In 1645 the Bare-Foot White Friars settled at the foot of the town and there occupied the lazaret (a hospital for poor and sick, occasionally lepers) in the Saint-Gilles neighbourhood. There being already present in the town eight religious orders, building land was rare and it was not until 1688 that the municipal authorities allowed the White Friars to move intra-muros. In 1754 local architect Claude Forgeot built a new monastery and a chapel with an almost severe facade. Lacking its pediment, the two levels are softened by the corbels. In 1895 the Petit séminaire, (small seminary) whose vocation was to prepare future priests for the diocese, occupied these buildings which had been enlarged in 1840. In 1849 the chapel was decorated with murals by the Haute-Marnais painter Menissier.
5 - Former Governor’s House
Listed building Early 18th century
Occupied from the 19th century by the military governor of the Place de Langres, this building displays a classic layout between the courtyard and the garden (now a car park). Its originality is in its particular treatment of the corners: systematically softened, they are rounded (on the street), or cut off (in the courtyard). The gateway giving on to the street, capped by an arch in the form of a basket handle, is still in the decorative tradition of the 17th century with its rounded modillions and its corners dressed with trophies.
This elegant residential street (rue de la Tournelle) has the allure of the "petit Marais". There are, here, some splendid private classical houses of which the facades give little indication, but which show how much this street has been highly valued since the 16th century.
9 - Former Chapel of the Ursuline Convent
Listed building - 1670-1680
The Sisters of Saint Ursula arrived in Langres in 1613 and they had for vocation the education of young girls, and the care of elderly residents. The community originally occupied a private dwelling on the rue de la Tournelle, before having built a more functional convent in 1631. The chapel would not be finished until the end of the century (around 1670 – 1680). The gateway, although in very poor condition, still suggests a heavy decorated section, with twinned columns, niches, winged cherubs and interlaced emblems. In 1818 the building became a barracks and in 1974 two thirds of the building were demolished in order to make space for a residential building.
11 - Gallo-Roman Arch
Listed building Circa 20 BC
Built some thirty years after the conquest of Gaul by Julius Caesar, this arch dignified the principal western entrance to Andematunnum – the earlier name of the town. This is the oldest preserved edifice in Langres, and it was oriented in such a way that the road coming from Reims could penetrate directly into the town. Being of little use in a defensive role, the arch was incorporated into the first fortifications, which date from the end of the third century. The twin access was also sacrificed at the same time in favour of the Hotel-de-Ville gate. As a result of its angle, projecting from the wall, it was deemed sensible to transform it into a covered tower, equipped with a guardhouse and firing slits cut into the frieze.
Until the middle of the 19th century a house rested against the arch. Following the example of other sections of the wall, the military engineers appropriated this and other houses close to the arch for demolition during restoration work. During the work the cornice crowning the arch was restored to its original condition.
17 - Renaissance Façade (rue St-Didier)
Listed building Mid 16th century
This facade, which is almost square, rises on three levels, each being decorated by twin columns supporting a frieze. The layout of the orders is conventional: Ionic for the ground floor, Corinthian for the first floor and composed for the second. The frieze of the first floor shows an assortment of musical instruments and shields. The latter are inspired by those which crown the Gallo-Roman arch, a reminder of the extent to which the Renaissance was influenced by antiquity. The ground floor was altered at the end of the 19th century, with the removal of the central doorway replaced by a new carriage entrance corresponding with the axis of the street.
20 - Piétrequin House known as de Piépape
Listed Building Early 17th century
At the end of the 16th century, construction of the first private mansions began in Langres, which coincided with the growth of a bourgeoisie in the service of the monarchy. Certain families, having acquired administrative responsibilities, consequently climbed the social ladder and wished to record this success in stone. Thus, in 1613 Philibert Piétrequin, lieutenant general of the royal bailiwick of Langres, had this house built.
Situated between courtyard and garden, the residence is in the form of an "L". Ornamented by a frieze of fruit and gargoyles, the cornice still echoes the Renaissance, while supplanted by the sobriety of classicism. A surrounding wall, which preserves the intimacy of the courtyard, is ornamented by a majestic gateway dating from the 18th century.
