Rheims and the Battles for its PossessionPneu Michelin (Firm)
History
Rheims and the Battles for its Possession
Pneu Michelin (Firm)
Reims (France) -- Guidebooks; World War, 1914-1918 -- Battlefields -- Guidebooks
This is the old Order-House of the Jesuits, built at the beginning of
the 17th century. The =refectory= is ornamented with rich woodwork and
paintings, by the Rheims artist Hélart. Of greater interest is the
_library_, situated under the gables, and which is reached by a fine
staircase. The room is adorned with a profusion of wood-carvings and
mouldings. Exceedingly fine consoles carry the ceiling, whose carved
panels are profusely ornamented with crowns, polygons, florets and heads
of angels. The oaken pilasters which separate the bookshelves are
decorated with a variety of leaves and flowers. In spite of this wealth
of ornament, the general effect is harmonious. The recesses in the
woodwork, opposite the dummy dormer-windows, were for reading.
Ancient vines cover the walls of the chapel, near the entrance to the
_hôpital_.
_At the side of the Hôpital Général stands the_ =Church of St. Maurice=.
This church was entirely rebuilt by the Jesuits after the destruction of
the ancient edifice, which was one of the oldest in Rheims. Here may be
seen the _Eagle Reading-Desk_, a fine piece of 17th century
wood-carving; two _Louis XIV. portable iron desks_ and the _paschal
chandelier_ of carved wood; the _17th century confessionals_ of the
lateral chapels, and in the sacristy remarkable _Louis XIII.,
hand-embroidered guipures_ of open-work designs, after the style of the
models by the Rheims artist, Georges Baussonnet.
_Return to the Place du Parvis, in front of the Cathedral, via the Rue
Gambetta and its continuation, the Rue Chanzy._
A VISIT TO THE BATTLEFIELDS AROUND RHEIMS
[Illustration (Map)]
A thorough visit can be made in two days.
The Itinerary for each day is divided into two parts, to allow tourists
to return to Rheims for lunch.
=First Day= { Morning pp. 122-133.
{ Afternoon pp. 134-159.
=Second Day= { Morning pp. 160-165.
{ Afternoon pp. 166-174.
FIRST DAY
MORNING
=THE MOUNTAIN OF RHEIMS=
(_See the complete Itineraries on p. 121, and the summary of the war
operations on p. 131._)
[Illustration (Map)]
This part of the Itinerary will take the tourist to the most important
points of the last German offensive of 1918, which aimed at the capture
of Rheims.
_Starting from the Place du Parvis Nôtre-Dame, take the Rue Libergier,
opposite the Cathedral, turn to the right into the Rue Chanzy, follow
same as far as the Rue de Vesle, take the latter on the left, and follow
it to the end._
_After the_ =Porte de Paris= _(see p. 68) the Rue de Vesle becomes the
Avenue de Paris. Take same, but after passing under the railway bridge,
turn to the left into the Avenue d'Epernay (R. N. 51, see plan, p.
121)._
_Take the second street on the right (Rue de Bezannes), which passes in
front of the_ =Western Cemetery=, devastated by the bombardments.
The road crosses numerous lines of trenches and boyaux, which defended
the immediate approaches to Rheims.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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