In the heart of the region known as Le Vallage, Joinville is a historic town with a rich past and a heritage that is still considerable. Little is known about the site before the first millennium: the first castle was built by Etienne de Joinville in 1020. He gave importance to this wooden tower, as the lords of Joinville quickly became famous. Seneschaux of Champagne, admitted to the court, they accompanied the king on the Crusades, which led to other titles and other rewards that can still be read on the coat of arms (in particular a lion Gules granted by Richard the Lionheart). Among these lords, the most famous was Jean de Joinville (1224-1317), who died almost a hundred years ago having written the chronicle of his time and his kings. The favorite hagiographer of Saint Louis lived in Joinville until his departure on crusade in 1248. It was not until he was 80 years old that, gathering his memories, he wrote the Book of the Holy Words and Good Deeds of our King Saint Louis. His statue can be found at the entrance of the town. Let all those who have the almost pious image of St. Louis rendering justice at the foot of an oak tree know that this representation is due only to the pen of the good Jehan de Joinville: "Many times it happened that in summer he went to sit at the Bois de Vincennes after his mass. He would lean against an oak tree and make us sit around him. And all those who had business came to talk to him, without hindrance from a bailiff or other people. "After the destruction of the town in 1544 by the troops of Charles V who had failed in Saint-Dizier, it was not Joinville or Vitry, but the Dukes of Guise, heirs of the barony, who carried out the reconstruction work, in the person of Claude de Lorraine, who had settled in Joinville with his wife Antoinette de Bourbon. The castle was built, but also the audience. The church received a new portal. With the fall of Les Guise in 1588, with the assassination of Henri le Balafré, the town experienced a certain decline. It passed into the hands of the Orléans family. The last prince of Joinville was Louis-Philippe's own son, François-Ferdinand: he founded Joinville-le-Pont, near Paris and the city of Joinville in Brazil. On Rue Saint-Jacques, a plaque indicates the birthplace of Guyot des Herbiers, who would probably remain anonymous despite his talents as a writer if he had not been the grandfather of Alfred de Musset. On the site of the former "château d'en haut", of which only the foundations remain, the view encompasses the valley and the town. One refreshes oneself on the Quai des Peceaux, enjoying a beautiful panorama. You can take advantage of the reductions offered by the Pass'Tourisme to be collected from your accommodation provider or from the sites. This year, Joinville will be celebrating the Renaissance on June 29th and 30th and July 1st, an event that is not to be missed!
