Baccarat


Baccarat is a French commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in the Grand Est region of north-eastern France.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Bachâmois or Bachâmoises.
The commune has been awarded three flowers by the National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom in the Competition of cities and villages in Bloom.

Geography

Baccarat lies in the district of Lunéville in the department of Meurthe-et-Moselle.
Baccarat is located some 25 km south-east of Lunéville and 30 km north-west of Saint-Dié-des-Vosges in the Meurthe river valley between the Deneuvre plateau and the wooded hills of Grammont. Access to the commune is by the Route nationale N59 from Bertrichamps in the south-east which passes through the heart of the commune east of the town and continues north-west to join the N333 south-east of Lunéville. The D590 also goes from Bertrichamps and passes through the town continuing north-west to Azerailles. The D19 goes north from the village to Gélacourt. The D935 goes north-east from the town to Merviller and also south-west, changing to the D435 at the departmental border, to Ménil-sur-Belvitte. A railway also passes through the commune with a station near the town and the railway line coming from Azerailles in the north-west continuing to Bertrichamps in the south-east. The commune has a large forest in the east with the rest of the commune mixed forest and farmland.
The Meurthe river passes through the commune and the town from the south-east flowing north—west to eventually join the Moselle at Custines. The Ruisseau des Bingottes rises east of the commune and joins the Meurthe in the south of the commune.

History

Baccarat was originally a suburb of the city of Deneuvre which has Roman origins. The name Baccarat comes perhaps from Bacchi-ara which was the name of a Roman castellum of which there remains a relic called the Tower of Bacha on the heights of Deneuvre.
The Castellany belonged to the Diocese of Metz. In 1305 Henri, first lord of Blâmont from the House of Salm, dedicated Deneuvre for the Bishop of Metz and, to ensure its safety, he built the Tower of Voués at the bottom of the spur. A suburb formed at its foot: this was the origin of Baccarat. The name Baccarat appeared for the first time in 1291.
In 1459 the city was best known for its drapers as well as wine. Louis XV authorized the creation of a glassworks in 1764 at the instigation of the Bishop of Metz who was anxious to sell the important local production of firewood. A glassworks named Antoine Renaut responded to the authorisation. The works became a crystal glassworks in 1817 and was sold to the Compagnie des Cristalleries in 1881 subsequently achieving worldwide fame under the name of Baccarat. The growing number of workers enabled the development of the commune with the construction of housing, schools, shops, roads, and small industries but the war marked a halt to this development.
On the eve of the First World War the city was home to the 20th Batailion of Foot Chasseurs at the Haxo barracks - some buildings of which remain today. The period between the two world wars was marked by the construction of the church, the bridge, and the town hall. During the Second World War there was much damage to the city including the destruction of the church in October 1944. Liberated by the French 2nd Armoured Division on 31 October 1944, the city resumed its industrial expansion in 1945. The reconstruction of the church was done in 1953.

Heraldry

Administration

The Canton of Baccarat includes 20 communes: Azerailles, Baccarat proper, Bertrichamps, Brouville, Deneuvre, Flin, Fontenoy-la-Joûte, Gélacourt, Glonville, Hablainville, Lachapelle, Merviller, Mignéville, Montigny, Pettonville, Reherrey, Thiaville-sur-Meurthe, Vacqueville, Vaxainville, and Veney.
The Community of communes of Cristal was created on 1 January 2004 to link Baccarat with the neighbouring communes of Lachapelle and Thiaville-sur-Meurthe.
In 2010 Baccarat was awarded the Certification mark of "Ville Internet @@".
List of Successive Mayors
FromToNamePartyPosition
1857Jean Joseph Grégoire
19141914Arthur Marie Joseph Tisserand
19651971Jean-Marie FèveDoctor, born in Vicherey
19711975André Violle
19751983Georges Humbert
19831989Michel Bacus
19892001Jean-Marie Fève
20012008Michel le PaigePS
20082014Josette RenauxRetired French Consul
2014CurrentChristian GexPSEngineer

Twinning

Baccarat has twinning associations with:

Economy

The town's celebrated glassworks and crystal factory, also known as Baccarat, has operated since 1765. Its technique was established by Aimé Gabriel d'Artigues. Many of its workers under Mr. Roland-Gosselin in the 1950s were awarded the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France.
Around the time of the Franco-Prussian War, the town was also noted for its large export trade of timber, wheels, planks, and charcoal.

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has many sites that are registered as historical monuments:
;An exhibition of Baccarat Glass at Petit Palais à Paris, November 2014
;Other sites of interest
The commune has several religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:
;Other religious sites of interest
The 20th Battalion of Foot Chasseurs were stationed in Baccarat from 1906 to 1918.

Festivals