Am Bricon is Coach to Bienne-Napoléon [BRIENNE-NAPOLÉON (14 kil. north-north-west), was formerly Brienne-le-Château,, so called from the fine seat built by Louis, its last count, and was noted, till 1790, for the military school, in the Minimes convent, to which the young Corsican, Napoleon, was sent as a king's pensioner, 1779-84. Nothing is left of it. In 1814, the Allies were defeated here by Napoleon, who, however, was nearly run through by the lance of a Cossack, who was shot dead at the Emperor's feet.] Bar-sur-Aube (6 miles), a sous-préfecture of 4,450 souls, in a fine spot among the vineyards of the Aube, belonged to the early kings of France, and was noted for its trading fairs, attended by the Dutch, Germans, &c. Besides remains of a castle on Châtelet hill, it has a hospital of the 11th cent., two ancient churches, and a stone bridge, over which Charles VII., in 1440, threw his rebellious subject, the Bastard of Bourbon, tied up in a sack. In 1814, Marshal Mortier here defeated the Austrians, who, a little after, defeated Oudinot. Trade in white wine, eaux-de-vie, corn, wool, wood, &c. Hotels.-De la Poste; du Mulet; de la Pomme d'Or (Golden Apple). CHAUMONT, or Chaumont. en-Bassigny, 162 miles from Paris. HOTELS.-Del'Écu-de-France (French Crown-piece); Population, 6,400. Chief town of department Marne, on a ridge of the Marne, where the Suize joins. It grew out of a castle built by the Counts of Champagne, was fortified by Louis XII., and is known in modern times for the treaty signed here by the Allies, against Napoleon, 1814. Some parts of it are well built; but there is little worth notice. Among the buildings are the Hôtel de Ville, which has a bust of Henry IV.; the palais de justice, the college, with a good portico to the chapel, library of 35,000 vols., and cabinet of natural history; hospital, theatre, fountains, made by Cordier de Béziers, and a triumphal arch, begun by Napoleon, but finished by Louis XVIII. Bouchardon, the sculptor, and Lamoise, the Jesuit, are natives. Manufactures of druggets, gloves of good quality, iron, cutlery, &c. The falls of the Marne are 1 kil. distant. From Chaumont, up the Marne, the next stats. are Clairvaux (8 miles), up the Aube, now a central House of Correction for 2,000 prisoners from thirteen departments, was once famous for the Cistercian abbey, founded 1105-14, by Hugh, count of Troyes, and St. Bernard. Here was the capacious Tun of Clairvaux, which held 2,000 hectolitres (each 24 gallons) of wine; with smaller casks, which held 250 to 1,000 hectolitres. Straw hats, gloves, &c., are made. A little northwest, in the forest, is Arconville-a great heap of stones, or cairn, gradually made by the contributions of passers by, on the spot where a Huguenot was killed in the wars of the League. Maranville (3 miles), in department Haute- triumphal arch in the west wall, built about 240, by Marne. [To the north-east is Cirey château, where Voltaire Bricon (6 miles). Coach to Château-Vilain. to the Orleans family, and was one of the finest Langres (18 kil.), an ancient town, sous-préfecture, bishopric, &c., and seat of the cutlery trade, on a hill-side by the Marne, which here runs through a cultivated plain, 1,457 feet above the sea. Marne, the Aube, the Meuse, &c., take their rise. It is the Roman Langonum, and there is yet an ancient Here the the Emperor Gordian. The old Romanesque cathedral of the 11th cent., has a modern front, and a fine view from the top. A library of 30,000 vols. is to be seen at the Hôtel de Ville, and a museum in St. Didier's old church. It has two theatres, a college, priests' seminary, &c. A walk through the Belie Fontaine promenade leads to the Fontaine de la Grenouille, among large trees. Diderot was a native, a cutler's son. The cutlery made here is of a superior kind. Hotels.