[Illustration: _Motorists coming either from St. Menehould, or Bar-le-Duc, via the_ “=Sacred Way=,” _enter Verdun by the Porte-de-France, which has been chosen as the starting-point of the following descriptive itinerary for visiting the town. Follow the_ =streets shown on the outline map=, _in the direction of the_ =arrows=, _consulting at the same time the_ =text= _and_ =photographs= _on pp. 32–56_. _See also the_ =two-coloured plan= _opposite_.] VISIT TO THE CITY From the =Porte-de-France=, whose entrance arcade on the bridge dates from Louis XIV., _take the Rue St. Maur, leading to the Place du Gouvernement_. [Illustration: THE PLACE D’ARMES] This square owes its name to the building called “Le Gouvernement,” or “Ancien Logis du Roi.” Residence of the War Minister, M. Louvois, in 1687, and to-day a barracks for the gendarmes. It was damaged by the bombardment. _From the Place du Gouvernement go_ via _the Rue Chevert to the Place d’Armes_. The =Place d’Armes=, badly damaged by bombardment, occupies the site of a tower (Tour le Princier) of the old rampart. Go down the Rue St. Pierre. [Illustration: RUE ST. PIERRE IN 1916. _In background_ RUE CHAUSSÉE. _On the right_: RUE MAZEL.] _Turning to the left into the Rue St. Paul, the tourist passes in front of_ =the College=. [Illustration: FAÇADE OF COLLEGE CHURCH, RUE ST. PAUL, MAY, 1919.] The present building was erected in 1890 on the site of the old college, founded in 1570 by Bishop Nicolas Psaume in the grounds of the ancient Hôpital de St. Nicolas-de-Gravière. Its church, a fine Ionic structure, was built in 1730 by the Jesuits. The college was one of the first buildings to be damaged by the bombardment, being struck in 1915, prior to the great German offensive against Verdun. [Illustration: INTERIOR OF COLLEGE CHURCH. _Photographed in May, 1919._] _Continue along Rue St. Paul as far as the_ =Palais de Justice= _and the_ =Sub-Préfecture= (_photo, p. 34_). These two buildings are the remains of the second Abbey of the Premonstrants of St. Paul, built inside the town after 1552. The first, situated without the walls, was destroyed by order of the Military Authorities, who feared a siege by Charles Quint. In the SOUS-PRÉFECTURE vestiges of the ancient monastery are more numerous and apparent. The _Salle des Archives_, with its slender columns and great Renaissance bays, was the monks’ refectory. The _Cabinet du Sous-Préfet_, with its austere vaulting, has retained its archaic appearance. In the _Loge du Concierge_ (caretaker’s lodge) there still exists one of the original mantelpieces, with carving representing Abraham sacrificing Isaac. The marble-paved _vestibule_ and fine _staircase_ are also 16th century.