[Illustration: RENAISSANCE DOOR, _30, Rue Courmeaux_.]
_Return to the Rue Courmeaux and take the Rue Bonhomme on the left, which leads to the Rue Cérès._
The =Rue Cérès= was totally destroyed by fire, from the Place Royale to the Post Office, which had to be given up in the autumn of 1914.
_At No. 30_ is the =Chamber of Commerce=, one of the finest late 18th century buildings in Rheims. The magnificent Louis XVI. rooms escaped practically uninjured. The staircase leading to the first storey, with its delicate balustrade, is very remarkable.
[Illustration: CHURCH OF ST. ANDRÉ, _Rue du Faubourg Cérès._]
[Illustration: INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH OF ST. ANDRÉ]
_The Rue Cérès ends at the Esplanade Cérès_ (_photo, p. 87_), which was made outside the old ramparts near the Cérès Gate. The name Cérès is derived from a tower that long served as a prison (_carcer_, whence by corruption _chair_, _cère_, and then by false mythological association, _Cérès_). It was in this tower (no longer existing, but famous as early as the 9th century) that, according to the _chansons de geste_, Ogier the Dane, handed over by Charlemagne to the custody of the Bishop of Rheims, was incarcerated.
_From the Esplanade continue, if desired, by the Rue du Faubourg Cérès_ (greatly damaged by the bombardments), to the =Church of St. André=, a modern building erected by the architect Brunette.
It was struck several times by shells and will have to be rebuilt. As early as the first bombardment of September 4th, 1914, shell splinters damaged the doorway, transept, stained glass (part of which was 16th century and came from the old church), small organ, and the painting of the _Baptism of Clovis_. Subsequently, the vaulting and parts of the walls collapsed.
The Church possesses a precious =reliquary= of copper (15th century) and a =statue of St. André= (patron of the church) of painted and gilded stone, attributed without authority, to Pierre Jacques.
[Illustration: HÔTEL THIRET DE PRAIN IN 1916 _19 Rue Eugène Desteuque._]
_Return to the Esplanade Cérès, turn to the left at the beginning of the Boulevard de la Paix, then to the right into the_ =Rue Eugène Desteuque=.
_At No. 19 of this street_ are the ruins of the =Hôtel Thiret de Prain=.