commenced, but not finished till the 16th cent. It is cross-shaped, 320 feet long by 118 feet wide, and 109 to the vault. Contrary to custom, it has no west entrance, the doors being at the sides. Over one of these stands an excellent carved tower, built 1501, 265 feet high (and seen 18 leagues off), square at the bottom, but eight-sided towards the top, which is crowned by pinnacles (with the four evangelists on them), a dome, and a statue of the Virgin. It contains a good screen and other carved work, and some old-fashioned stained windows. When threatened at the Revolution, some friends of art thought of dedicating it to Marat! a device which was the means of saving it. Another church is marked by a tall tower. The Cordeliers' house is of the 14th cent.; a government stud is established at the Chartreuse convent. At the college, first built by the Jesuits, is a library of 16,000 vols., and a cabinet of natural history, &c. Other buildings are the Préfecture, new Hôtel de Ville. the priests' seminary, bishop's palace, a deaf and dumb school, the pepinière or departmental nursery, &c. In 1784, Abbé Carnus, a man of science, ascended here in a baloon of 55 feet diameter, to the height of 13 mile high, staying up 35 minutes, to the great astonishment of the people of that day. There is a trade in woollens, linens, silk thread, Roquefort cheese, wax candles, cattle, mules, &c. Coaches to Montpellier, Montauban, Albi, Aurillac, Clermont, &c. An intended branch rail will unite Rodez to the line which descends the Aveyron, by Villefranche, to Montauban. At present we follow the road. The caves of Sollac are 4 kil. off; and some pretty falls at Salles-Comtaux (about 12 kil. north), in the rocky and well-wooded valley of Marsillac. This is one of many charming valleys about Rodez, little known or visited. A Druid stone or dolmen at Perignagols (8 kil.) Population, 11,665. The chief town of department Tarn, seat of an archdiocese, having a tribunal, communal college, &c. It was the Roman Civitas Albiensium, but is more memorable for giving name to the Albigensis, or Albegeois, who were exterminated by the papal crusade in the 13th cent. It stands over the river Tarn, in the middle of a fine plain; and, like all old towns, is made up chiefly of narrow irregular streets. The best promenade is in the Vigan quarter, near the public gardens. Each quarter is ornamented with fountains, the best being that of Verdusse, where four springs unite, and flow thence into the river. In the Faubourg du Pont, across the latter, are remains of Castelviel fort. The Cathedral of St. Cécile, begun 1282, was not finished till 1512. Length 345 feet, breadth 89, height of the vault 98, of the west steeple 3081. Three beautifully decorated doors lead into the porch, which divides the choir and nave, and is covered with sculptures of extraordinary delicacy. The roof of the nave is ornamented with a multitude of subjects from the Bible, including angels, patriarchs, prophets, saints, martyrs, &c., painted in fresco, on a blue ground, set off by arabesques in white and gold. They were begun, 1502, and are in the best style of the Italian school. Some elegant carvings, and seventytwo statues, adorn the choir. A council met here 1176, to condemn the Albigenses. The tower of St. Salvi's church is in the Moorish style, and it has a large nave. Other buildings are the Hôtel de la Préfecture, an immense edifice, which belonged to the Counts of Toulouse, and afterwards to the archbishops; a large hospice or convent, with an avenue leading to it; the college; a public library of 12,000 vols.; museum, cabinet of natural history, theatre, &o. Manufactures of linens, agricultural tools, &c., and a trade in grain, saffron, dry fruits, wood. Conveyances-Daily, to Toulouse (65 kil.), Castres, (Rignac is 24 kil. west-north-west, and 24 kil. beyond Rodez, and Lower Languedoc, Milhau, Gaillac, Mon is Villefranche (see Route 