Bar le duc a renaissance town

The humble gallo-roman villages of the past gradually developed into the town of bar le duc through the centuries. its history has been marked by great figures who were born or lived within its walls.

1st day :the upper town  The Upper Town of Bar-le-Duc or Ville Haute is a precious example of French Renaissance architecture. It was therefore listed by the Ministry of Culture on January 20th 1993 and placed thereafter under a preservation order. Visit of:  The College of Gilles de Trèves and its remarkable Renaissance courtyard  The harmonious architectural groupings of golden limestone mansions erected around place Saint Pierre (St Peter's square) and along the rue des Ducs de Bar

2nd day :  The Barrois museum is installed in Château-Neuf, built since 1567 by the duke Charles III, and is open over a vast esplanade which overhangs the lower city. Its collections testify the history of Barrois from Gallo-Roman time to our days. The section of archaeology is well provided, in particular in steles, weapons and ornaments. The Painting section presents some very beautiful drawings (Bruegel de Velours, Téniers, Véronèse, Rubens, Clouet...), just like the medieval sculpture and Renaissance (superb). Interesting rooms of local history.

3rd day : bar-le-duc, the capital of currant jam  Also known as the «Caviar of Bar», the currant jam made from berries which have been deseeded by hand with the quills of goose feathers is a unique, traditional speciality dating back to 1344. The skill requires months of practice and lots of patience, and no machine has ever been able to perform this delicate task which is entirely done by women. Victor Hugo was very found of this jam, and Alfred Hitchcock relished it every morning. President Raymond Poincaré who was born in Bar-le-Duc, had it listed on the menus of the Élysée Palace.  Currant jam tasting and other currant-base products tasting like: the «Dive Bouteille» - an alcoholic bubbly drink that is served cool, currant candies and the Renaissance cake of «La Ducale».

4th day : the madine lake  The Madine lake is located in the Regional Park of Lorraine. In the neighbourhoods of the lake, mixed forests of leafy trees, wet meadows and orchards come to increase the ecological richness of the area.  Using binoculars you will watch many avian species.

5th day : saint mihiel  Discovery of the town: private houses classified Historic Buildings, inculding the house of King René of Anjour (gothic style).  The museum of sacred art and the Benedictine library.  At less than one km, in Saint-Etienne Church (Bourg) there is the splendid sculpture of Ligier Richier: "Descent to tomb".  At a few km of Saint Mihiel, toward Pont of Mousson, there is one of the important places of First World War: the "Projecting of Saint Mihiel" theatre of hard combat.Visit of four sites of this unit is possible: the necropolis of Marbotte, the trench of thirst, the German hospital and the Cross of fear. Close to this monument, the pieces of German and French trenches are in rehabilitating, and not rebuilding, where they were separated only by 20m. An excursion circuit of 18 km connects these 4 sites.

6th day : ceramics and ivory museum in commercy  The ancient Bains-Douches, interesting mixture of pastiche XVIIIth century and art déco, shelters the museum: history, techniques, art of the ivory (collection of European and Asian ivory ) and ceramics.

7th day :  You will fall in love with this village, flowered with much charm by the inhabitants. It is a "street" village, typically Lorraine that the inhabitants revived it by embellishing it with lots of flowers: 14000 plants are installed every year, in a very natural style of English garden. It is a resting and vivifying place for walkinqgs.  To see: The press of XIIIth centur, classified historic building, only vestige of the old abbey; The vault of Saint-Rouin; The art gallery of the abbey; The museum of earthenware in Rarécourt.