Amboise family who were bailiffs of Chaumont.

Chaumont (pop. ~ 22.000) is located in the centre of Haute Marne. Peasants and artisans settled around an early existing fortified motte and so started the development of Chaumont, owned since the 12th century by the Counts of Champagne. - "Saint-Jean-Baptiste" was built at the beginning of the 13th century to meet the needs of a growing population. It was made a collegiate church in 1474 by Pope Sixtus IV and raised to "basilica minor" in 1948 by Pope Pius XII. - Strange little creatures populate the vines. There must have been a species of snails in medieval times, that fortunately go extinct meanwhile. Aggressive horror-snails!

Chaumont (pop. ~ 22.000) is located in the centre of Haute Marne. Peasants and artisans settled around an early existing fortified motte and so started the development of Chaumont, owned since the 12th century by the Counts of Champagne. Many people know the impressive Viaduc de Chaumont ("Chaumont viaduct"), 52 m high and 600 m long, constructed 1855-1856. But the town has as well a nice city hall, built in the 1920s.

Rimaucourt, located about 20 km northeast of Chaumont, has an extraordinary chapel in the centre of the cemetery.

Rimaucourt, located about 20 km northeast of Chaumont, has an extraordinary chapel in the centre of the cemetery.

Soulosse-sous-Saint-Élophe (pop. ~650) was formed out of four hamlets. The two larger ones were Soulosse und Saint-Élophe. The church, dedicated to Saint-Élophe was built in the 13th and 15th centuries and so there is a mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Legends tell, that Saint Élophe (aka "Eliphius of Rampillon") preached the bible in the area and was martyred and beheaded on the spot. After his death in 363, he got up and went with his head in his hands to his burial site - the place, where the church is now. So he became a member of the large group of "kephalophores", who all carried away their own head after the death. Other members of the group are Saint Denis, Saint Sever, Saint Gohard, Saint Miniato.

Soulosse-sous-Saint-Élophe (pop. ~650) was formed out of four hamlets. The two larger ones were Soulosse und Saint-Élophe. The church, dedicated to Saint-Élophe was built in the 13th and 15th centuries and so there is a mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Legends tell, that Saint Élophe (aka "Eliphius of Rampillon") preached the bible in the area and was martyred and beheaded on the spot. After his death in 363, he got up and went with his head in his hands to his burial site - the place, where the church is now. So he became a member of the large group of "kephalophores", who all carried away their own head after the death. Other members of the group are Saint Denis, Saint Sever, Saint Gohard, Saint Miniato. I see a female exhibitionist here - and have no idea, how she connects to the legend.

Soulosse-sous-Saint-Élophe (pop. ~650) was formed out of four hamlets. The two larger ones were Soulosse und Saint-Élophe. The church, dedicated to Saint-Élophe was built in the 13th and 15th centuries and so there is a mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Legends tell, that Saint Élophe (aka "Eliphius of Rampillon") preached the bible in the area and was martyred and beheaded on the spot. After his death in 363, he got up and went with his head in his hands to his burial site - the place, where the church is now. So he became a member of the large group of "kephalophores", who all carried away their own head after the death. Other members of the group are Saint Denis, Saint Sever, Saint Gohard, Saint Miniato. I had been here some years ago when the church was locked. Now the doors were open - and I could see the large, light, airy interior.

Soulosse-sous-Saint-Élophe (pop. ~650) was formed out of four hamlets. The two larger ones were Soulosse und Saint-Élophe. The church, dedicated to Saint-Élophe was built in the 13th and 15th centuries and so there is a mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Legends tell, that Saint Élophe (aka "Eliphius of Rampillon") preached the bible in the area and was martyred and beheaded on the spot. After his death in 363, he got up and went with his head in his hands to his burial site - the place, where the church is now. So he became a member of the large group of "kephalophores", who all carried away their own head after the death. Other members of the group are Saint Denis, Saint Sever, Saint Gohard, Saint Miniato. The tomb effigy of St. Elophe. Carved at the end of the 16th century.

Thionville was settled already in early times by the Germanic Allemanni. King Pepin the Short had a "Kaiserpfalz" ("royal palace") constructed here. The Synod of Thionville was held here beginning in 835. It reinstated Emperor Louis the Pious. From the 10th century onward, the area was part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was in possession of the House of Luxembourg until 1462, then of the Duke of Burgundy and from 1477 to 1643, it was Habsburg territory. The Siege of Thionville in June 1639 occurred as part of the Thirty Years' War. In 1659 "Diedenhofen" (the German name for the town) was annexed by France. After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the area of Alsace-Lorraine was annexed by the newly created German Empire and became a "Reichsland". Following the armistice with Germany ending the First World War, the city was transferred to France by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, after it again became Thionville. I am not sure, but I had the impression that the Boulangerie Jost was closed. Maitre Jost may have reached retirement age - and so the new "in-store bakeries" had filled the gap.

