VERLAINE MUSEUM

After working as a teacher at Notre-Dame de Rethel, during his affair with Lucien Létinois, Verlaine imagined retiring as a "poète-paysan". A farm was for sale in Juniville. He had his mother buy it, and the Létinois family moved in in March 1880, while Verlaine preferred to rent a house a few yards from the farm, opposite the Lion d'Or inn. It was at this inn that Verlaine would come to drink absinthe after Sunday service, before frequenting it more assiduously to polish Sagesse. It's thanks to Marcelle, a bubbly woman who bought the place in 1981, that you can visit this emotionally-charged place today. Her passion is restoring and reconstructing the 1,500 m² inn with period furniture and objects. A living building, with the Maisons des Illustres label, imbued with the presence of the poet whose portraits adorn the walls, his gaze impassive. You'll be taken on a superb human and literary journey, hanging on the every word of our guide, Marc Gaillot, who is passionate about poetry, and who will shatter some of your school knowledge and pseudo-truths about the Rimbaud-Verlaine relationship. "Dust off the clichés", we're told. After your visit, take advantage of the 1,000 m² old garden, the bistro and the temporary exhibitions. With family or friends, take a ride in a rosalie to discover the surrounding countryside! And in summer, there's plenty of entertainment on offer, including concerts. A magical and fascinating address.