Of the St. Jean Church only the gaping, crumbling walls of the main
front remain. The northern front collapsed entirely.
[Illustration: PEDESTAL OF THE STOLEN STATUE OF CATHERINE DE POIX _(see
p. 104)_.
_On the left: Part of the ruins of the St. Jean Church._]
[Illustration: PÉRONNE. THE FAÇADE OF ST. JEAN CHURCH, BEFORE THE WAR.]
The sixteenth century square tower, flanked by a round turret _(photo
above)_ has vanished.
The western portal with its three doors, decorated with fine fifteenth
century carvings, was greatly mutilated _(photo below)_.
The roof, frame-work, and interior vaulting, which was ornamented with
very fine pendentives, collapsed.
Some of the pillars fell down, and most of the dislocated arches have
gradually crumbled away under the action of the weather.
[Illustration: THE FAÇADE OF ST. JEAN CHURCH IN 1919.]
The grand organ was greatly damaged; all the pipes were removed
and sent to Germany. On the other hand, the seventeenth century,
multi-coloured marble reredos of the high and Virgin altars were not
severely damaged.
[Illustration: PÉRONNE. THE PLACE DU MARCHÉ-AUX-HERBES, AND THE RUE ST.
GEORGES.
_In the background: One of the towers of the Château (see below.)_]
_The Rue Saint-Georges, at the south-west end of the Place, leads to
the Château._
The four large sandstone towers with conical roofs, which faced the
town, used to form part of the enceinte of Péronne.
One of the towers was destroyed; the other three are still standing,
although in a greatly damaged condition.
The pointed door between the middle towers was mutilated.
[Illustration: PÉRONNE. THE FAÇADE OF THE CHÂTEAU AT THE END OF THE
WAR.]
[Illustration: THE DESTROYED BRIDGE ON THE OLD RAMPARTS.
_On the right is the end of the Rue St. Fursy._]
The other parts of the castle, posterior to the Middle-Ages, were
either burnt or destroyed by explosions.
[Illustration: THE OLD RAMPARTS IN THE FAUBOURG DE PARIS.
_In the foreground: The destroyed bridge: In the background:
The temporary bridge: On the right: The N. 17 going towards
Villers-Carbonnel._]
_Return to the Place du Marché aux Herbes and take on the right the Rue
St. Fursy, which, after crossing the bridges over the old ramparts,
leads to the Faubourg de Paris._
[Illustration]
_At the end of the Faubourg de Paris, take the road to Biaches (G.C. 1)
on the right of N. 17_; then, _100 yards from N. 17, on the left, the
G.C. 79, which_ climbs the slopes of a hill dominating the valley.
_Follow this road for about 1 km._, when the top will be reached,
from which there is a fine panoramic view of the valley of the Somme,
Péronne and Mont-Saint-Quentin _(photo, pp. 110-111)_.
_Take on foot the path which starts from there, and leads_ to the ruins
of La Maisonnette Château, _about 250 yards from the road_.