51).] LA MOTHE (24 kil.) Then comes LES FAGUELLES (28 kil.) Albi is 20 kil. beyond; you pass near the Saut de Sabo, a fall of the Tarn, close to a large paper-mill. ALBI, or Alby. tauban (48 kil.), &c. A branch line up the Tarn, from Toulouse, will unite at Albi, with the line to the Carmauz iron mines (15 kil.), constructed since 1854, and which is to be contined to a junction with the Montauban and Villefranche line. GAILLAC (22 kil.), on the road to Toulouse, where that to Montauban turns off, is a sous-préfecture, on Here there is a short line to the large oal mines the Tarn, with 7,725 pop., in a good wine country. Fourd Carmaux. Three trains daily. Portal, the physician, was born here. Hôtels.-Austruc; Raffis. ST. SULPICE (23 kl.) has a camp raised in the wars against the Albigenses, in the time of Louis VILL At 31 kil. beyond is mills and forges for cutlery; good powder is also Toulouse, as in Route 66, on the Bordeaux and made. A pretty waterfall is seen at Trou d'Enfer. Cette line. ROUTE 53. Clermont-Ferrand to Thiers, Montbrison, St. Etienne, and Lyons. The road Distance, 203 kil., or 126 miles. Clermont stat., as in Route 45. passes Puy-de-Poix, a basalt peak, with a spring of mineral pitch or bitumen. Puy-de-Crouelle and Gandaillat are near it, with similar springs. PONT-DU-CHATEAU (15 kil.), at the three-arched bridge on the Allier, near the old chateau of the bishops of Clermont, in a fine part of the Limagne, (To the right is the ancient town of BILLOM, among hills, remarkable for he stormy weather and excessive rain to which t is subject, It has an old church.] THIERS (26 kil.), on a rocky peak above the Durole, is a sous-préfecture (in Puy-du-Dôme) of 13,200 souls. and commands a fine view of the Limagne, Clermont, Mont Dore, &c., from the terrace near the old castle. Two churches, Du Montier and St. Genès, are of the 8th and 12th cents. On the river stand many paper Hotel.-De l'Europe. [At 56 kil. to the south-south-east is AMBERT (62 kil. direct from Clermont), a sous-préfecture, on the Dore, among hills, in the Livradois, with a pop. of 8,000, who make linen, and excellent paper for printing, engraving, &c. In the neighbourhood, there are fine prospects from Pierresur-Haute (the Alps seen), and Mont Fouenol (the Cantal, Puy-de-Dôme, &c., seen); and the mineral springs of Talsau. Hence to Montbrison, stat., is about 30 kil.] LA BERGÈRE (14 kil.) is reached by a precipitous road, commanding views of the distant mountains. Hence to Roanne stat. is 43 kil NOIRETABLE (13 kil.) under Montagne de l'Hermitage. BOEN (27 kil.) on the Lignon, from which, vid Feurs stat., it is 87 kil., direct to Lyons, by road. At 17 kil. further is MONTBRISON stat. (see Route 24). 12 kil. from Montrond, on the main line, which leads one way to Roanne, and the other way, vid St. Etienne, to Lyons, in Route 25. SECTION V. ROADS TO THE EAST. IN CONNECTION WITH THE CHEMIN DE FER DE L'EST: SUPPLYING RHEIMS, MEZIERES, CHALONS-SUR-MARNE, TROYES, BAR-LE-DUC, CHAUMONT, NANCY, EPINAL, VESOUL, BOURBONNE-LES-BAINS, PLOMBIÈRES, METZ, THIONVILLE, (BADEN AND FRANKFORT), STRASBOURG, WISSEMBOURG, COLMAR, MULHOUSE, BASLE (THE RHINE AND SWITZERLAND), IN THE OLD PROVINCES OF CHAMPAGNE, LORRAINE, ALSACE, AND FRANCHE-COMTÉ. A ROUTES VIÂ THE STRASBOURG LINE. ROUTE 54. Paris to Meaux, Epernay, Chalons, Nancy, Bondy (1 mile), is an old village of 2,600 souls, near a forest where Childeric II. was killed, and Aubery de Montdidier was murdered by Macaire, (who fought his victim's dog-the dog of Montargis before Charles V., at Nôtre Dame.) Raincy château belonged to Louis Philippe, who laid out the grounds in the English style; the house is something in the For a time it was held by style of Blenheim, Napoleon. Coaches to Livry, Sevran, Villepinte, Tremblay Embarcadère, or terminus, Rue Neuve Chabrol, in Rue de Faubourg St. Martin, near the Northern Railway. The great arch of the roof is surmounted by a colossal