21 - Town Hall
Listed building – 1774
In 1581, after two centuries of existence, the local council acquired a large gothic dwelling, in the place du Marché-aux-Blés (present-day place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville). In addition to local administration the new Town Hall was home to the courts, and, later, the prisons of the royal justice. As a result of a fire in the latter, a completely new building was begun in 1774. This new town hall, designed by Nicolas Durand, architect general to the Champagne, took on and managed the former functions of the previous town hall. In addition the royal prisons were rebuilt behind the building. The central element, rythmed by an imposing colonnade and capped by a pediment, constitutes the major accent of the facade. This escaped the fire that ravaged the rest of the building in December 1892. On the pediment the emblem RF (Republique Française) replaced the hacked out royal arms at the time of the Revolution; the angels were kept, however, to carry the Republican écu!
23 - Valtier de Choiseul Mansion known as du Breuil of St-Germain
Listed building Late 16th century
In 1576 Sébastien de Valtier de Choiseul acquired a large piece of land and had built a private mansion. The ensemble is endowed with a watchtower overlooking the square and has a bossed base. The facade giving on to the courtyard is symmetric. The decor is essentially focused on the door, which has a plethora of mannerist themes much in the spirit of the late 16th century. With pitted and diamond faced bosses, horns and vases of plenty, arched pediment and lions muzzles the doorway becomes more important than its size merits. Around 1770 Philippe Profilet de Dardenay transformed the perpendicular wing and gave it a new facade, using the proportions of the Renaissance wing, with a central section, which is emphasised by being brought gently forward, French windows, a circular window and a pediment. Two garlands of flowers, two busts on corbels and a medallion in terracotta, perhaps representing the owner, complete the decor. A surrounding wall and gateway were added at this time. In the 19th century the Du Breuil de St-Germain family added dormer windows, originally from other renaissance buildings. 26 - “House of rings”
15th century
This residence is a fine example of a medieval building with mixed usage, both residential and work. A sign of its modesty, carved stone is reserved for windows and doors, whilst the rest is made of rendered rubble stone. The decorative elements are rare with accoladed lintels and a niche decorated with a plant motif.
At the second floor the two stone rings were perhaps used as supports for wooden bars used for drying cloth. This is yet more probable as at the time this house was built, weavers and some dyers occupied this quarter.
27 - Gothique house
Late 15th or early 16th century
On the ground floor of this house are the only remains to be found in Langres of a mediaeval workshop. Recognisable by its segmented arch, the workshop had its own door. The principal entry is set to the right; this leads to the private quarters situated on the first floor, and here the largest windows are decorated by the same accoladed arches as are found above the entrance below. The two upper floors probably were used as storage places for the commercial activity, which took place below. In the spirit of the time, the openings conform to no symmetric plan or rhythm. Their number, dimensions and style were merely matters of function.
28 - Renaissance House
Listed building Mid 16th century
Built around 1550 this residence of very high quality is composed of two buildings, one which gives on to the street, the other on to the garden, and which are linked by a lateral corridor which leads to a spiral staircase. The basement kitchens are located on the garden side giving on to a lower courtyard. Underneath this courtyard there is a rainwater cistern, whose water was drawn from a well topped with a small dome.
The facade has a complex rhythm of two levels with an alternation of large and narrow bays. The small columns of the Ionic and Corinthian orders articulate each level whilst accentuating the relief of the ensemble. The stone transoms and mullions of the windows are a part of the layout of the facade. Profuse and varied, the upper frieze made up of vegetal ornaments contrasts with the sobriety and the orderliness of the lower frieze, which is composed of bovine skulls. The door, in a closed arch topped by an opening and a triangular pediment, is decorated by a garland with a lion’s muzzle and rams’ heads.
30 - Museum of Art & History
(St Didier side) The vestiges of the St Didier chapel, built at the beginning of the 12th century, are now included within the modern buildings of the museum. Founded in 1838 it was the initiative of a learned group at the heart of the young ‘Historic and Archaeological Society of Langres’. It made possible the bringing together, conservation and exhibition, of many ancient remains which building work in the citadel and the modernisation of the ramparts had brought to light. The first building in the Haute Marne to be classified as a Monument Historique (in 1840), there remains only the choir, the square of the transept and one bay. It is in this chapel that the relics of the town’s patron saint were kept and worshipped. Since the creation of the Museum of Art and History in 1996, the Beaux-arts collections complete the initial archaeological collections.
