Ancient vines cover the walls of the chapel, near the entrance to the _hôpital_.
_At the side of the Hôpital Général stands the_ =Church of St. Maurice=.
This church was entirely rebuilt by the Jesuits after the destruction of the ancient edifice, which was one of the oldest in Rheims. Here may be seen the _Eagle Reading-Desk_, a fine piece of 17th century wood-carving; two _Louis XIV. portable iron desks_ and the _paschal chandelier_ of carved wood; the _17th century confessionals_ of the lateral chapels, and in the sacristy remarkable _Louis XIII., hand-embroidered guipures_ of open-work designs, after the style of the models by the Rheims artist, Georges Baussonnet.
_Return to the Place du Parvis, in front of the Cathedral, via the Rue Gambetta and its continuation, the Rue Chanzy._
A VISIT TO THE BATTLEFIELDS AROUND RHEIMS
A thorough visit can be made in two days.
The Itinerary for each day is divided into two parts, to allow tourists to return to Rheims for lunch.
=First Day= { Morning pp. 122-133. { Afternoon pp. 134-159.
=Second Day= { Morning pp. 160-165. { Afternoon pp. 166-174.
(_See the complete Itineraries on p. 121, and the summary of the war operations on p. 131._)
This part of the Itinerary will take the tourist to the most important points of the last German offensive of 1918, which aimed at the capture of Rheims.
_Starting from the Place du Parvis Nôtre-Dame, take the Rue Libergier, opposite the Cathedral, turn to the right into the Rue Chanzy, follow same as far as the Rue de Vesle, take the latter on the left, and follow it to the end._
_After the_ =Porte de Paris= _(see p. 68) the Rue de Vesle becomes the Avenue de Paris. Take same, but after passing under the railway bridge, turn to the left into the Avenue d'Epernay (R. N. 51, see plan, p. 121)._
_Take the second street on the right (Rue de Bezannes), which passes in front of the_ =Western Cemetery=, devastated by the bombardments.
The road crosses numerous lines of trenches and boyaux, which defended the immediate approaches to Rheims.
_Before reaching Bezannes village, leave on the right, two roads which skirt a large estate enclosed with railings, go straight on to the ruined railway-station of Bezannes, then turn to the right._