Soissons before and during the war

by Unknown

A carved panel over the doorway represents the King of Spain bidding farewell to the King of France. This doorway leads to a tower of the same period (restored), the upper part of which was struck by a shell.

At n^o 11, in the Rue de Bauton is the Palais-de-Justice, partly destroyed by shell-fire.

On leaving the Rue des Francs-Boisiers (see ruins of burnt houses), follow the Rue de la Congrégation on the right, then the Rue du Commerce (its continuation) as far as the Place Saint-Pierre: on the left are the ruins of the old Church of Saint-Pierre-au-Parvis.

CHURCH OF SAINT-PIERRE-AU-PARVIS.
South façade before the War

The old Church of Saint-Pierre-au-Parvis (Hist. Mon.)

The apse, transept and three bays of the nave of the church, secularized at the time of the Revolution, were pulled down in 1800.

The two remaining bays of the nave were greatly damaged during the war by the explosion of a store of grenades. The roof and most of the vaulting have been destroyed.

CHURCH OF SAINT-PIERRE-AU-PARVIS,
November 1918.