The Church of St. Brice was almost entirely destroyed. In style, it is Romanesque, with Renaissance doorway and aisles. The door of the west front contains interesting carvings—unhappily much mutilated.
Return by the same way to the cross-roads in front of the bridge over the Vesle, turn to the right, then, about 150 yards further on, to the left. Continue straight ahead, cross the railway (l.c.) and follow the railway on the left.
About half a mile further on an avenue on the right leads to the Château de la Malle. Both the castle and grounds were badly damaged by the bombardment.
Standing in the park with magnificent avenues of beech-trees, the castle is one of the most ancient manors in the vicinity of Rheims. It was rebuilt in one storey at the beginning of the 14th century on the old foundations. The decoration of the interior (Louis XVI.) is interesting. The drawing-room has retained its old wainscoting and paintings. A carved shield bearing the arms of the Cauchon family, a member of which, the Bishop of Beauvais, sided with the English and the Duke of Burgundy against the Dauphin of France and Joan of Arc during the Hundred Years' War, is still to be seen over a door of one of the out-buildings.
Return by the same road to the Vesle. Cross the river and follow it (as per Itinerary, p. [134]), to the village of Champigny.
Cross straight through the village by the main street, at the end of which stands the church in a narrow by-street near the entrance to a park (photo, p. [136]).
The little church of St. Theodule is 12th century, except the wooden belfry, which was modern. The belfry and roof were destroyed.
MERFY CASTLE, CONVERTED BY THE GERMANS INTO A BLOCKHOUSE
General Foch had his Headquarters there in 1914.
On leaving the village, go straight ahead. The road (G.C. 75) follows the railway on the left. Cross the railway (l.c.). The road passes along the marshy valley of the Vesle, then rises towards the St. Thierry Heights.