figure, emblematic of Strasbourg. Length of the platform 544 feet, breadth 150 feet. The line was begun 1842, and opened throughout, 1852. Dis-Vaujours, Villeparisis, Mitry. tance to Strasbourg, 501 kil., or 312 miles; (to Nancy, 220 miles): four trains a day, in 12 to 15 hours; 51%, 39, and 29 frs.; baggage allowed, 23 kilos., or 50lbs. Outside the Barrière is La Vilette, near the new fortifications and the basin of the Canal de l'Ourq, from which the canal of St. Martin runs down to the Seine, and which feeds many of the Paris fountains. It was made 1806-9, and is half a mile long. Thence the rail follows the canal-de-l'Ourcq to Meaux, (passing Vitry, Blancmenil, Aunay, Rosny, Pantin, Baubignay, &c., on the right and left). Belleville, near La Villette, has a fine view over Paris from its country seats, and an aqueduct, or reservoir, built by Philippe Auguste, and restored 1602. It was here the pupils of the École Polytecnique distinguished themselves, 1814.-Romainville, a little further, also commands a view of the city, and is covered with wood and ginguettes for pleasure folks; a detached fort and reservoir stand on it. The latter is joined to another at Pré St. Jervais. Noisy-le-Sec (5) miles), the first stat., is called Nicidum in an ancient charter, and was the property of that Cardinal Balue, whom Louis XI. shut up in an iron cage [LIVRY, 6 kil. east-north-east, in the forest, near Raincy château, has an Augustine abbey, not far from which dwelt the pious hermit of Livry, "whose name," as D'Aubigny relates, "though written in heaven, history has not transmitted to us," but who, for preaching the Gospel, died peacefully at the stake in front of Nôtre Dame.j Villemonble-Gagny (2 miles), in department Seine-et-Marne, is at the end of Raincy Park. Coaches to Rosny, Montfermeil, Coubron, Neuillysur-Marne, and to Juilly, which has an academy or college, founded 1688, by the Fathers of the Oratory. Chelles (3 miles), on the Marne, had a palace in which Chilperic I. was assassinated by his wife, Frédégonde, in 584. There are traces of a rich abbey founded about the same time. Coaches to Torcy, Gournay-sur-Marne, Lepin, and to Claye, on the canal de l'Ourcq, with its bleach-works, &c. Lagny (5 miles) is across the bridge on the Marne, on its south bank. Its church is only the choir of an unfinished structure begun in the 14th century. On the other side of the river, a little beyond Lagny, are the extensive tile and lime works of M. Vincent Coaches to Annet, Fresnes, Fer rières, Provins (see Route 62), Rozoy, Jouy-le-Châtel, structure begun 1212, and left unfinished in the 16th Fontenay, &c. [ERMENONVILLE (24 kil. north-north-east), has a country seat, with a lake and fine grounds, built by the Girardins, its Vicomtes (on the site of an older), in which Rousseau died, 1799, in what is now the lodge. His tomb is among poplars on an island in the lake, but his body lies in the Pantheon. A little circular temple to the Advancement of Philosophy (purposely left unfinished), stands on six pillars, dedicated to Newton, Descartes, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Penn, Rousseau; the whole being dedicated to Montaigne. The Emperor Joseph, Gustavus of Sweden, and others, have visited this spot.] The rail crosses a bend of the Marne, twice before Meaux, but the scenery is good. Near the Chalifert canal tunnel, is a short railway tunnel of 550 feet (one of the most troublesome constructions on the ine), which leads to Esbly (5 miles). miers, Beton-Bazoche. [COULOMMIERS (23 kil. south-east), a sous-préfecture in department Seine-et-Marne, of 4,000 souls, in a pleasant part of the Grand Morin, on which is an island with remains of a château built by the Duchesse de Longueville. It arose out of St. Denis' church, founded by the Counts of Champagne, and has a good chapel to the convent established by the duchess. General Beaurepaire, who shot himself rather than give up Verdun, 1702, was a native. Many mills for grain, tan, &c.; and a trade in Brie cheese, melons, wool, cattle, &c. Hotels.