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Mirecourt,
a town more than 1000 years old |
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Mirecourt, was founded during the first millennium, the property of
the Counts of Toul, then during the 13th century owned by the Duke
of Lorraine who granted its freedom. Mirecourt, headquarters of the
important "bailiwick of Vôge", was above all a major trading town.
Gifted with very original crafts - stringed-instrument making, organ
making, lace - the town was one of the richest in Lorraine. Then an
independent state (until 1766), Mirecourt has preserved its fine architectural
heritage from this time: the Oultre chapel (11th, 14th century), the
covered market (1617) of Lorraine Renaissance style, the facades of
the former merchants' houses, the church" Notre Dame en sa nativité"
(14th, 17th century) with baptismal fonts (1609) unique in France.
There are also the fine 18th and 19th century private hotels.
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Poussay
: One kilometre north of Mirecourt, this pretty terraced
village overlooks the valley of the Madon. It was founded
by a bishop of Toul around a Benedictine abbey and consecrated
by Saint Léon IX. To be seen on the top square is the listed
12th century well 33 metres deep, a 19th century water-powered
sawmill near Charmes. One of the largest national fairs, dating
from 1598, takes place each year at the end of October.
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| Mattaincourt
: Two kilometres south of Mirecourt. It is on the tomb of Saint-Pierre
Fourier that was constructed one of the biggest neogothic regional
basilicas of the 19th century. To be discovered are the chapel
of "relics", the splendid stained glass windows of Gabriel Loire
(Chartres) and, inside on the right, the interesting museum
of St Pierre Fourier; not to be missed… |
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