The Episcopal City.

To the Middle Ages, the episcopal quarter of Meaux spread to the north of the Cathedral and prolonged until battlements of the city. As its name indicates it, this quarter was reserved to évèque, to chapter of canons of the cathedral and to their surrounding laïc or ecclesiastic.

The episcopal city, in its current state, following largely the physiognomy that it had to the XVIII century. However, varied architectural elements, belonging to different historical periods, enter the constitution of its structures. Elements them most ancient ascend to second half of the XII century (low halls of the episcopal palace).

Until the French revolution of 1789, the episcopal city of Meaux preserved its religious function by excellence, ecclesiastical city being next to the secular city. After the revolution this function evolved gradually.

To the XIX century, the palace of bishops of Meaux was shared between it be able laïc (under prefecture) and the Church. Finally, the law of 1905, on the separation of Churches and the State, stopped the passage of this historical patrimony to hands of the State.

In 1911, under the impetus of the mayor of Meaux, Mr. Lugol, the municipality intended to buy beside the State, the palace and its dependence as well as of the garden and battlementses. It projected to refit this totality and to open it to the public.

" - while the garden resumed the aspect that it had to the time of Bossuet, grace to the gardener master Robert, the gardener - chief of the city (1910-1912), halls of the palace found, unite them their architectural beauty of the XIIE`ME century, others their beautiful proportions of the XVIIÉME century or their grace of the XVIIIÉME siecle " - (F. LEBERT, the house of Bossuet to Meaux, ancient episcopal palace, PARIS, 1929, p.97).

The municipal museum of Meaux was fitted in the episcopal palace and opens its carry in 1927. It wears the name of Bossuet in homage of the great prelate that resided it.

Later, the municipal library of Meaux, rich of more of twenty thousand ancient works, was equally installed in others parts of the episcopal palace and its dependence.

Thus, since the XX century, it is to a cultural function and patrimonial that the episcopal city of Meaux has been allocated. Function without different doubt of the past, but always intimately linked to the rich history of our city and its patrimony.

The main architectural elements that composes the episcopal city are:

- the old chapître

- the palace of bishops

- the garden Bossuet and the garden of battlements