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Sézanne and Mondement.






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Presentation of the French association


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Holbeach and Spalding


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Sézanne and Mondement



Belonging to the Grand-Est area, Sézanne and Mondement are located in the Marne department, 120 km east from Paris.
Small town with a population of just over 5,000, Sézanne is a rural town. Agriculture and viticulture contribute to the image of the city, vineyards, cereal crops and beetroot, creating a hilly and colorful landscape with emerald green, gold and light ocher. Although Sézanne is a small town in the countryside, its economy is based essentially on a strong industrial center, as well as on shops, services and diversified craft industry. It includes the world's oldest ophthalmic optics factory. At last, the old part of Sezanne tightens around his church, and snuggles in the green belt of the "mails" whose names writes the history of the city. Ancient fortifications from the Middle Ages, which were filled at the end of the XVIIIth century these "mails" became a place of walk very appreciated in the heart of the city. Carte de France
Carte de France

Carte de la Marne
Carte de la Marne

The town of Mondement, with only 41 inhabitants, is known for the battle that took place there in September 1914. It was an important episode of the first battle of the Marne commemorated by a gigantic milstone designed by the architect Paul Bigot and high of 35.5 meters. Located on a hill close to the village between the church and the castle (battle site), it dominates the marshes of Saint-Gond, and was a strategic point that locked the passage to Paris coming from the south. This monument build with salmon pink concrete is decorated with figures due to the chisel of the sculptor Henri Bouchard. Mondement also has a Museum of History which is located in the former communal school and recalls these fights. Desroches family, who is at the origin of the twinning and owner of the castle, maintains an important archive fonds dedicated to the history of the castle during WWI. At last, the cemetery around the church hosts a military square.



Sézanne
Sézanne: view of Broyes suburb
Sézanne
Sézanne: The République Square and church
Some pictures of Sézanne and Mondement.
click on framed thumbnails
Mondement
Mondement: the castle
Sézanne
Sézanne: Nun "mail" (mail des religieuses)
Sézanne
Sézanne: The covered market (halle)
Mondement
Mondement: The WWI Memorial