Caves, Cathedrals, and Curiosities: Unearthing Stories on the Chemin des Dames

Catalog description

Embark on an immersive exploration of the Chemin des Dames, a historic road in the Aisne region of northern France. In partnership with the Kislak Center for Special Collections, students will acquire skills to engage with cultural, linguistic, and historical landscapes through a weekly consideration of curated local artifacts. Through the study of primary sources, including letters, journals, photographs, and artistic sketches, students will unearth seminal narratives from the devastation of World War I to the renewal and modernization of the post-war Reconstruction era. Students will discover the stories of young men and women - including University of Pennsylvania students - whose diverse lives were indelibly marked by their passage through this terrain. Travel in France will yield panoramic views of the entire region as students navigate the Chemin des Dames on foot, descend into ancient caves, ascend cathedral towers, and interact with otherwise inaccessible private collections. This interdisciplinary course invites students to align their academic interests with a focused area of study and pursue their research in the field by daily engagements with museum curators, historians, artists, and local figures. This will be a unique opportunity to contribute to ongoing initiatives to preserve the cultural heritage of the Chemin des Dames and rekindle Penn’s historical connections with this fascinating region of France. This course will be offered in both French and English.