- De l'Ours (Bear); la Croix Branche (White Cross).] Five miles further is Coaches to Crécy, Coulom MEAUX. 28 miles from Paris. A well-built town, sous-préfecture, (9,900 pop.), and ! bishopric, in a pleasant spot on the canal de l'Ourcq and the Marne, which divides it in two; that part to the south being called the Marché, and joined to the other by a wooden bridge overhung with mills, turned by the rapid current. It was the capital of the Meldi in Roman times; and later, of Brie Champenoise; was ravaged by the Normans (8th century), and by the Jacquerie rioters (14th century); taken by the English, 1420, and by Henry IV., 1594. As many as seven councils have been held here, the last of which excommunicated Frederick of Germany. The best building is St. Etienne's Cathedral, a massive Gothic century; it is 332 feet by 138, and 213 feet high a' the north tower, which stands on one side of the west front, and commands a view nearly up to Paris. It is well-proportioned, and like that of York; the south tower is only finished to the first stage. Inside are thirty-two clustered pillars and a rich choir, with a tomb to the eloquent Bossuet, who died bishop. His statue by Rutchiel, is at the Palace, close to the cathedral, where they show his library, &c., in the gardens, which were laid out by Le Nôtre, who planted Greenwich and St. James's Parks. There are two other churches, a large hospital or Hôtel Dieu, a halle or market, theatre, college, library of 14,000 vols., cavalry barracks, &c., and a Grande Place. Trade in grain, cattle, fromage de Brie (Brie cheese), poultry, and wool; a few muslins are made. Coaches to Coulommiers (see above), Dammartin, Juilly, Nanteuil-le-Hardouin, Villers-Cotterets, La Ferté-Milon, May, Crouy, Lizy. [DAMMARTIN (16 kil. north-west), on a hill, where there is a fine circle of view. Lace is made. Mayen-Mulein (11 kil. north-east), on the canal de l'Ourcq, has an ancient church, ranking next to Meaux, in this diocese. LA FERTÉ MILON (12 kil. further), in department Aisne, on a hill by the Ourcq, was fortified as far back as 845, and has the fine remains of a castle dismantled by Henry IV. In front of the Hôtel de Ville is David's statue of Racine (born here, 1639), whose bust, by Stabinsky, is in the bibliothéque of 17,000 vols. Pop., 4,800. Hotel.-Du Soleil d'Or (Golden Sun). VILLERS-COTTERETS, (10 kil. north of this, to which it is joined by a short rail for transporting produce to the canal de l'Ourcq), in the forest of Retz, has a château restored by Francis I. (on the site of one burnt by the English now a depôt de medicine, or poor-house for the dis trict. Near it are remains of Longpont alay church, founded in the 12th cent. General Dumas (called the French Cocles, for his defence of Brixen bridge), and Otto the statesman, were natives.] The railway crosses the Marne to Trilport (32 miles) or Trie-le-Port, near Montceau castle, once the property of Cath. de Medicis. Then comes Armentières tunnel, (2,105 feet long), and a second bridge; then Changis (4 miles). La Ferte-sous-Jouarre (5 miles), at the bridges on the Marne (one suspended), was in the 12th cent. a ferté or strength, built by a seigneur called Ancoul, and in the 16th cent. was held by the 3 Protestants, and often plundered. On a pretty island is the old château de l'Ile, or La Barre, where Louis XVI. and his queen stopped, when they were brought back from Varennes. There are several good points of view around. Mad. de Pompadour was born here. Pop., 4,200. Trade in corn, charcoal, and meules à moulin, or mill-stones, for which it is famous. Coaches to Jouarre, (on south bank), Marigny, Montmirail, La Ferté-Gaucher, and Sézanne. [MONTMIRAIL, (23 kil. east-south-east), on a hill by the Petit Morin, is also noted for its millstones, and for a victory obtained by Napoleon, 11th