Imagine soldiers covered in armor. They hold torches on a dark night. This image might explain the name of Place de la Croix des Mèches.
Welcome to Place de la Croix des Mèches. It’s a place with a long and interesting past. The area was once a small hamlet. It likely would have remained unknown. But a chapel changed everything. This chapel led to the area becoming known as Croix des Mèches. It is part of the French town of Créteil in the Val-de-Marne department.
Let’s delve into the history of Place de la Croix des Mèches. The Mesche was a piece of land. It sat about 500 meters west of Créteil. In 1150, the fief of Mèche belonged to the collegiate church of Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois.
A legend tells a tale from the Hundred Years’ War. King John was camping in the vineyards near the chapel. He wanted to trick the English. They were camped on the plain of Ivry. So, he ordered his men to set up fake soldiers. These soldiers were covered in armor. Each held a lit torch or mèche on a pole. This trick made the English think the French army was larger than it was. The king then decided to build a church there. This is just one story about how Mèches got its name.
A chapel was built here in 1319. It was meant for the canons of Saint-Victor. But it was given to the canons of Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois instead. In the 14th century, there was a chapel. By the end of the 15th century, it was called Notre Dame du Mesche. In 1394, Pierre II d’Orgemont, the Bishop of Paris, founded the Confrérie Notre-Dame-du-Mèche. King Charles VI confirmed this establishment that same year. A papal bull in 1394 granted 40 days of indulgence. This was for those who visited Beatae Mariae de Meschio.
King Charles VI even came to the chapel in a procession in 1412. English records from 1423 to 1427 mention that the hamlet of Mesly was near Notre-Dame du Mesche. In 1540, records from Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois still refer to the area as “le Mèche”.
During the French Revolution, the Notre-Dame-des-Mèches chapel became a barn. In 1793, the chapel’s bell was moved to the Saint-Christophe de Créteil church. François-Matthieu Duport. He was the father of Adrien-Jules. He was a friend of Danton. He was guillotined. His wife was arrested at their home in Mèches. She died in the Force prison.
The chapel at Place de la Croix des Mèches disappeared around 1910. However, in 1954, Canon Brier wanted to keep the memory alive. He set up an alcove. It was at the corner of Rue des Mèches and Parc Dupeyroux. He placed a statue of the Virgin Mary there.
From 1969 to 1972, the new Créteil began construction. Place de la Croix-des-Mèches was the first district. It covered seven hectares and had 800 homes. Seven 17-story buildings surround six four-story buildings. They were renovated in 2003. The area has shops and public facilities. There is a nursery, school, media library, and more.
Place de la Croix des Mèches has transformed over centuries. From a small chapel to a modern district. It carries stories of kings, revolutions, and rebirth. As we leave this place, remember its layered history. Each layer tells a unique story about this place.