(_For particulars of the hotels, repair mechanics, etc., see inside of
cover._)
Dominated on the North by the ruined towers of its ancient castle,
Château-Thierry lies in the valley, between the wooded sides of which
winds the River Marne.
_Entering the town by the Avenue Clemenceau, keep straight on along the
Promenade-de-la-Levée, which leads to the Champ-de-Mars Square._
From here can be seen the ruins of a fine stone =bridge=, built by
Perronet in 1768, of which only a single arch remains. The others have
been temporarily replaced by a foot-way.
In front is a statue (by Laitié, 1824) of La Fontaine, the fabulist; the
lower part of the left leg was broken by a shell splinter.
The photograph below shows the destroyed bridge, and the Rue Carnot
which continues it. The Route de Montmirail (now Avenue du Président
Poincaré) is visible in the background, as also are barricades placed by
the Franco-Americans across the Rue Carnot.
[Illustration: CHÂTEAU-THIERRY BRIDGE AFTER IT WAS BLOWN UP.]
[Illustration: ITALIAN INFANTRY CROSSING CHÂTEAU-THIERRY BRIDGE, OF
WHICH ONLY ONE ARCH REMAINS.]
[Illustration: M. CLEMENCEAU ON CHÂTEAU-THIERRY BRIDGE A FEW HOURS AFTER
THE GERMANS HAD LEFT.
(_From “l’Illustration._”)]
_To the left of the Place du Champ-de-Mars, and in the direction of the
Hôtel-de-Ville, take the Rue du Maréchal Pétain._
On the right of this street is the =Belhan Tower= (Belfry), which was
formerly part of the Belhan Mansion (16th century). At the end of the
Rue du Maréchal Pétain, the =Hôtel-de-Ville= (of which the Palais is
Renaissance) comes into view. One of the turrets was destroyed by the
bombardments, while shell splinters have scarred the building. The
immediate surroundings suffered greatly from shell-fire. The photo below
shows the Rue du Maréchal Pétain in perspective.
The first enemy line of resistance was established at the entrance to
this street, in front of No. 27. Behind, barricades of paving stones and
earth were raised (see photo), the largest of which closed the end of
the street, making it possible to pass unseen from the Place de
l’Hôtel-de-Ville to the Rue du Général Degoutte.
On the right of this photo is seen the commencement of the Rue du
Général Degoutte.
[Illustration: THE RUE DU MARÉCHAL PÉTAIN AFTER THE GERMANS HAD LEFT.
In the background is seen a barricade.
(_From “l’Illustration._”)]
[Illustration: VIEW OF CHÂTEAU-THIERRY SEEN FROM THE TERRACE OF THE
CASTLE.]
To visit the =Castle=, _go up the wide steps on the left of the
Hôtel-de-Ville_, which lead to the Ramparts. The panoramic view above
was taken from these stairs.
In the foreground are seen: the Hôtel-de-Ville with its damaged turret,
the Hôtel-de-Ville Square (where the market is held), the Belfry, and
the Rue du Maréchal Pétain.
_At the top of the steps, turn to the right and follow the ramparts as
far as the entrance to the Park (photo below). Enter the latter_, which
occupies the entire site of the old castle, and go round it, to get a
general view of the town and outskirts. To visit the subterranean
passages, _apply to the keeper at the small lodge in the middle of the
park_.
[Illustration: ENTRANCE TO THE CASTLE PARK.]
_On leaving the park turn to the left_ to get a view of the Old Entrance
to the Castle, which consists of a pointed arch flanked by two large
circular towers (photo p. 64).
_Return to the Entrance Gate of the Park, then to the Hôtel-de-Ville_,
via _the Rue du Château_, in which is St. John’s Hospital (or
Hôtel-Dieu), founded by Jeanne, Queen of France and Navarre, in 1304,
and rebuilt in 1876.
_On arriving at the Hôtel-de-Ville, cross the Square, and follow the Rue
du Général Degoutte._
On the left are the Rue Dirigeon l’Ecart and the Rue Lefèvre-Maugras,
which were also barricaded by the Germans.
On the right of the Rue du Général Degoutte is the steep Rue
Jean-de-la-Fontaine, No. 13 being the house where the author of the
celebrated fables was born.
_Continue along the Rue du Général Degoutte, cross the Avenue du
Maréchal Joffre, then take the_ Rue St. Crépin, in which is the =church=
of that name. It was in this church that the Germans left behind a great
quantity of booty during their hurried retreat. (See photo, p. 43.)
Its heavy square tower, with carved buttresses, is 15th century. The
organ-loft, decorated with figures of the prophetesses and others, is
16th century.
The Rue St. Alpin is continued by the Rue St. Martin, which was sacked
by the Germans. The photograph below was taken at No. 26.
The visit to the town finishes at the end of the Rue St. Martin, _i.e._
at the junction of this street with the Avenue Clemenceau.
The excursion to Belleau Wood, described on page 49, starts from here.
(_Note for visitors arriving by train.--Leave the station by the Avenue
de la Gare, turn to the left into the Avenue de la République, follow
the latter as far as the Place Carnot, take the Rue Carnot (on the right
of the square), at the end of which is the bridge over the Marne, where
the itinerary above mentioned joins up._)
[Illustration: GERMAN VANDALISM. ROOM IN HOUSE AT NO. 26 RUE ST.
MARTIN.]