PLACE SAINT-PIERRE
The square is dotted with historic monuments, including the church of Saint-Étienne and the Hôtel de Florainville, Bar-le-Duc's landmark.
Along with the Rue des Ducs, Place Saint-Pierre has existed since the Renaissance, and is home to the largest concentration of townhouses and old mansions. A veritable forum, it was the setting for events that drew large crowds. The great tournament of 1559, for example, celebrated the visit of King Francis II, accompanied by his wife, Marie Stuart, and the Queen Mother, Catherine de Médicis. Another important date: in 1564, Charles IX and his court, including the poet Pierre de Ronsard, stayed in the ducal town. Place Saint-Pierre is dotted with historic monuments: the flamboyant Gothic church of Saint-Étienne; the prison, built in place of the former Carmes convent (1633-1792); and the 17th-century Hôtel de Florainville, with its Alsatian-style facade. The latter, acquired by the town in 1752, has housed the Cour d'Assise de la Meuse since 1949. Marie-Antoinette of Austria, future Queen of France, stayed here on May 10, 1770, just before her marriage to the Dauphin Louis. At no. 25, a superb medieval half-timbered house with corbelled balcony. Finally, at no. 29, a 17th-century facade with classical decor, typical of Barisian architecture, windows surrounded by pilasters and topped by a scrolled pediment. At the heart of the city, Place Saint-Pierre remains Bar-le-Duc's most emblematic site. Its terraces, its restaurants and its comings and goings. The Halle block is currently being restored. A large-scale project that will enhance the upper town.
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