Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Old Moulin de Charleville-Mézières, built in the 2nd quarter of the 17th century (1626-1627), is an emblematic building linked to the founding of the city by Charles de Gonzague, Duke of Nevers. Designed by architect Clément Métezeau and master mason Claude Briau, it served as a common mill and marked the northern end of the city, while standing monumental at the Porte de France. Its facade, adorned with four ionic columns and a triangular pediment, made it a key element of the ducal planning plan. Operating in 1627, it supplied the city with flour for more than a century.

A devastating fire on the night of July 2 to 3, 1754 completely destroyed the inside of the mill, forcing its closure for two years. The miller's family, the Payers, barely escapes the drama, but the origin of the sinister remains undetermined, triggering a juridic battle. The mill is rebuilt with a current roof replacing its original dome. Sold as a national property during the Revolution, it remained active until 1887, before being acquired by the municipality in 1893 and restored by the architect Petitsfils.

In the 19th century, the mill lost its milling function after the rewinding of the Meuse (1876), which condemned its hydraulic wheels. Transformed into a museum in 1969, it first houses the Museum of the Ardenne and the Arthur Rimbaud Museum, dedicated to the poet born in Charleville. The latter covers four floors since 1991, presenting original manuscripts, personal objects of Rimbaud (valise, watch, books), and works of modern artists inspired by his figure (Picasso, Giacometti, Cocteau). Ranked as a Historic Monument in 1981, the site also includes the Green Inn Hall and the Maison des Ailleurs, an ancient Rimbaud residence.

The Rimbaud collection began in 1927 with a legacy of Professor A. Gilbert, the poet's parent, and then enriched in 1954 with the gift of Henri Matarasso, a collector's bookseller. The latter bequeaths original editions (A Season in Hell), African documents, and portraits signed by major artists. A complete renovation in 2014-2015, with the participation of artist Claude Lévêque, modernises the museum. The current course, from the attic to the ground floor, highlights original works only, with semi-annual rotations to preserve fragile documents.

The attic, dedicated to poetic immersion, evokes the attic of the farm of Roche where Rimbaud finished A Season in Hell. The floors explore his Ardennes childhood ("Rêveries"), his revolutionary commitments ("Revolutions", Paris Commune, meet with Verlaine), and his trips to Africa ("Towards Africa"). The ground floor displays its rare personal objects (valise, cutlery, watch), witnesses to its life as an explorer. The museum collaborates with contemporary artists to perpetuate the Rimbaldian heritage, while preserving its historical anchor in Charleville's urban planning.

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