PLACE REGGIO AND THE UPPER TOWN
The upper town is the most interesting part of Bar-le-Duc.
The two photographs on this page show it as it appears from the lower town.
Motors can reach it easily by following the Boulevard de la Rochelle, then taking, on the right, the Rue Lapique, which passes before the town-hall and leads to the Avenue du Château.
At the top of this avenue after passing, on the left, the Romanesque entrance to the old ducal castle (reached by about twenty steps) by turning to the right one can follow on foot the Rue Gilles-de-Trèves for about one hundred yards, as far as the ancient college of the same name, which is classed as an historical monument. It has an interesting Renaissance front looking on to the courtyard.
Return to the Avenue du Château, which is continued on the left by the Rue du Baile. It is from there that the photographs on p. [242] were taken, the one looking towards the lower town, along the castle walls, the other towards Old Bar.
At the end of the Rue du Baile, on the left is the Clock Tower shown in the photograph on p. [243].
RUE ROUSSEAU AND THE UPPER TOWN
Pedestrians need not follow the above itinerary, but can gain the Clock Tower directly by taking the Rue d'Entre-deux-Ponts and the Rue Rousseau, visible in the foreground of the photo on p. [241]. The Rue Rousseau after skirting the Place Reggio (see page [241]), crosses the Canal des Usines. In doing so, the little Church of Saint-Anthony may be seen astride the canal. It dates from the fourteenth century. Turn next to the left into the Rue Oudinot. After about 200 yards, take on the left the Rue Saint-Antoine as far as the bridge over the Canal des Usines, from whence there is a picturesque view of the old houses which throng this narrow stream of water. We retrace our steps and go beyond the Rue Rousseau in order to take the Rue de l'Horloge on the left. This street mounts to the upper town and passes at the foot of the Clock Tower. One rejoins the latter by means of a stair, the beginning of which is seen on the left in the photo at the top of page [243]. The fourteenth century Clock Tower is all that remains of the fortifications of Bar, which, as we have seen on p. [238], were destroyed by order of Louis XIV. in 1670. From the top of the stair, to the left of the tower, there is a fine view of the lower town and of the valley. The photo at the foot of p. [243] was taken from this spot. If one wishes to climb the tower, the guardian must be consulted. Turn to the right on leaving the Clock Tower, in order to reach the Castle Esplanade, which is planted with ancient trees. From this point there is a view of another part of Bar-le-Duc (see photo p. [244]).