In the Meurthe Valley, between the municipalities of Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Michel-sur-Meurthe, lies Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. This area is home to the Claude et Duval factory, a listed Historic Monument since 1988 that is remarkable for being the only industrial building designed by the famous architect Le Corbusier.
Among its tourist attractions is a beautiful cathedral made of pink sandstone from Vosges, boasting contemporary stained glass windows and a Gothic cloister, the former collegiate church of the canonesses that became a cathedral in the 18th century; the Liberty Tower, an original building made of steel, cables and glass, designed to commemorate the bicentenary of the French Revolution and inaugurated at the Tuileries Garden in Paris; the Church of St. Martin, in the Neo-Romanesque style; the Church of Our Lady of Galilee and its porch bell tower; the beautiful gardens of Callunes and more.
For young ones and all model railway fans, the Trainland museum is a captivating place about train history that even has a play area. Also worth visiting is the Celtic Camp of La Bure, considered to be the second biggest archaeological site in the department of Vosges after the one in Grand. There is also a lovely family museum, the Pierre-Noël Museum, which covers many topics including life in Hautes-Vosges, along with a section devoted to Jules Ferry, who was born in the town.
Dates for your diary: every year in early October, Saint-Dié hosts the International Geography Festival. The Vautrin-Lud Prize, regarded as the Nobel Prize of Geography, is awarded there. The Drop'n Rock festival takes place in summer, in June or July.
Saint-Dié until 1999, Saint-Dié-des-Vosges takes place in the region Grand East, in the department of Vosges. Near the Meurthe, the town is located on the first hills of the Ormon, not far from Nayemont-les-Fosses.
The city of Saint-Dié-des-Vosges was created between the XIIth and the XIIIth century, following an association between the Duke of Lorraine and the collegiate already in place. Following a major fire in the middle of the 18th century, the city center was largely rebuilt under the authority of the Duke of Lorraine Stanislas. Great industrial center during the nineteenth century, the municipality is today known for its tourist aspect.
In addition to an important historical heritage, the commune of Vosges is also known for its great cultural activity which is found through various events organized throughout the year. Saint-Dié-des-Vosges was also labeled Tourist resort in the late 1990s.
The cathedral complex is today the most visited tourist site in Saint-Dié-les-Vosges. It harmoniously blends medieval, Renaissance and classical styles through pink sandstone monuments. You can thus admire the cathedral, the Notre-Dame-de-Galilée church, and finally the cloister. Listed as a Historic Monument, this architectural complex has been destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries, notably following the attacks of 1944. The cathedral was however rebuilt identically and again consecrated in 1974. In the 1980s, non-figurative stained glass windows featuring the designs of great contemporary artists have been added. On the forecourt, a hundred-year-old lime tree stands proudly. The cloister, the largest in all of eastern France, is a Gothic building. Rebuilt in the middle of the 15th century, it previously housed many gargoyles. The Notre-Dame-de-Galilée church, meanwhile, is quite modest in size. A former church reserved for ecclesiastics and distinguished guests, it dates from the middle of the 12th century. In particular, you can discover stained glass windows of Cistercian inspiration from the second half of the 20th century, as well as statues of contemporary art.
Built in the 15th century, the chapel of Petit-Saint-Dié takes place at the very place where Saint Dié found refuge in 660. Not far away, one can discover two fountains of ferruginous water which gave rise to a thermal exploitation next to the station.
The second largest tourist site in the Vosges department, the Celtic camp of La Bure is a high fortified site inhabited from the 1st century BC to the 4th century AD. It is accessible via several marked hiking trails, and a large part of the objects found on site are now on display at the Pierre-Noël museum. The latter, labeled Museum of France, presents in addition to its Gallo-Roman collections, various works of art such as tapestries by Jean Lurçat, or even military collections, decorative art objects, as well as a whole room dedicated to Jules Ferry and his family.
Since the 12th century, the Saint-Roch chapel has welcomed plague victims passing through the region. Today, you can admire a very beautiful altarpiece of the Assumption dating from the beginning of the 17th century. Rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century, the Saint-Martin church is also not lacking in interest with its neo-Romanesque style and its stained glass windows illustrating the life of its patron saint. The town of Saint-Dié-des-Vosges also has a synagogue, as well as a temple built in the mid-19th century.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Claude and Duval factory is the only industrial building built by the famous architect, Le Corbusier.
The Tour de la Liberté now houses an exhibition space, as well as the Georges Braque museum. The latter unveils beautiful collections of jewelry, sculptures and ceramics made by the artist himself. Originally, the building was an ephemeral space installed in Paris during the bicentenary of the French Revolution.
The market is held on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The city also offers a Christmas market in December, including a parade of St. Nicholas.
In the first week of October, the city hosts the International Geography Festival, which is awarded the equivalent of a Nobel Prize in Geography, the Vautrin-Lud Prize.
In June or July according to dates, the Drop'n Rock festival sets its suitcases at Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. For the occasion, pop-rock concerts are proposed.
