This little town, made famous by the arrest of Louis XVI. (p. 74), was
almost completely destroyed.
In September, 1914, it was occupied by the Germans, who converted it
into a fortress. On September 26, 1918, the first day of the
Franco-American offensive, it was retaken by the American First Army in
a single charge.
The River Aire divides the town into two parts: the upper town on the
left bank, and the lower on the right bank. The visit to the upper town
will be made on the second day (_see p._ 74).
[Illustration: VARENNES CHURCH. SOUTH-WEST FRONT]
_N. 46 coming from Fléville, passes the church_ (_hist. mon.--photos
above and below_).
The three-sided apse of this church, with its fine windows, dates from
the 14th or 15th century; the façade and the tower from the 18th.
The Hôtel du Grand Cerf, near the church, contains carved presses and
pretty Argonne earthenware.
The bridge over the Aire, from which there is a pretty view of the
river, connects the upper and lower town.
_Before crossing the bridge, take G.C. 38 to the left, 1 km. 800 from
Varennes; leave the Cheppy road on the left, and keep on in the
direction of_ =Vauquois=, the bare crest of which is seen _on the right_.
_3 km. 500 from Varennes, on the right, is a sheet of water, behind
which rises_ =Vauquois Hill.= _One hundred yards further on, at a small
wood, leave the car and take on foot the (bad) road on the right for
about 400 yards_, to a square constructed in cement and stone. This was
a German Command-Post (_photo, p._ 54). _On the left of this building,
follow a small winding path up to_ =Vauquois Crest.=
(The visit on foot to Vauquois Crest takes an hour.)
[Illustration: VARENNES. NAVE OF CHURCH SEEN FROM THE CHOIR]
[Illustration: PANORAMIC VIEW OF VAUQUOIS CREST AS SEEN FROM G.C. 38 AT
AVOCOURT]
[Illustration: NEAR VAUQUOIS. GERMAN POST OF COMMANDMENT, AFTER CAPTURE
BY AMERICAN TROOPS, WITH STARS AND STRIPES FLYING]