February, 1814, over the Prussians and Russians. The duc de Dudeauville has a seat here. Cardinal de Retz was a native. At Vauchamps, (7 kil. east), Napoleon defeated Blucher, 14th February, 1814, after having routed his advanced guard on the 10th, at Champaubert, (11 kil. further), but at Fère Champenoise, (24 kil. southeast of this), on the Pleurs, Marmont was finally beaten by the Allies, 24th of March, Montmort, (6 kil. north-north-east of Champaubert), has a moated brick donjon, square, and flanked with turrets; with a church ornamented with good stained windows. Nanteuil, (5 miles), through a tunnel, 3,080 feet long. Then another bridge (the seventh), over the Marne, to Nogent-l'Artaud, (6 miles), in department of he Aisne, from which there is a coach to Charly, cross the Marne. The tunnel of Chézy l'Abbaye, *bout half the length of the former, brings you to Chateau-Thierry (7 miles). Hotels.-De la Sirène; Poste. has some pictures; the hôtel Balhan, or fort of St. Jacques, and the gate and chapel of the castle, are worth notice. The new palais de justice was built 1843. Another native was St. Thierry, bishop of Orleans. There are some mineral waters and Gypsum quarries. Trade in corn, linseed oil, wine, &c. Coaches to Soissons (see Route 6), Neuilly-St. Front, Orbais. Good churches are seen at Essomes (13th cent.), Chasy-l'Abbaye (built 1130); also at Mezi-Moulin and Condé-en-Brie, to the south of the railway, further on. The prospects around are good. Mezy (5 miles), or Mezy-Moulins, has an old church. Varennes (1 mile). Coaches to Fismes, Braisne, Fère-en-Tardenois. [FERE-EN-TARDENOIS (17 kil. north), once fortified, and taken by the Huguenots, Leaguers, &c., has, not far off, the fine ruins of Robert of Dreux's castle, built 1206, consisting of parts of eight great towers (one 60 feet high), within a wall. This is joined to an outwork across the ditch, by a drawbridge, on a viaduct, built 1539, by Anne de Montmorency, 91 feet high and 170 feet long, strengthened by tall battlements, &c. At BRAISNE-SUR-VESLE (18 kil, further), are mineral waters, and a good church, which was part of an abbey, founded 1130. FISMES (15 kil. north-east of Fère), in department Marne, on the Vesle, is the Roman Furis, where councils were held, 881 and 935, and which marked the borders of Austrasia. Napoleon made it his head-quarters, March, 1814.] Dormans (6 miles), at the suspension bridge on the river, has St. Hippolyte's old church, with a curious louvre tower, and a château, with a trade in wine, grain, &c. Cardinal Dormans, bishop of Beauvais, was a native. This is a sous-préfecture of 5,620 pop. on the cky hills of the Marne, crowned by the fine remains a château, built 720, by Charles Martel, to hold hierry IV., the infant son of Childeric. It has freently suffered from war, having been attacked by Port-a-Binson (5 miles), on the south side of English, 1370; by the Leaguers, 1421; by Charles the river, opposite the old castle of Châtillon-suin 1544; by Henry of Guise, 1571, (called Balafré, Marne, where Pope Urban II. was born, 1095. On a gashed, like his father, from the wound he re-hill, between this and Damery, are the spires of the ved here); the Frondeurs, 1614; and especially in modern château of Boursault, built by Madame 4, when it was taken and retaken, and the old Cliquot, the wine-merchant of Rheims, for her sonin-law. age destroyed. This was replaced by a three-arch he one to the faubourg across the river, where, on promenade, is a statue of La Fontaine, (a native, ), whose house is still shown here. An old fortigate leads out to faubourg la Barre. Near the Damery (5 miles), supposed, from the coins found here, to have been of importance formerly, is on the north side of the river, which improves as you ascend it into the champagne wine country. At 41 miles further, is EPERNAY, He is St. Crépin's ancient church, with a tall 88 miles from Paris, and 22 from Strasbourg. |