Braine

Braine, close to Soissons, between Laon and Château-Thierry, is located on the royal roads which the Kings of France borrowed to be crowned there, and where passed Jeanne d' Arc. In a green small valley dug in the plate which dominates the Valley of Aisne, BRAINE draws up its abbey church of XII century at the edge of Vesle, vis-a-vis the plain.

Initially called Brennacum, Braine lost this notoriety to gain some another, Brennos, Celtic name of the corbel which became BRAINE thereafter, indicated Gallic with the particularly black hair which transmitted its name to the locality.

In homage, a corbel on gold field appears still today in the armorial bearings of the city. This city, in charge of ravaged history by the First World War, still reveals many sites to be discovered.

From the old place of the Market (aujourd' today Charles de Gaulle Place), accessible, bordered an old Relay of station, Houses Jardel (XVII) and Small of Champlain, the visitor can leave to discover a laundrette and the site of two mills (casements).

Abbey House with its immense park and its dependences, towards the street of the Ramparts where fleet still a medieval perfume, Jeu de Paume and the Public garden invite to a halt.

Hills (Wood of the Madness or Rock), pretty point of view on the city allowing to admire in addition to the Gothic jewel, old constructions and the bright recent houses of light.

The Town hall and its bell-tower (18th century): rebuilt starting from l' old audience where the baillif returned justice; it kept at the ground floor its two dungeons behind a door carries of wood provided a judas. The abbey church Saint-Yved (Historic building) built between 1180 and 1216, order of Agnes de Baudement (wife of Robert 1st of Dreux) it was the necropolis of the Bourbon-Dreux family.

Marked by the vicissitudes of the history, it however testifies still to the first ages of the Gothic. The tympanum of the central gate, which could be saved, was reconstituted with the reverses of the current frontage. Deprived of 4 spans, the nave with triple rise s' links with the transept by a remarkable turn-lantern raising with 33 meters. Flanked pinions of buttresses of the angle decorated with pinnacles, painted statues of wood, stained glasses, reliquaries

The half-timbered house and corbelling (XV) Charles de Gaulle place surmounted of a turret with stone roof kept its beautiful carriage door (Historic building).

The old people's home (XIII): this old old people's home of Bénédictines which was a convent before d' to be also a boarding school of young girls, sheltered successively the revolutionary companies, the gendarmerie, a national stud farm. The remarkable stables, rebuilt under Napoleon III, are always visible.

The castle of the Madness

Built fine of XII century, exclusively defensive fortress since the Lords of Braine always resided in the Castle of Bottom. It was dismantled in XV, but its imposing ruins were not destroyed during the First World War.

Danish and French military cemeteries

BRAINE, city of the Sundials (a score currently): since 1997, many dials were installed in various places, in particular with the Roundabout of the Three Dials, the Southerner, the vertical ones declining of the morning and thz afternoon surmounted by the blazons in mosaic of the 3 twin towns.