Looking down over city of Chateau-Thierry from heights of old chateau, belfry tower of Hotel de Ville (city hall) in foreground

Looking down over city of Chateau-Thierry from heights of old chateau, belfry tower of Hotel de Ville (city hall) in foreground

Looking down over city of Chateau-Thierry from heights of the old chateau, belfry tower of Hotel de Ville (city hall) in foreground

18716

The land shown in the picture has long been the site of a town. Originally it was a Roman camp, but in 730 a castle was built here by Charles Martel. Most medieval towns and cities began as little groups of houses in the shelter of some castle. By the end of the eleventh century the town which had grown up under the shadow of this castle was considered important enough to be surrounded by a, wall. In 1520 the burgesses of the town received permission from Francis I to establish a cloth and leather fair, which was famous for many years. According to some accounts Charles Martel built his castle for the Frankish king Thierry IV, hence the name Chateau- Thierry. The ruins of the castle were still there at the beginning of the great European war. This castle is not, however, the "old chateau" referred to in the title of this picture. The town is built on rising ground. This view was taken from the heights of the old chateau, looking down on the clustering houses of the lower ground. German guns were, for a time, placed near the spot where the photographer stood when he took the picture. The tall spire in the foreground crowns the Hotel de Ville, or City Hall. The Main straight road stretching out towards the hills goes to the villages of Nel and Nogerite. This was the road on which the Americans and French came to Chateau-Thierry to defeat the Hun.

1 stereograph : b&w

1 gelatine silver print stereograph (8 x 15 cm) mounted on card (9 x 18 cm)

Copyright. The Keystone View Company

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World War through the stereoscope