Discover Choloy-Ménillot

Choloy-Ménillot can be explored from several perspectives: military remembrance, architectural history, a Natura 2000 habitat, and the wines of the Château de Choloy estate. When planning your trip, it is helpful to distinguish between these themes. The Nécropole commemorates a specific historical event; the château and church can be understood through their construction phases. The natural environment and wine offer further, distinct interests. This allows you to choose the focus that best suits your idea of a stay.

Memorial site and château history

The Nécropole nationale de Choloy-Ménillot was established in 1914 for soldiers who died of their wounds while being treated in medical units in the Toul area. Almost 2,000 French soldiers are buried there, along with soldiers of Russian, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, and British nationality. The founding year and medical context place the site in its historical setting; the nationalities mentioned show that its remembrance extends beyond French soldiers. You can visit the Nécropole year-round on a self-guided basis. Check the visiting conditions again before you travel.

The Château de Choloy was built at the beginning of the 19th century in a style inspired by Italian architecture. It is protected as a historic monument. The protection covers the château’s façades and roofs and those of its outbuildings, selected interior features and staircases in the main building, and the entire garden, including its architectural features. The park is characterized by long avenues and a pond. Thus, in addition to its architectural history, the grounds and their built features are also noteworthy aspects of the Château.

Church and natural environment

The Church of Saint John the Baptist in Choloy retains a modified Romanesque bell tower dating from the 12th century; its nave was rebuilt in 1771. Two clearly distinct construction phases can therefore be seen in the church. By contrast, the Château de Choloy was built at the beginning of the 19th century. Those interested in architecture can place these different periods in context through specific buildings, without conflating them into a single date of construction.

The natural environment adds a distinct dimension. The Pelouses du Toulois Natura 2000 site includes Choloy-Ménillot and comprises dry limestone grasslands rich in orchids. These characteristics describe a particular habitat and offer a different focus from the area’s architectural and commemorative history. If you would like to include nature in your travel plans alongside historical themes, the site offers a point of interest in its own right.

Wine from the Côtes de Toul

The Château de Choloy estate offers wines representing the full range of the Côtes de Toul. This links the wine experience to a specifically named estate and a particular regional origin. For wine enthusiasts, this offers a different way to explore the Château than its architecture: the focus here is on the wines and their place in the Côtes de Toul.

The historical reference points also span different periods: the bell tower dates from the 12th century, the nave was rebuilt in 1771, the Château was built at the beginning of the 19th century, and the Nécropole was established in 1914. This comparison helps distinguish the architectural history of the church and château from the military remembrance represented by the Nécropole.

Discover more destinations: Jarny, Ancy-Sur-Moselle, Laxou, Dommartin-sous-Amance, Maizières, Saxon-Sion, Franconville, Saint-Nicolas-De-Port.

See the full travel guide: Meurthe-Et-Moselle.