THE ELECTRICITY POWER STATION EDF
Producing hydraulic electricity
Since 1976 when it was brought into service, the Energy Transfer Pumping station at Revin- Saint- Nicolas has produced clean, renewable energy. High perfomance and adaptability typify this station which, in two minutes, on the instructions of the main power station at Nancy, can provide to the High Tension Grid 800MW should a conventional power station break down. The Hydraulic Power Station EDF at Revin- Saint- Nicolas (G.E.H) relies on the professionalism of its 36 employees and maintenance engineers to constantly improve the adaptation of the power produced to the needs of its clients. It thus contributes to the production of high quality energy as a public service.
If you wish to visit the inderground hydraulic facility please contact :
EDF ENERGIE Lorraine Champagne- Ardenne
Groupe d’exploitation Hydraulique de Revin- Saint- Nicolas
BP37
08501 REVIN Cedex
Phone : 03.24.41.57.27
Fax : 03.24.40.11.21
This visit is impossible at the minute due to anti-terrorist measures of security.
The Chapel Saint-Eloi
It was the Faure family , industrialists of Revin, who had built the areas which bear their name since 1930 5 by agreement with the town council on 19/07/1930. The work was completed by the building of a chapel in 1936. The chapel was built in two stages : first the present part and the two rooms on either side, and then, using the roof timbers from a dismantled factory in la Petite commune, the main part of the chapel where services are held today was built. The Faure family donated the chapel to the diocese at the nominal price of one franc.
The Chapel Sainte-Anne
Saint Anne’s chapel is very old and situated at the top of la Vau (rue Emilie Zola) in the centre of town. You can see its well-preserved altar. Above the door there existed an inscription “Saint-Anne” followed by “Anne Catherine Darche, daughter of Guillaume Darche and Marie Barbe Baudet » .
She suffered throughout her life. Formely girls in search of a husband used to pray to her ("Bonne Sainte Anne dol vau ?"; "C'est s't'in galant qui m'faut").
The Church of the Convent of the Dominicans
The church was built at the very beginning of the 18th century. After the French revolution in 1792 and after the departure of the Dominicans it became the parish church, whilst the former church, in the centre of the cemetery was abandoned, partly because of its remoteness and also because of its dilapidated state. The roof and the steeple were destroyed due to a fire which devastated the convent almost entirely on the night of 10 may 1886. The works of art which decorated the interior fortunately remained untouched. During the restoration, the steeple which surmounted the façade, was replaced by a bell tower, above the chancel on the right of the building. One of the most famous monks was Charles René Billuard whose statue is to be found inside the church. The church became a listed monument (ISMH) on the 18th October 1926. Inside the pulpit was listed on 30 September 1911 and the two confessionals of carved oak were listed on 31 July 1970. All this contributes to the richness of our heritage.
Gallery of Contemporary Art
Situated in the park Maurice Rocheteau, the gallery of Contemporary Art holds different exhibitions of the latest works of amateur artists, both French and foreign. There is a permanent exhibition of the work of the painter CESARI. The gallery is open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 14.00 to 18.00
For further information :
Association Ardenne EIFEL
Mr René SERVAN
Residance Arduinna
08000 CHARLEVILLE MEZIERES
Phone : 03.24.56.20.53
Le Site des Dames de Meuse
The Maison Espagnole and the Museum
The Mont Malgré-Tout and its viewing points
The Mont Malgré-Tout, 450m high, inspired George Sand by its beauty who used it as the setting for a novel entitled “Malgré-Tout” there also is a monument to the massacre of the resistance fighters on the plateau of Les Manises. If you follow the ramblers paths “chemin des chasseurs” or “boucle des dames de meuses” you will come to the plateau at a spot where there are some isolated buildings including the Auberge ferme du Malgré-tout. From time immemorial small areas have been cleared of undergrowth to form pastures : Pours et Rayîvies. In about 1760 the owner of one of these pastures had wanted to build a house there for a long time but was always blocked by the forestry authorities. He was obstinate and said “Let them try and stop me!. In spite of them I will build my house. “ One fine morning there appeared a house, built and inhabited where, the previous evening there had been nothing. The man had constructed a pre-fabricated house at home in secret and in one night, helped by his friends, had transported it to the site and built it. Malgré-tout (in spite of everything) he had built his house and the name stuck. Numerous viewing points exist in revin, the best of which are to be found on the Mont Malgré-tout :
- La Vue de la Faligeotte
- Le Monument du maquis
- La vue du rocher des minches
THE MONUMENT TO THE DEAD OF THE MAQUIS DES MANISES
AND THE CALVARY OF THE MANISES
On 13th June 1944, as the second world war was entering its final phase, 106 maquisards (resistance fighters) of the group Maquis des Manises who were mostly young men from Revin and those who were escaping from forced labour for the enemy (Service Du Travail Obligatoire ) were massacred by the SS on the summit of Mont Malgré-Tout, at a point called Le Père des Chênes. Every year on 13th June the local population and various dignitaries assemble around the Calvary des Manises, in the clearing of Le Père des Chênes, for a commemorative ceremony and them, on the way back to Revin, pause to lay wreaths at the foot of the Monument du Maquis, erected on the slopes of the Mont Malgré tout. This monument, which measures 12 metres long by 6 metres high, is the work of the sculptor Henri Louis.
