All this sector, with a few slight changes, was to remain in the hands of the Germans until September, 1918. In spite of the terrific gunfire to which it was subjected, the fort was not completely destroyed. In the moats and on the bastions are numerous concrete blockhouses built by the Germans. Near the entrance is the grave of Captain of Artillery Cordebard, killed in 1914. From the fort there is a fine view on all sides over the valley of the Meuse and the Forest of Apremont. _Return to N. 64 which descends in a long zig-zag to the Meuse, which it crosses._ _The road passes through_ Sampigny—considerably battered—where President Poincaré’s country house was completely ruined by the German bombardments. _It next crosses the railway before entering Vadonville and again on leaving_ that village. Lerouville, then Commercy, are _soon reached_. The night should be spent at the latter (_see information on the fly-leaf inside cover_). Commercy is of no particular interest from a picturesque or artistic point of view, but its “Madeleine” cakes enjoy a world-wide reputation. [Illustration: ENTRANCE TO THE FORT] [Illustration: PRESIDENT POINCAIRÉ’S HOUSE AT SAMPIGNY] [Illustration: Plan of Commercy _Arbitrary Signs_ A.—Old Château, now a Barracks. C.—Barracks. H.—Hôtel-de-Ville. O.—Octrois. P.—Sous-Préfecture. T.—Theatre. 1.—Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville. 2.—Rue du Pont-des-Religieuses. 3.—Road to Metz. 4.—Rue des Capucins. 5.—Road to Nancy. 6.—Rue Levée-de-Breuil. 7.—Road to Bar-le-Duc. 8.—Rue Carnot. 9.—Rue de Lisle. 10.—Road to Verdun. 11.—Rue du Four. 12.—Rue de l’Eglise. 13.—Rue de la Gare. ] [Illustration] SECOND DAY COMMERCY—PONT-À-MOUSSON—METZ =A.—Commercy to Pont-à-Mousson= (_See above._) =B.—Pont-à-Mousson to Metz= (_See p. 109._) _Leave Commercy (Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville) by the Rue du Pont-des-Religieuses which, after crossing the Meuse, joins N. 58. Take the latter._ _Pass through_ =Vignot= (_2 km._) _and enter_ =Vignot Wood= (_French gun emplacements_). _After crossing the wood the tourist approaches_ =Gironville.= _Before entering the village, on the crest to the right, is_ =Gironville Fort.= _In the village immediately beyond the church, N. 58 turns to the left. Continue along it for 500 yards beyond the church, then leave it where it turns to the right, and take G.C.D. 10 towards_ =Apremont.= _The road crosses the_ old French and German lines (shelters and blockhouses), _then rejoins, 200 yards east of Apremont, G.D.C. 1 bis, which take to the right towards_ =Bouconville.= [Illustration: BOUCONVILLE VILLAGE] _Before going to Bouconville, visit Apremont, Brûlé Wood and Ailly Wood, if this was not done on the first day (see pp. 42–52)._ _Notice, in succession, on the left, the ruins of_ =Loupmont Village=, _1,500 yards from the road_; =Montsec=, _further north_, dominating the whole district; and =Vargévaux Pond=, _near the road_.