7. Nanteuil-le-Haudouin to Meaux

The oldest religious establishment in the town is the priory, often improperly referred to as an abbey. It was founded after the middle of the 7th century by Saint Valbert de Luxeuil (595-670), a disciple of Saint Colomban, where he joined the monastic community of Luxeuil between 615 and 620. He was abbot of the community from 630 to 670.
Valbert was the grandson of the first lord of Nanteuil, Chagneric, who had received the land from the hands of Clovis for services rendered. The priory has a church dedicated to Notre-Dame. Under the impetus of the abbot of Cluny, Saint Hugues, the priory of Nanteuil was attached to the order of Cluny in 1095. In all likelihood, the parish church was founded by the priory after this date, in order to meet the demand of the population and the Count of Nanteuil. The church is consecrated to Saint Peter and is built according to a cruciform plan. It is composed of a nave of four bays with aisles and aisle sides; a transept that does not overflow; a choir with a flat chevet of only one bay; and two side chapels of the choir, with a square plan. The bell tower stands in the centre of the west facade, above the first bay of the nave. With the exception of the belfry floor of the bell tower with its slate-covered spire and the side chapels, the entire church was built in a single throw during the third quarter of the 12th century. It is a robust and austere construction, whose exterior is hardly decorated outside the portals, and whose interior displays a heavy style devoid of refinement. As the two strong octagonal turrets preceding the western façade indicate, the building belongs to the group of fortified churches and is one of the very few representatives of this type in the region.  The choir, its two side chapels and the transept were rebuilt in the 18th century.

Oissery : the stele in front of the farm of Condé, facing the pond of Rougemont  
In the context of the Liberation in 1944, the leaders of the Armand-Spiritualist resistance network transformed it from a classic action network to a structured military formation. Thus, at the beginning of August, the 1st Paris Franc regiment was born, composed of companies placed under the command of the network's main leaders. A violent confrontation opposed them to the retreating enemy troops on August 26th 1944. The toll was very heavy: 105 people died (or 120 according to the plaques on the monuments). There were also 65 prisoners and missing persons.

Upon arrival in these villages, the sites of the first Battle of the Marl, September 5-10, 1914, are approached.
Barcy remains famous for the battles that took place there during the first Battle of the Marne. The commune is on the front line of the battle and was partially destroyed. The village was used as a starting base for the French lines during the counter-attack of 7 September 1914. Following the wish of Monseigneur Marbeau, Bishop of Meaux, that Meaux should be spared, it was decided to build a memorial, inaugurated in 1924, on the very spot where the German advance was stopped. The building is made of granite and cast iron and represents the Virgin Mary with the inscription "Thou shalt go no further".
It was also in the Barcy Fields that on October 4, 1863 between 8:00 and 9:00 pm, the Giant, Nadar's airship, left the Champs de Mars in Paris at 5:00 pm, in the presence of Emperor Napoleon III, landed. It is also in this plain that the first agricultural tractors were used as early as the Great War.

On 7 September 1914, the Zouaves of the 45th African Division attacked the Germans entrenched above Chambry. The fighting raged on. On the 8 Septembre, the Zouaves reached the cemetery at the exit of the village and, all night long, they pierced the walls to make a line of defence sweeping across the plateau where the Germans had retreated. In the present cemetery you can see part of the western wall of the old cemetery has been preserved with its loopholes. The church was used as a field hospital. The high altar became the operating table and the stretchers for the wounded laid on the pews.  A wood paneling still reads "Bricard Édouard wounded September 9, 1914 Pray for me".

American Monument: This gigantic 26-metre high monument is erected at the exit of Meaux near the Museum of the Great War.
In the United States, the victory of the Marne enthused the many supporters of France. After this victory, the idea of creating a commemorative statue became a reality, a competition on models was organized, the winner was Frederick Mac Monnies. However, it took 14 years before the project was completed and it was not until September 1932 that the American Monument was inaugurated.
In the immediate vicinity, the Great War Museum  
With a collection of nearly 70,000 objects and documents retracing the daily and military life of the war from 1914 to 1918, the Museum allows you to learn more about the First World War, also known as the Total War.
Musée de la Grande Guerre à Meaux

Heading towards the cathedral of Meaux, on Via Columbani, you take the rue Saint-Faron. A Saint-Faron statuette is installed in a niche at the front of a building at the beginning of rue Saint-Faron. It is the site of the former monastery of the Holy Cross founded, around 660 by Saint-Faron, bishop of Meaux. Saint-Faron asked Saint Valbert to send him monks from Luxeuil. The community will live according to the rule of Good Fathers Benedict and Colomban practiced in the monastery founded by Saint Colomban in Luxeuil. This monastery will welcome Irish monks, including the future Saint Fiacre.
After the Revolution, the remains of the abbey were occupied by a hospital. In 2016 archaeological excavations were carried out.

Once reserved for the bishop and canons of the cathedral and their entourage, the Episcopal City boasts a mainly 18th century architecture, but is also decorated with buildings from various periods. The Old Chapter, the Episcopal Palace and the adjoining buildings now house the Maison du Brie de Meaux, the Bossuet Municipal Museum (paintings, sculptures), the Bossuet garden giving access to the old rampart.

Reconstructions and staging will allow you to learn more about the history of this famous cheese. You will discover the different stages of its production, from harvesting the milk to maturing in the cellar. Then you will understand the current challenges of the Brie de Meaux PDO proudly represented by its Brotherhood.

Saint Stephen's Cathedral surprises with its unfinished facade: above the three portals, the upper floor of the high windows leads the eyes to only one tower, in flamboyant style, on the northern side. Despite its 350 years of construction, it is relatively harmonious and its short length (barely 2/3 of that of Paris) is compensated by an impressive rise in all its five ships. It is home to the tomb of Bishop Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet, the "eagle" of Meaux in the 17th century.
More information: Wilkipédia