Scy-Chazelles
Encyclopedia
Scy-Chazelles is a commune
in the Moselle
department in Lorraine
in north-eastern France
. The town is built on Mont St. Quentin near Metz
.
, the Bishop of Metz, and the city of Metz
. In 1415, the town was inhabited by Burgundians
until it was occupied by the Franks
in 1444. Scy (with probable Gaulish linguistical origins) and Chazelles (under Roman occupation, the Latin word castellum, or "watch tower," became Chazelles) existed for many centuries as two separate entities before being put together in 1817. Scy, a village in the pre-Revolutionary
province of the Three Bishoprics
(Trois-Évêchés), annexed the village of Chazelles. At that time there were 348 inhabitants in 100 houses in Scy and 125 inhabitants in 30 houses in Chazelles.
Scy-Chazelles is located near Mont Saint-Quentin, from where the defense of Metz and its surroundings areas against invasions was organized. The slopes of this mountain produced the varietal
"The King of Wines" in the mid-16th century. The village of Scy-Chazelles has more than 13 religious sanctuaries (churches, chapels, crosses, shrines ...), but its most notable is the fortified Saint-Quentin Church. The church was founded around 1177 and subsequently strengthened to make people safe from thieves and looters. It also houses the remains of Robert Schuman
, the "father of Europe," who died in the town in 1963.
The church of Saint-Rémi, dating from the late 6th century, is known for its Roman architecture with three naves on square pillars built in the 11th century and (later restored in the 15th century). It is located at the Place de l’Esplanade, opposite the town hall, offering a panorama of the city of Metz and its surroundings.
Like other towns of the Moselle, the German Empire annexed Scy-Chazelles as it grew, and the village was part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918 and from 1940 to 1944. On April 1, 1941, the town of Scy-Chazelles was renamed Sigach and was integrated into the urban of Metz (Stadtkreis Metz). During the Battle of Metz
, Scy-Chazelles was defended by the 462nd Volks-Grenadier-Division of General Otto von Knobelsdorff
's First Army. On November 21, 1944, Scy-Chazelles was liberated by General George S. Patton
's Third Army
.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Moselle
Moselle
Moselle is a department in the east of France named after the river Moselle.- History :Moselle is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
department in Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
in north-eastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The town is built on Mont St. Quentin near Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
.
History
The historical area of Scy-Chazelles was shared between the Gorze AbbeyGorze Abbey
Gorze Abbey was a Benedictine monastery in Gorze in the present arrondissement of Metz-Campagne, near Metz in Lorraine. It was prominent as the source of a monastic reform movement in the 930s.-History:...
, the Bishop of Metz, and the city of Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
. In 1415, the town was inhabited by Burgundians
Burgundians
The Burgundians were an East Germanic tribe which may have emigrated from mainland Scandinavia to the island of Bornholm, whose old form in Old Norse still was Burgundarholmr , and from there to mainland Europe...
until it was occupied by the Franks
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
in 1444. Scy (with probable Gaulish linguistical origins) and Chazelles (under Roman occupation, the Latin word castellum, or "watch tower," became Chazelles) existed for many centuries as two separate entities before being put together in 1817. Scy, a village in the pre-Revolutionary
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
province of the Three Bishoprics
Three Bishoprics
The Three Bishoprics constituted a province of pre-Revolutionary France consisting of the prince-bishoprics of Verdun, Metz, and Toul within the Lorraine region....
(Trois-Évêchés), annexed the village of Chazelles. At that time there were 348 inhabitants in 100 houses in Scy and 125 inhabitants in 30 houses in Chazelles.
Scy-Chazelles is located near Mont Saint-Quentin, from where the defense of Metz and its surroundings areas against invasions was organized. The slopes of this mountain produced the varietal
Varietal
"Varietal" describes wines made primarily from a single named grape variety, and which typically displays the name of that variety on the wine label. Examples of grape varieties commonly used in varietal wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot...
"The King of Wines" in the mid-16th century. The village of Scy-Chazelles has more than 13 religious sanctuaries (churches, chapels, crosses, shrines ...), but its most notable is the fortified Saint-Quentin Church. The church was founded around 1177 and subsequently strengthened to make people safe from thieves and looters. It also houses the remains of Robert Schuman
Robert Schuman
Robert Schuman was a noted Luxembourgish-born French statesman. Schuman was a Christian Democrat and an independent political thinker and activist...
, the "father of Europe," who died in the town in 1963.
The church of Saint-Rémi, dating from the late 6th century, is known for its Roman architecture with three naves on square pillars built in the 11th century and (later restored in the 15th century). It is located at the Place de l’Esplanade, opposite the town hall, offering a panorama of the city of Metz and its surroundings.
Like other towns of the Moselle, the German Empire annexed Scy-Chazelles as it grew, and the village was part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918 and from 1940 to 1944. On April 1, 1941, the town of Scy-Chazelles was renamed Sigach and was integrated into the urban of Metz (Stadtkreis Metz). During the Battle of Metz
Battle of Metz
The Battle of Metz was a three-month battle fought between the United States Army and the German Army during World War II. It took place at the city of Metz following the Allied breakout after the Normandy landings. The attack on the city by the U.S. Third Army faced heavy resistance from the...
, Scy-Chazelles was defended by the 462nd Volks-Grenadier-Division of General Otto von Knobelsdorff
Otto von Knobelsdorff
Heinrich Otto Ernst von Knobelsdorff was a German general who commanded armored Panzer units and served during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
's First Army. On November 21, 1944, Scy-Chazelles was liberated by General George S. Patton
George S. Patton
George Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...
's Third Army
United States Army Central
United States Army Central is an Army Service Component Command of the United States Army and is also dual-hatted as the "United States Third Army". It is the Army Component of U.S...
.