THE ABBEY-CHURCH OF NOTRE-DAME

Notre-Dame reminds us that Mouzon was very important because of its position as a border city. Imagine, in 971, the city already had three churches! It was built in late th century in order to welcome the pilgrims, an increasing number of them, who came to pray for the relics of Saint Arnould, Saint Victor and St. Suzanne. This former Benedictine abbey has the appearance of a cathedral. Its proportions are impressive: 65 m long, its nave is 17 m wide, the two towers are high 32 m high and two arrows peak at 52 meters. The Mouzonnais like to say that the abbey then throws its arrows to God. Our Lady is the most beautiful and complete religious edifice of the past that is preserved in the department. During the French Revolution, monks were hunted and the abbey was sold. It will be restored by Boeswillwald, student of Viollet-le-Duc. It becomes a civilian hospice, where gardens are grown for the food of the sick, and now houses a retirement home. The church, the organs and the abbey are classified as historic monuments. The Orgues organs, remarkable pieces, date back to 1725 and give rise to numerous concerts.