Bry-sur-Marne: remembering the Battle of Champigny (29 November to 3 December 1870)

Adrien Mentienne museum. © Musée de Bry-sur-Marne

In the centre of the commune, a number of commemorative monuments today preserve the memory of this violent battle, namely those along the old road to Villiers, taken by French soldiers under enemy fire in an attempt to reach the hills above Bry and the park at Villiers. Starting at the church, not far from the banks of the Marne, a remembrance trail takes in the 1876 memorial to Captain Charles-Louis de Podenas, of the 4th Regiment of Zouaves; the 1871 memorial to Commander Léon Franchetti, founder of the Corps des Éclaireurs à Cheval de la Seine mounted scouts corps; and finally the ossuary of Bry-sur-Marne, where the remains of some 500 French and German soldiers were buried in 1878. (See slideshow.)

The municipal museum, Musée Adrien Mentienne, which has “Musée de France” status, also contributes to preserving the memory of the event, by showcasing its collections with links to the battle. Comprising more than 300 objects and works (weapons, shells, historical souvenirs, prints, documents, maps, medals, photographs, etc.), this rich collection offers an insight into the different aspects of the battle – military, remembrance or artistic – and the contrasting French and German perspectives. Held in store, it is currently not on display to the public. It was recently shown for the 150th anniversary of the battle, as part of an “Actions Mémoire 2021” exhibition supported by the DPMA. The catalogue is still available on request.

Find out more:

• A presentation of the Battle of Champigny collection on the museum’s website
• An animated map of the Battle of Champigny
• The commemorative monuments in Bry-sur-Marne 
• Special page on the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71)