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Battle of the Marne 1914

Battle of the Marne 1914
Battle of the Marne 1914

Description

Departing from the Great War Museum, go back in time and follow in the footsteps of the soldiers of the first battle of the Marne, in September 1914.

In the plains of Brie took place the first battles of the Battle of the Marne, which lasted from September 5 to 12, 1914.
Since the outbreak of war in August, the German army has driven through Belgium and pursued the retreating French armies and British Expeditionary Force.
Paris is only 40 kilometers away! But history will decide otherwise... It is the "miracle of the Marne".

Departing from the Museum of the Great War, in Meaux, continue your journey in the footsteps of the soldiers of the Battle of the Marne, to discover the places and the men who made history.

A historic loop of 33 kilometers through the countryside and a dozen sites to discover to evoke a decisive battle of the First World War, in an almost unchanged landscape.

To know everything about the first Battle of the Marne in 1914:
www.circuit-bataille-marne1914.fr


This route is offered by Meaux Marne Ourcq Tourisme in collaboration with the Association Meaux Cyclotouriste.

Technical informations

This circuit was updated on: 13/01/2024
33 km
3 h 30 mn
max. 158 m
min. 77 m
161 m
161 m

Altimetric profile

Starting point

Musée de la Grande Guerre rue Lazare Ponticelli , 77100 Meaux
Lat : 48.970524Lng : 2.90414

Points of interest

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The Museum of the Great War

An essential collection on the First World War.With a collection of nearly 70,000 objects and documents tracing the paths of daily and military life in the 14-18 war, the Great War Museum, which opened its doors on November 11, 2011 on the territory of the First Battle of the Marne in Meaux, is the largest museum in Europe on the First World War. It presents, on 3 000 sqm, one of the richest and most diversified collections of the 14-18 war in the heart of an attractive and innovative scenography. The Great War Museum is an ideal place for a family visit. A real educational treasure through the collection: see, hear, touch, handle.... A playful tour accessible from 5 years old: projections of archival images, reconstructions of trenches, a video space in which visitors are immersed among the soldiers in the trenches or on the battlefield, games to discover the composition of uniforms, the sounds of war, the geographical evolution of the conflict zones ... Several audio tours are available free of charge on your mobile phone or tablet, ask at the reception for instructions.

Rue Lazare Ponticelli 77100 Meaux
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Communal cemetery - Chambry

In the night of the 5 and 6 of September 1914, Germans are withdrawing from their position of the previous day and take refuge in Chambry, where they besiege the cemetery.They dig loopholes in these thick walls to try and repel, in vain, the counter-attack of the French army. Early in the morning, the French officers send Moroccan soldiers for an offensive on Chambry. At 10AM, the Turcos attack the cemetery, where the Germans are entrenched. Reports mention that Moroccan soldiers seized the cemetery in the afternoon, but had to retreat almost immediately under the fire of German cannons. The 7th of September, the Zouaves finally take back the village from the Germans army around 4PM, but also take an heavy toll in this attack. German loopholes, records of these violent battles of September 1914 are still visible today.

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German military cemetery

On the road between Barcy and Varreddes, and at close proximity of the national necropolis of Chambry, a small cemetery gathers the remains of German soldiers fallen during the Battle of the Marne of 1914.Set up in 1924, this cemetery gathers around 1030 bodies in a rather small perimeter. The fact is that 998 of these soldiers (among whom 985 are still unidentified) are buried in a large mass grave. Furthermore, under each cross present in this cemetery, rest two to four German soldiers. Indeed, military cemeteries constitute national territories. Thus, after the war, the goal was not to give up too much land to the Germans.

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National Necropolis – Chambry

Created in 1920, this necropolis gather the individual tombs dug right the battlegrounds of the Meaux region after the first battle of the Marne.Almost 990 soldiers who died in 1914 are gathered here. Among them, 940 are still unidentified. They have been regrouped in 4 boneyards. The 341 individual tombs are, for about half of them, the ones of French soldiers killed between June and July of 1918 during the second battle of the Marne in the North of Seine-et-Marne. Most of the men buried in ossuaries are soldiers and officers of infantry troops, Zouaves regiments, and regiments of Moroccan and Algerian infantrymen who served during the first battle of the Marne. Metropolitan soldiers who took part in the first battle of the Marne, such as Charles Peguy’s men, the 276th Infantry Regiment are, for the most part, from the region. Those who could be identified were then generally buried in a civil grave, in their town’s cemetery.

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Notre-Dame de la Marne Monument

This historical landmark was the theater of violent battles between the 6th and 9th of September 1914. This strategic ground, which was then invaded by German general Von Kluck – who had installed his general staff on site – had to be reconquered.After the first battle of the Marne, His Grace Marbeau, bishop of Meaux, made a vow so the city of Meaux could be spared and decided to erect a memorial at the very place where the German advance was stopped. This religious and patriotic monument was inaugurated in 1924 and has been a pilgrimage site in memory of the “Miracle of the Marne.” The monument is made of granite and cast iron and represents the Virgin Mary with the inscription “You will not go farther.”

