PARCOURS LIBRE POUR DÉCOUVRIR CHARMES

Discover Charmes along its streets, in an autonomous way. You can find this leaflet at the Charmes tourist office, 2 rue Porte de Mozelle. Each number corresponds to an important place of Charmes that you will find on the map or in the attached PDF. From the Middle Ages to the industrial era, Charmes has managed to keep various traces of the past despite the turbulence of time. The inhabitants of Charmes are called "Carpiniens", derived from "Carpini", a name referring to its forest planted with hornbeams. 1. ÉGLISE SAINT-NICOLAS. The patron saint of the church is Saint Nicolas, whose cult developed in Lorraine from the 12th century. The parish church was completed in 1493 and rebuilt with a more modern architecture according to the hazards of history. The statues on the portal by Lambert-Rucky (1888-1967) illustrate the devotions of the town. On the central pillar of the portal, in the middle of the entrance door of the building, are St. Nicholas and the three children illustrating the traditional St. Nicholas celebrated every year in Lorraine on December 6. Higher up, from left to right, St. Dié, patron saint of the diocese, St. François with the birds, and finally St. Pierre Fourier (born in Mirecourt) wearing the fur of the canons of St. Augustine. On the side, you can observe the St-Hubert chapel founded by the Savigny family, classified as a historical monument. The exterior of the chapel is just as richly decorated as the interior. On the right corner, on a shell, two genies support a brazier: this image shows the family recognition of the Savigny family to Duke Antoine. 2. ROOM OF THE SWORD. This room was a grain market. At the death of the Carpinian de l'Espée family, the hall was given to the city. Renovated, it now hosts shows and concerts of various associations of the city. 3. MAISON DU CHALDRON. The Maison du Chaldron is also called "Maison des Loups" (House of the Wolves) because of the gargoyles nestled at the top. This Renaissance mansion is the place where the treaty of Charmes was signed between Cardinal Richelieu and Charles IV in 1633, which marked the beginning of the unification between France and the Duchy of Lorraine. In the 1900s, this house was one of the most important cafés in the city. Today it houses the association "Conservatoire du Patrimoine" (open Tuesday afternoon). 4. PLACE DE LA MAIRIE. The seal of Charmes from the 17th century represented a standing dog without any indication of enamels (colors). The current coat of arms appears from the following century, it is accompanied by the motto which testifies to the loyalty of its inhabitants to the Dukes of Lorraine. The municipal coat of arms on the façade of the Town Hall is slightly different. The artist who made it placed the cross of Lorraine in a red escutcheon (called Gules) and turned the head of the dogfish. Azure to the silver dogfish, holding in its paws a golden cross of Lorraine. On the Town Hall square, to the right of the Town Hall, you will find the stele of a famous Carpinian, Maurice Barrès (1862-1923). He was a politician and writer. His house is located in rue Claude Barrès. Charmes was not spared during the Second World War: 160 inhabitants were deported and the town was shot at on September 5, 1944 (exhibition in the town hall). Charmes was the first town in France to be rebuilt and inaugurated by the President of the Republic Vincent Auriol in 1952. 5. MAURICE BARRES PLAQUE. At the beginning of the rue des Capucins, you can see the plaque symbolizing the former address of the house where the writer and politician Maurice Barrès was born. 6. CHAPEL NOTRE-DAME-DE-GRÂCE and SAINT-ARNOUL. Founded around 1490 by Le petit-Thomassin, the chapel is of Romanesque architecture. It was first dedicated to Our Lady of Pity. It then took the name of Notre-Dame-de-Grâces, recalling the very well preserved statue dating from the 16th century present inside the building. On your left, at the corner of a house, you will find Saint Arnoul, bishop of Metz and patron saint of brewers. This representation is the scene of the miracle of the beer, a work of the sculptor Lambert-Rucky who also worked for the church of Charmes. History & legend: Saint Arnoul (582-640), born in Lay-Saint-Christophe, north of Nancy, became in 612, bishop of Metz. After 15 years and 10 days of service, he took a liking to solitude and, abandoning his bishopric, he joined the monastery of Saint-Mont which he had just founded near Remiremont. He died on August 16, 640. The legend then takes shape. His remains were claimed by the city of Metz, which wanted to house the body of its beloved bishop. A huge crowd in procession took the Roman road, but the fame of good Arnoul was such that what had to happen did happen. While leaving Remiremont and arriving at Deyvillers, food and beer ran out. Duke Nothon, who was in charge of the procession, asked Blessed Arnoul to provide for the stewardship of his numerous troops. And so the miracle happened, the beer suddenly flowed in abundance, allowing everyone to quench their thirst, that day as well as the next. The brewing profession was grateful and made Saint Arnoul its patron saint. 7. RUE DE L'ARCANUM. On the right side of the chapel: Notice the plaque on the wall symbolizing the location of the old malt house down the street. It reads "On September 6, 1944 and the days that followed, more than 650 inhabitants of Charmes and the neighboring towns who had been driven out of their homes by fire and bombing were welcomed and housed in the premises of this malt house. They were fed and clothed by the Secours National and its volunteers. This plaque is placed in memory of those tragic days and in recognition of those who served." 8. FORMER BREWERY. With its industrial and typical architecture, the Charmes Brewery was the last brewery to be seen on the vertical model. The Charmes brewery was founded in 1864 by Achille Hanus. The new company quickly overtook the other breweries in the city, which were absorbed one by one. It acquired other sites such as Saint-Dié, Val d'Ajol, Xertigny, Ville-sur-Illon. Constantly modernized with new brewing facilities, in 1936 it signed a manufacturing agreement with a German brewer, Doctor Kanter. The Carpinian site gave birth to the Kanterbraü beer... In 1939, a fire destroyed the malthouse which did not resume its activity until 1941. In 1966, the Grandes Brasseries de Charmes merged with Champigneulles to form the Européenne Brasserie. The site of Charmes closed in 1971 like many in Lorraine because of the centralization. It still had 140 workers. 9. RUE DES LAVEUSES. You take a small alley which is right next to the old brewery. Old passage towards the wash-house. 10. LE BATTANT. An old industrial site in Charmes, the Battant, tannery, drapery, sawmill and mechanical workshop, was the first power station in Charmes. The tools of the Battant are still working under our eyes every Sunday afternoon in summer. Placed on the Canal du Moulin, more than a century ago, this site of memory housed several industries that made the economic life of the city. The sawmill, which has been modernized over the years, was home to a laundry with a boiler in 1860. 11. THE WASHING HOUSE. This washhouse dates from the 1890s and was refurbished with sanitary facilities for campers in 1995. 12. THE GOAT BRIDGE. The goat bridge was created so that the goats could cross the Canal du Moulin to go to the pastures before the creation of the canal in 1882. The land now houses the motor home area, the canal and the port. 13. THE REMPARTS. In the 11th century, in order to defend themselves against the Hungarians who were ravaging the country, the Counts of Toul built a fortress and fortified walls. They covered the whole of the current Rue de la République up to the Pont des Chèvres, from the chapel to the Porte Bazin. Today a part of the ramparts remains despite the tests of time. We hope that you have had a good look at this small town, don't hesitate to discover all its natural aspects by asking for information at the Tourist Office. Guided tours are also offered in summer.