BELVÉDÈRE CHEMIN DE BIARRE

CUSTINES, formerly called Condé, from the Latin Condate (confluence) has 2 confluences, the most famous is that of the Meurthe and the Moselle since it gives its name to the department, and another more discreet one, the Mauchère which joins the Moselle at the level of the "new" bridge. THE HELLMOUTH The Gueule d'Enfer is the name given to the confluence of the Meurthe and the Moselle. Its name comes from a legend: A cruel lord of the castle of Frouard was going to have a young maiden hanged on the village square after she refused his advances. Suddenly, he was struck down by the gaze of a stone Christ erected on the square. His body was thrown at the confluence of the two rivers which from then on was called Hell's Mouth or Hell's Mouth, from the nickname of this sad sire, whose very full red beard reminded one of the entrance to hell when he opened his mouth. THE VALLEY OF THE MAUCHERE Taking its source on the heights of Montenoy, the Mauchère, a small stream of about 10 km, quiet in summer, sometimes violent in winter, follows the course of the valley by watering Montenoy, Faulx, Malleloy and Custines where it flows into the Moselle This stream was once very dear to the population of the Faulx valley, as several mills were built along its course, notably in Faulx and in the commune of Custines, near the Louis Marin college. This valley was already active in the Stone Age and was very rich in wood, particularly in very long and very nervous beech trees. In this valley, the soil is ferruginous and there are several veins of minette (iron ore): two mines were in operation until the Second World War The Pompey-Nomeny railroad, built around 1880, crossed the Moselle on a mixed rail/road bridge that was slightly upstream from the current road bridge. This bridge has disappeared as well as the station of Custines which followed it. The line was used until the early 1980s. This old railroad has been transformed into a pedestrian area. This path offers to the amateurs of walking a stroll through the countryside and allows the discovery of the crossed villages. THE A31 FREEWAY Despite the disapproval of the town council in July 1960, the route of the motorway was confirmed at the expense of the Clévant housing estates, which were partly destroyed. The Frouard-Custines-Belleville section was inaugurated in 1969.