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The Great Tomb

On the 5th of September 1914, the Germans are at the gates of Paris, and battles are raging in the surrounding countryside of Meaux.It is on the hill between Chauconin Neufmontiers and Villeroy that Lieutenan Charles Péguy rush forward his troops in order to save their Moroccan comrades, struggling against the Germans not far from here. The fights are violent and an important number of men are killed. A large proportion of these men are now buried in the “Great Tomb”, not far from the place they died. After the war, the bodies are taken back to military cemeteries. The Great Tomb is thus one of the last collective tombs in France, in which soldiers and officers are buried.

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Charles Peguy Memorial

On the 5th of September 1914, only a few hours after the first Battle of the Marne started, the author and poet Charles Peguy is shot down with a bullet in the head, as he bravely leads his troops attacking German positionsAround 16:30, under a scorching heat, the 276th Infantry Regiment to which he belongs storms towards Monthyon’s mound in order to cover the retreat of Moroccan infantrymen fighting with the Germans. Exposed, in a field deprived of any shelter, men are falling one by one under German machine gun’s fire. This memorial stone pays tribute to this monument of French literature, who fell in the first moments of the battle. At the base of the cross, some verses remind us of the work of this great author and his patriotic sentiments. “Blessed are those who died for carnal earth. Provided it was in a just war. Blessed are those who died for a plot of ground. Blessed are those who died a solemn death. Blessed are those who died in great battles. Stretched out on the ground in the face of God. Blessed are those who died on a final high place, Amid all the pomp of grandiose funerals. Blessed are those who died, for they have returned Into primeval clay and primeval earth. Blessed are those who died in a just war. Blessed is the wheat that is ripe and the wheat that is gathered in sheaves.” Charles Péguy – Eve (1913) – Excerpt

D129 77410 Villeroy
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Villa "La Grimpette"

Durant la Bataille de la Marne, cette demeure appartenant à l’industriel Eugène Boch, mécène et ami de nombreux peintres, servira de Poste de Commandement à plusieurs généraux français.La villa la Grimpette était la demeure du peintre et poète Eugène Boch issu d’une riche famille d’industriels faïenciers. Elle abrita le poste de commandement du général de Lamaze, commandant le 5e Groupe de Divisions de Réserve françaises. Du balcon supérieur, il était possible de voir, à la jumelle, les plaines de Saint-Soupplets à Penchard. La villa reçut la visite du général Gallieni le 7 septembre 1914. Il la quitta dans l’après-midi pour superviser l’attaque française sur les flancs de l’armée allemande.

59 rue de la République 77122 Monthyon
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Additional information

Reception complements

Wear appropriate clothing and check your equipment carefully before leaving.

Location complements

Parking possible at the great War museum.

Contact

Phone : 01 64 33 02 26

Email : tourisme@meaux.fr

Website : www.meaux-marne-ourcq.com

Facebook : www.facebook.com/mmotourisme

Open period

All year round.

Updated by

Meaux Marne Ourcq Tourisme - 12/01/2024
www.meaux-marne-ourcq.com/
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Guidebook with maps/step-by-step

1. At the Great War Museum, go up the road to Varreddes. Bypass the roundabout and take the agricultural track for 1.5 km. At the fork, turn left to the roundabout.
2. Take the D38. At the 4 roads monument, turn right towards Chambry.
3. In Chambry, at the end turn left onto rue de la Ville. While crossing the village take a break at the communal cemetery (back wall pierced in 1914). Continue on rue d'Ortheuil and leave the village.
4. At the D97 crossing, turn right towards Varreddes (about 300 m). At the German cemetery, turn around and head back towards Barcy. Take a break at the National necropolis (on the right after the TGV line). Continue on the D97 to the Notre-Dame de la Marne monument. Take the road again towards Barcy.
5. At the church of Barcy, follow the direction of Monthyon (D97), for 3.5 km.
6. Caution! At the traffic lights, cross the N330 straight ahead. Turn right, rue de la République (at No. 57, observe the Villa La Grimpette). At the church, turn left; then left on rue Gambetta.
7. At the stop sign, turn right on the D97 and drive 3km to Iverny. At the stop sign, turn right (D27, direction Juilly). Enter Iverny and take the 1st left (rue Fortière). Turn left, rue du Fresne. Drive for 1.5 km to Villeroy.
8. At the intersection, turn left (hairpin) on Chemin de Puisieux. Observe the Puisieux well in the middle of the field. Continue on rue du Puits. At the stop sign, turn left (rue Saint-Pierre).
9. Take the 1st left (at the corner is the 14-18 Jacques Braquet Museum) and drive for 4.5 km, to Chauconin-Neufmontiers. Along the way, observe the Charles Péguy stele and the Great Tomb.
10. Cross Chauconin-Neufmontiers (Saint-Barthélémy church). Continue on the D140 to Penchard (2km). On the edge of the Bois de Penchard discover the tomb of Captain Hugot-Derville.
11. Still on the D140, cross Penchard towards Chambry, as far as the Monument des 4 routes.
12. At the D38 crossing, turn right. Before the roundabout, cross to the left to take the agricultural path. Return to the Great War Museum.

Services for cyclists

Germinale lends you a bike for free (adult bike) at the Great War museum.

Data author

5 place Charles de Gaulle (Cité épiscopale) 77100 MEAUX France

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