Bazeilles: Places of Remembrance and Architecture

Bazeilles lies at the mouth of a broad valley formed by the Meuse and its tributaries, the Chiers and the Givonne, on the edge of the Ardennes Forest. For a history-focused trip, places of remembrance from 1870, a museum and historic buildings offer different perspectives on the town. If you are looking for hotels in Bazeilles, this overview can help you decide what you want to focus on and plan your stay.

Places of Remembrance and the Musée de la dernière cartouche

The Musée de la dernière cartouche is housed in the former Auberge Bourgerie. Its permanent exhibition focuses on the painting “La dernière cartouche,” created by Alphonse de Neuville in 1873. Other exhibits include firearms, edged weapons, helmets, equipment and keepsakes recovered from the battlefield. They give the history a tangible form, rather than conveying it solely through dates.

A special part of the museum visit is the preserved room from which the famous “last shot” was fired. The room has been kept in its original condition. The painting, equipment and preserved setting highlight different aspects: artistic representation, material evidence and a specific place of remembrance.

The Ossuaire militaire de 1870 preserves the remains of 998 French and 1,061 Bavarian soldiers killed on 31 August and 1 September 1870. The Croix de Mac-Mahon marks the place where Marshal Mac-Mahon was wounded during the fighting on 1 September 1870. Both sites relate to the same battles, but commemorate their consequences in different ways.

To access the crypt of the Ossuaire militaire de 1870, you must request the key at the Musée de la dernière cartouche. As this access procedure may change, check it before your visit. This lets you take this practical detail into account when planning, without confusing it with general opening hours.

Church and Preserved Castle Remains

The Église Saint-Martin is Neo-Gothic and was inaugurated on 28 April 1904. Its stained-glass windows depict episodes from the lives of Saint Martin and Saint Louis. Another window pays tribute to the soldiers who fell defending Bazeilles in 1870. Architecture and remembrance come together here in a different setting from the museum or the Ossuaire.

The surviving remains of the Château de Turenne include a drawbridge, an ornate gate, a gallery with seven arches, two gardens surrounded by moats, and a wall with 17 loopholes. The château’s portal is listed in the supplementary register of historic monuments. The château is privately owned and can be seen from the outside. If you are considering a visit, check the access conditions on site.

Landscape and Nature

Alongside its historic buildings, Bazeilles’ location on the edge of the Ardennes Forest shapes the townscape. Its connection to protected habitats is also clearly identified: Bazeilles is one of the communes that includes the ZNIEFF Type 1 site “Forêt domaniale de Sedan et bois associés au nord de Pourru-aux-Bois et de Francheval.” The area is designated as a Special Protection Area under the Birds Directive. The ZNIEFF comprises forest and wetland habitats of ecological interest for regionally protected plants as well as birds, amphibians, mammals and dragonflies.

Those interested in fishing will find another specific connection to nature: the AAPPMA “La Fraternelle” de Bazeilles lists public stretches of the Meuse, the Remilly diversion canal and the Ennemane, as well as a private stretch of the Givonne, as fishing waters. Check access conditions and applicable fishing regulations before making plans. The distinction between public and private stretches is important.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Hargnies, Aiglemont, Haybes, Fagnon, Donchery, Clémency, Girondelle, Douzy.

For the broader travel overview: Ardennes.