Cléry-Le-Grand: Mill History, Church and Memorial Sites

Cléry-le-Grand brings together a history of milling, a church with several building phases, First World War memorial sites and the Ciel de Meuse: Portes d’Argonne cycling route. Each theme has a different focus: at the Ancien moulin, the former use of water power takes centre stage; at the Église Saint-Laurent, the sequence of historical building phases; and at the monuments, remembrance of the First World War. This gives you concrete points of reference for your trip planning, helping you view cultural history and the cycling route as separate interests at your destination. While the church brings together several building phases, the history of milling explains how the millstones were once powered; the monuments offer a distinct historical focus.

Cycling route and ratings by bicycle type

The Ciel de Meuse: Portes d’Argonne cycling route leads to the entrance to Cléry-le-Grand and then turns towards Aincreville. The route page was updated on 23 December 2024. It rates the route as easy for road bikes, very easy for electric bikes and easy for VTC bikes. In direct comparison, road bikes and VTC bikes share an easy rating; electric bikes are rated separately as very easy. This makes it possible to distinguish the ratings provided for each type of bicycle.

Ancien moulin: water as a source of power

The Ancien moulin was built in the 19th century as a grain mill. Its millstones were powered by a waterwheel driven by the current of the Andon. The Andon set the waterwheel in motion, and the waterwheel drove the millstones. The mill itself has disappeared; its sluices remain and are still used, depending on the water flow. The history of milling therefore brings two aspects together: the former grinding of grain and the continued use, when conditions allow, of the surviving sluices.

Église Saint-Laurent and its building phases

The Église Saint-Laurent is a former castle chapel dating from the 12th century. It was remodelled in the 16th century; the present-day choir dates from the 19th century. These details refer to different points in the building’s history: its former function as a castle chapel, a remodelling and the present-day choir. They therefore do not give a single construction date for the entire church. When considering its historical development, you can read these three references as separate points in time, rather than applying the most recent date to the whole building.

First World War memorial sites

The Monument aux morts is an obelisk topped by a sky-blue-painted bust of a Poilu. The Stèle du capitaine Harris, guerre 14-18 was erected in 1925 from granite, near the place where Charles Dashiell Harris fell and along the road from Cléry-le-Grand to Cunel. Harris was mortally wounded on 20 October 1918 in a trench in the Bois des Clairs-Chênes, within the territory of Cléry-le-Grand. The dates refer to different events: 1918 marks the wounding, and 1925 the erection of the stele. Together, the name, place and date give the memorial site a concrete connection to the history of the commune.

Discover more destinations: Geville, Stenay, Lahayville, Vacherauville, Saint-Aubin-Sur-Aire, Mauvages, Pareid, Hannonville-Sous-Les-Côtes

For the broader travel overview: Meuse.