Thionville was settled already in early times by the Germanic Allemanni. King Pepin the Short had a "Kaiserpfalz" ("royal palace") constructed here. The Synod of Thionville was held here beginning in 835. It reinstated Emperor Louis the Pious. From the 10th century onward, the area was part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was in possession of the House of Luxembourg until 1462, then of the Duke of Burgundy and from 1477 to 1643, it was Habsburg territory. The Siege of Thionville in June 1639 occurred as part of the Thirty Years' War. In 1659 "Diedenhofen" (the German name for the town) was annexed by France. After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the area of Alsace-Lorraine was annexed by the newly created German Empire and became a "Reichsland". Following the armistice with Germany ending the First World War, the city was transferred to France by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, after it again became Thionville. Seen in the backdrop is the "Tour aux puces", the keep of the former castle. Seen in front is "PK70" a rocket. created by Stéphane Costarella. Reminds me of "Destination Moon", one of "The Adventures of Tintin".

Dienville is a village (pop. ~850) on the Aube River. See here is the bridge over the river and the church of St. Quentin, built in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Dienville is a village (pop. ~850) on the Aube River. The parish church of St. Quentin, built in the 15th and 16th centuries in flamboyant Gothic.

Dienville is a village (pop. ~850) on the Aube River. The parish church of St. Quentin, built in the 15th and 16th centuries in flamboyant Gothic. An ass

Dienville is a village (pop. ~850) on the Aube River. The parish church of St. Quentin, built in the 15th and 16th centuries in flamboyant Gothic The Romanesque Madonna, placed behind thick and reflecting glass, was created within the 12th century and is much older than the church.

Dienville is a village (pop. ~850) on the Aube River with a nice market halle in the centre.

Around 1050 Count Gerard, Duke of Lorraine, built a castle here called Nanciacum, from which the town was to develop. In 1218 troops of Emperor Frederick II., fighting Theobald I, Count of Champagne, pillaged and looted the town. Rebuilt and surrounded by a wall, Nancy was granted city rights in 1265 and became the capital of the duchy in the following decades. In 1477, Charles the Bold of Burgundy failed in the Battle of Nancy in his attempt to seize the city - and died during the battle. Nancy belonged to the Duchy of Lorraine and thus to the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation until the 18th century. Finally, the Duchy of Lorraine came to the Kingdom of France in an exchange between the House of Habsburg and the French King in the 18th century. Louis XV awarded Lorraine in 1737 to the deposed Polish king, Stanislaus I Leszczyński, who ruled the duchy from Nancy as Duke of Lorraine. After his death, in 1766, Nancy and the duchy finally fell to the French crown. The Church of St-Léon IX is a neo-Gothic Catholic parish church in Nancy The erection was started in 1860, but the work was delayed by the Franco-Prussian War. Though in use already earlier, it was finally consecrated after the completion of the south tower in 1877.

Around 1050 Count Gerard, Duke of Lorraine, built a castle here called Nanciacum, from which the town was to develop. In 1218 troops of Emperor Frederick II., fighting Theobald I, Count of Champagne, pillaged and looted the town. Rebuilt and surrounded by a wall, Nancy was granted city rights in 1265 and became the capital of the duchy in the following decades. In 1477, Charles the Bold of Burgundy failed in the Battle of Nancy in his attempt to seize the city - and died during the battle. Nancy belonged to the Duchy of Lorraine and thus to the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation until the 18th century. Finally, the Duchy of Lorraine came to the Kingdom of France in an exchange between the House of Habsburg and the French King in the 18th century. Louis XV awarded Lorraine in 1737 to the deposed Polish king, Stanislaus I Leszczyński, who ruled the duchy from Nancy as Duke of Lorraine. After his death, in 1766, Nancy and the duchy finally fell to the French crown. Since around 1900, Nancy is known for Art Nouveau. Emile Gallé initiated the "School of Nancy" a kind of alliance between extraordinary art and industrial production. Glasswork, ceramics, furniture, ironwork were designed - and houses like this one in Rue Saint-Jean were built.