- Département
- Marne (Grand Est region)
- Site
- Argonne, Biesme valley
- Inhabitants
- 516 (as at 1 January 2023)
- Source
- Wikipedia, eigene Zusammenfassung
A heavily wooded commune in the Argonne in the Marne département, well away from the vineyards. It is best known for the hamlet of La Harazée and the fighting of the First World War.
Location
Vienne-le-Château lies in the north-east of the Marne département, close to the border with the Ardennes and the Meuse. Geographically the commune belongs to the Argonne. On 1 January 2023 it had 516 inhabitants. Administratively it falls under the arrondissement of Châlons-en-Champagne and the canton of Argonne Suippe et Vesle. By road it is 14 kilometres to Sainte-Menehould, 61 kilometres to Châlons-en-Champagne and a good 50 kilometres to Verdun.
Forest instead of vineyards
At 5,136 hectares, Vienne-le-Château is the seventh largest of the 611 communes in the département. The river Biesme divides the territory into two halves. Altitudes range from 121 to 259 metres. To the south lies the Hauts Bâtis state forest, and to the north parts of the Argonne forest adjoin it.
The land use shows what this place is about: around 86 per cent of the area is woodland, with 8 per cent arable land and a good 4 per cent meadows. Vineyards do not appear in these figures at all. You will therefore look in vain for a grand cru or premier cru in Vienne-le-Château. For champagne lovers, it is more of a destination off the well-known wine routes.
In the spring and summer of 1915 there was bitter fighting to the north and east of it.
The village itself lies in the west of the commune in the Biesme valley, with the river running right through it. The commune includes several hamlets:
- La Harazée in the east, where the Ruisseau de la Fontaine aux Charmes flows into the Biesme
- La Renarde in the south-west, on the road to Vienne-la-Ville
- La Placardelle and La Seigneurie in the centre of the commune
La Harazée and the First World War
Historically, it is above all La Harazée that matters, a small hamlet on the western edge of the Argonne forest. In the spring and summer of 1915 there was bitter fighting to the north and east of it. The struggle centred on the deeply cut Biesme valley and the ravine of La Chalade. The French held the valley and the ravine, but suffered heavy losses when they tried to improve their positions to the north. It was only in the autumn of 1918 that American troops pushed the enemy out of the forest.
The place has a firm spot in American history: at the start of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, La Harazée formed the extreme left flank of the US First Army. The 308th Infantry Regiment, which included the "Lost Battalion", also served here. On 2 October 1918 the battalion was surrounded in a ravine, defended itself and was relieved after six days.
What to see
- Church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, dating from 1728, listed as a monument historique since 1974 and 1996 respectively
- Chapel of Saint-Roch from the 17th century
- La Harazée French national cemetery
If you visit the area, it is best to combine the detour with Sainte-Menehould, which is only 14 kilometres away.
Pictures
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