It was constructed at the end the second world war and was inaugurated on 27 June 1948. This ceremony took place in the presence of numerous dignitaries including Vincent Auriol, President of the Republic, accompanied by Mr François Mitterand At that time Minister for former servicemen.
link le maquis des manises
THE PARC ROCHETEAU
THE STELE GEORGE SAND
The stele has been erected on « l’herbe », the grassy area at the edge of the forest covering the slopes of Malgré-Tout. It was built thanks to the support of the town Council and the Society of Writers of the Ardennes and inaugurated on 31 May 1953, in the presence of André Maurois, Member of the French Academy and biographer of George Sand.
Monday 20 September 1869 : “Good night at Charleville – a little short. I am going to bed at 1am and get up at 6. It doesn’t matter, I feel as fit as a fiddle. The weather looks bad but is clearing . Went by rail, got off at Deville. Took the boat and went dozn the Meuse, water clear and rapid as far as Laifour where we ordered lunch in a house made of mica schiste, though toto didn’t like the look of it. Went by boat again to the Dames de Meuse where we landed in order to walk a little. What a lovely spot!
It’s a paradise! We went back boat to the house made of mica schiste which was very clean and where we had a very good lunch. Fresh fish, game, delicious butter, fresh bread, all very good. We crossed the Meuse again by boat to take the train. A little station, well situated , where the station master was typical of his kind. We are going to spend the night at Givet.
Tuesday 21 September 1869
Yesterday evening after having passed through Revin and Fumay in the rain, we found the best bed and breakfast at Givet and it wasn’t expensive –Hotel du Mondor- I must remenber it. Went to sleep quickly and slept well. Toto was ill in the night; his mother didn’t sleep and they cant go on. George Sand.
OLD REVIN
(according to the book “ LE VIEUX REVIN – guide du Promeneur “by the collège Briand)
Numerous traces of the past can be discovered as you wander through the streets of old Revin. You will particularly appreciate la Maison Espagnole ( The Spanish House) , the church, the Chapelle Sainte-Anne but also :
- la Pompe Lavoye – a public fountain bearing the name of the Bourgomaster who had it built during his mandate just before the revolution in 1789.
- The chateau des Hirondelles ( Castle of the Swallows) which was a refuge from 1685 to 1688 for the French protestants who had to flee after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV.
- The former Convent of the Dominicans (partially destroyed by fire in 1886)
- The former 19th century town hall with its square tower and, after the porch, the motif of the ancient armes of the town (two concentric circles)
- The sacristy of the former parish church which is situated in the cemetery – the ruelle des prêcheurs where in times gone by during Lent the preaching friars lodged. In the old quarters of the town some houses dated from the 17th and 18th centuries have beams, whose iron fixtures bear the date of construction.
For further information , this walk is indicated in the guide to town walks : “le pays de Revin” which is available at the office of tourism or in bookshops at a price of 5.34€.
THE VOUTE
The tunnel goes from the level crossing on the way to Orzy to the lock in the direction of Fumay. Its construction began in 1870 and terminated in 1876.
The underground waterway measures 224.50 metres and has a waiting bay atone end and another downstream which is upstream of the lock. Underground canal is 7.92 metres high and has a radius of 8.85 metres, constructed of rock and bricks. The entrance and the exit are controlled by traffic lights. The underground Passagewayis equipped with a detector and is controlled by an amployee who may be alerted by automatic cameras at each end or by telephone.THE BANKS OF THE MEUSE
These areas comprise :
- The part between the Meuse and the CD n°1 (inclusive), stretching from the last houses in Revin to the Roche Taillée.
- The part beteen the Meuse and the limit of the commune of Revin and the communes of Les Mazures and Rocroi, including the Roche Taillée as far as the point where the limit of the commune of Revin and the commune of Rocroi join the Meuse.
The site was listed on 9 June 1937.