At the gateway to the Champagne vineyards, Vitry-le-François was once known as Vitry-en-Perthois, the capital of the Perthois region. This ancient stronghold was virtually destroyed by the Emperor Charles V in the 16th century. King Francis I commissioned its architect Girolamo Marini to rebuild it in 1545, giving it his name and his coat of arms: a salamander. Marini designed a geometric, chequered city built around its central square and opening out at the cardinal points through four gates. During the Second World War, more than 90% of the city was razed to the ground. Entirely rebuilt, Vitry-le-François is still developing.
Points of interest
Points of interest
Points of interest
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