Ecole JEHAN FROISSART

Do you know about Froissart ?

Jehan Froissart was born in Valenciennes around 1337. He died around 1410 in Chimay in Belgium.

He was a French chronicler, a poet, and a courtier.

A picture of Jehan Froissart

Although ordained as a priest, he led a worldly life. He became a protégé of Queen Philippa of England (born in Valenciennes), visited the court of David II of Scotland, and accompanied Edward the Black Prince. He also travelled widely in the Low Countries and in Italy. In the south of France he saw the brilliant court of Gaston III of Foix.

Nothing is known of his life after 1404 : his death date is traditionally 1410.

In literary merit Froissart’s chronicle far surpasses similar efforts in any European language. His highly partisan spirit and disregard for accuracy limit the value of his chronicle as pure history, yet few historians have so successfully brought an era to life.

The chronicle remains a superb portrait of contemporary society.

Click here for more details on Jehan Froissart

Did you know there were two statues of Froissart in Valenciennes ?

Louis Auvray had the idea of building a tribute to Froissart in 1834.

Henri Lemaire,a famous sculptor, was asked to create the statue in 1850.

The original statue of Froissart scultped by Henri Lemaire

The monument around the statue was created by Casimir Pétiaux and was started in 1851. It was meant to let the passers-by sit down in peace and have a rest on a bench below the eyes of famous people born in Valenciennes.

Froissart’s semi circular monument with our school in the background

The inauguration took place on September 21st 1856, attended by famous French writers and artists, including Prosper Mérimée, Henri Wallon, Sainte-Beuve ....

In the 1990’s, the statue seemed to suffer from leprosy so the local council asked Robert Brageu to make another statue, using Henri Lemaire’s original model kept in Valenciennes Museum.

The second statue of Froissart made by Robert Brageu

The old statue was put in the nearby school ( OUR SCHOOL ) in February 1995.

Our group is playing in front of the original statue