At the end of the 19th century the town demolished a block of houses (today place du Centenaire) in order to build a covered market. It was built in cast iron and was mostly lit by wide windowed bays. It was partly taken down in 1956 in order to allow the construction of an imposing water tower which supplied new housing built to the south of the city. The market finally disappeared in 1988 at the time of the construction of the Museum of Art and History. Completed in 1996, the museum echoes its surroundings: its curvature reflects the layout of the streets whilst the windows articulate its facade following a rhythm which reflects the narrow width of nearby houses. Here are conserved and exhibited the richest archaeological and Beaux-Arts collections of the region.
33 - Bouliere Gate
Listed building 13th century. Modified in the 16th and 19th centuries
Created at the beginning of the 13th century at the time of the first extension of the walls towards the south, this gate was to be further protected by the addition of a triangular barbican in the 14th century. An allegoric statue of the town of Langres, a young, armed female, ornamented this monumental gate. Originally called ‘porte boveliere’, this gate seems to owe its name to the passage of animals on their way to be butchered, in the street of the same name.
Altered in 1854, the barbican was finally demolished in 1906 in order to allow access to the nearby ‘porte des Terreaux’.
34 - Town Hall or Market Gate
Listed building Modified in the 16th century and again in 1854
Built on a rocky outcrop and constructed after the closing of the nearby Gallo-Roman arch, this gate possesses less than the latter in defensive terms. This change probably took place during the late Middle Ages and allowed for greater control of the access road in future situated at the foot of the walls.
Like the majority of the gates to the town, a barbican reinforced this one in the 16th century. Built in1620, the guardroom sits on enormous supports on its outward side. Witness also to the commercial life of this part of the town, once through the toll- booth, access to the pig and wheat market was direct. These markets were on, respectively, the present day place de l’Hotel-de-Ville and place de Verdun.
The inner gate was enlarged in the 18th century. The barbican and its drawbridge would be restored one century later by military engineers.
41 - Petit-Sault or Market Tower
Listed building Circa 1517
This tower, in a U shape with long sides, was destined to control the northwest corner of the wall, and the road to Paris which passed below. Equipped with huge openings and walls up to seven metres thick, the interior layout follows the slope of the land. The two strongly vaulted chambers are linked by a monumental stairway and support a large artillery terrace.
The exterior walls are bossed and feature gargoyles, adding an aesthetic dimension to the tower.
During the building of this tower the town authorities had a well dug, for public use, originally equipped with a coping.
Being naturally defended by the slope of the land, this part of the wall did not need too much in the way of defensive structures. Forming a particularly skilful ensemble, impressive and well dimensioned, this structure shows clearly the military role of Langres at the beginning of the 16th century.
45 - Saint Didier Tower
Listed building - Early 15th century
The St Didier tower is the best-conserved mediaeval fortification in Langres. Its three superimposed rooms, its openings, and its roof, restored to original condition, give a fairly good impression of how the other towers of the period, since modified or destroyed, might have looked. Its role was to defend the immediate flanks of the Bouliere gate. During the Ancien Regime the last floor served as a tribunal for the four captains to the mace, whose role was to judge crimes committed on the ramparts. Facing the Bonnelle valley, a niche housed a statue of St Didier, Bishop of Langres in the middle of the fourth century, martyred, according to legend, by the Vandals.
Office de Tourisme du Pays de Langres - BP16 - 52201 Langres cedex - Tél : 03 25 87 67 67 - Fax : 03 25 87 73 33
4 - Former Monastery of the White Friars
9 - Former Chapel of the Ursuline Convent
11 - Gallo-Roman Arch
17 - Renaissance Façade (rue St-Didier)
20 - Piétrequin House known as de Piépape
21 - Town Hall
23 - Valtier de Choiseul Mansion
26 - “House of rings”
27 - Gothique house
28 - Renaissance House
30 - Museum of Art & History
33 - Bouliere Gate
34 - Town Hall or Market Gate
41 - Petit-Sault or Market Tower
45 - Saint Didier Tower
The map of the Quarter