A Little City of Character marked by the House of Guise
Joinville, Renaissance town
Although Joinville was founded in the 11th century on the borders of the Kingdom of France and the Holy Empire, its history is linked to the House of Guise. You'll see this when you visit the old town along the Quai des Peceaux: timber-framed houses and town houses bear the traces of an opulent Renaissance.
Take the time to stroll through the narrow streets of this Petite Cité de Caractère®. For its rich heritage, the beauty of its gardens and the many walks that criss-cross the countryside, Joinville is a perfect Stopover Village® on your holiday route or on a road-trip through the region.
Historical walks in the old town
There are several themed tours of Joinville's old town.
The Joinville, medieval city tour takes you from the château d'en haut, seat of the barony, to the Renaissance portal of Notre-Dame church. Around the church and as far as the Quai des Peceaux, where the Marne flows, the urban centre developed from the 12th century onwards.
The Joinville, princely city tour takes you on a journey a few centuries later in the footsteps of the de Guise family. Under their patronage, Joinville adopted the Renaissance style discovered during the Italian campaigns. This style was reflected in all the buildings that sprang up, including the festival pavilion (now the Château du Grand Jardin), the law courts and the Hôpital Sainte-Croix.
- Follow the guide! During aperitif tours, themed tours or on your own with the Idvizit app.
Renaissance heritage treasures
The Guises chose Joinville as the capital of their principality. Shaped in their image, the whole town benefited from a Renaissance-inspired impetus that can still be seen in most of its buildings:
The Château du Grand Jardin
This festive pavilion is a major example of the Renaissance in Joinville. Created in the 16th century by Claude de Lorraine, 1st Duke of Guise, stroll through its magnificent Renaissance garden, listed as a Remarkable Garden.
Sainte-Anne Chapel
Set in the middle of the cemetery, visit this chapel for its flamboyant Gothic style and magnificent stained glass windows from the early Trojan school. The Tomb of the Princes of Joinville, built in the 19th century, is located just a few meters away.
The apothecary
More than 230 jars and utensils are on display in this former pharmacy of the Hôpital Sainte-Croix, built in the 16th century.
The Auditoire
In this former law court, learn how justice was dispensed under the Ancien Régime. A collection of wax figures will introduce you to the rich history of the Lords of Joinville.
But also :
Notre-Dame Church
The symbolic centre of the medieval town, it was modernised in the 16th century with the addition of a Renaissance-style portal. If you're interested in relics, admire the belt of Saint Joseph brought back from the Crusades by Jean de Joinville. You'll also discover a beautifully crafted entombment scene
The Annonciades Convent
Little remains of the Renaissance buildings ravaged by a terrible fire. Rebuilt from 1760 onwards, the monumental staircase, refectory, central pillar room and facades are all beautifully classical and sober.
Near Joinville
Gudmont Castle: with its frescoes and vaulted rooms, this is a fine example of Renaissance architecture.
Romantic parks
and remarkable gardens
Two outstanding gardens
The Château du Grand Jardin
Stroll through the gardens of this Renaissance pleasure pavilion: parterres in geometric shapes, a labyrinth of greenery, a large orchard... A 19th-century garden makes up a picturesque park with winding paths, copses adorned with rare plants, rivers...
Les Jardins de mon Moulin
Among the 6,000 m² of this floral complex, enjoy an explosion of exceptional scents and colours: 800 varieties of peonies, a white flower garden and a green cloister, all crossed by the waters of the Mont, which flow a little further into the Marne.
Two romantic parks
- The grounds of the Château de Cirey-sur-Blaise: in the heart of a green setting, discover this château where Voltaire and the Marquise du Châtelet lived out their romance. Overlooking the Blaise valley, the parkland, with its fine trees, comprises two gardens. The first, dating from the eighteenth century, features hedges of hornbeam, fruit trees and linden avenues. The second, created in the 19th century, takes advantage of the relief and borders the canal.
- The park at Château de Rupt: in this romantic park surrounding a typical 19th-century forge, the restoration of the greenhouse and the plant life gives pride of place to local plants in conjunction with other gardens in the area.
Other parks can be found at the châteaux of Tremilly, Donjeux and Brouthières...
A stopover town
on the holiday route
Close to major roads, Joinville has been awarded the Village étape® label. Renowned for its character, its many shops and its pleasant surroundings, you'll find all the services you need for an invigorating stopover on the way to your holiday destination.
Activities await you during your visit:
- Pédalo sur bief: a 1-hour ride on the water for around 2 km.
- Walks in the countryside: on foot or by bike, there are around fifteen itineraries to choose from.
- Guided tours during the tourist season
- Concerts and events at the Domaine de Nully, every weekend from May to September
Thursday aperitifs at the château and events organised during The summer of the Grand Jardin will add to the conviviality of your next stay in Joinville.
Organise your getaway
Where to sleep, where to eat, what to do?
From the must-sees to the best walks, we'll point you in the direction of our favourite activities. Visiting for several days? Discover our accommodation and restaurants: in the heart of nature, by the water or in the heart of a historic town, all you have to do is choose.