-De l'Europe: De Paris: De la Poste. Population, 8,700. The next station to Langres is Chalindrey (6 miles), where a branch line turns off to Gray and Auxonne. [The stations are as follow Maatz (8 miles), Pop. 3,200. Champlitte (7 miles), an old fortified town. At 18 kil. north-west of it, is Fontaine-Francaise, Pontailier (32 miles), Lamarche (2) miles).] Favernay (4) miles). Coaches to Amance, Tauvilliers. Porte-sur-Saone (5 miles), on the Saône, has a trade in iron, cattle, &c., and remains of a castle, on an island near the bridge. Pop. 2,100. Coaches to Combeaufontaine (13 kil.) and Scey-sur-Saône, where there was once the fine seat of the Beaufremont family. At 42 miles further is VESOUL. 236 miles from Paris, C81 from Mulhouse." HOTELS.-De la Madeleine; De la Cigogne (Stork); De l'Aigle Noir (Black Eagle). This small capital of department Haute Saone (once Most of the buildings are modern-the oldest being From Chalindrey, on the main line, the next stat. is are also public baths, a salle de spectacle, cavalry barracks (built 1777), a priests' school, pépinière or Charmoy (4 miles). Coach to Fayl-Billot, which nursery, &c. has a good cutlery trade. Trade in wine, grain, &c. Coaches to Besançon, La Ferté-sur-Amance (2 miles). This is St. Loup, Plombières. Fossil bones have been found the stat. for Bourbonne-les-Bains. [BOURBONNE-LES-BAINS,' (42 kil. north-east, vid Montigny), in department HOTELS.-Du Commerce; Des Vosges.] Jussey (7 miles), on the Saône, in department Monthureux (4) miles). in the grotto of Trou-de-la-Baume, near Echenoz. The Baths are hot and cold, and are used from May Excursions in the neighbourhood to Jacquot farm, the Val d'Ajou, the valleys of Erival (and its abbey) and des Roches, the Tonnere stone, &c. They sell wood carvings and kirsch-wasser (cherry brandy) here. Conveyances, in the season, to Epinal, Besançon, Remiremont. Pop., 1,400. FOUGEROLLES (11 kil. south of Plombières), is the chief seat of the Kirsch-wasser trade, of which there are several important houses here. Pon, 1,100. Its perfume arises from the minute quantity of prussic acid contained in the kernels.] Colombier (5 miles), near two old castles. Crevenay (33 miles). Genevreuille (5 miles). Lure (5 miles), a sous-préfecture, in department Haute-Saône (pop. 3,250), on the wide marshy plain of the Oignon. It was once a strong place, and had an abbey, of the 7th cent., parts of which in the Grand Rue, or High street (where many large houses are seen) are used for the mairie, theatre, &c. The college is a large building, as is the Hotel de Ville, built 1836. Frequent markets and fairs are held. Coaches to Luxeuil, Villersexel. [VILLERSEXEL (19 kil.), on the Oignon, has the fine château of Lafayette's nephew, the Marquis de Grammont-a family whose castle stood formerly on the Montagne de Grammont (within view), with a Roman camp on it, and who founded a hospital here, 1769, as well as the ancient abbey of Vieux-Croissant. LUXEUIL (18 kil. north-west), or Luxen, is another place for mineral baths, in a plain under the Vosges mountains, covered with wood. The Breuchin divides it from St. Sauveur, a village of 1,150 souls. It was known to the Romans, as proved by an inscription at the Hôtel de Ville, in the Rue des Romains, where the Baths stand, in the midst of fine grounds, under the names of Bains des Femmes, des Hommes, &c. They are of a similar quality to those of Plombières. Luxeuil has a college, and an old Benedictine abbey. Pop. 3,800. Trade in hams, cattle, wine, grain. Hotels.-Du Lion d'Or (Golden Lion); Lion Vert (Green Lion).] Champagney (10 miles), on the Rohain, a mining village of 3,100 souls. Coach to Plancher-lesMiues. [HERICOURT (16 kil. south) on the little river Luzonne, a bustling village of 3,000 persons, chiefly Protestants, who use the nave of the church, while the Catholics take the choir. It has several old houses, and the castle of the dukes of Wurtemburg, who obtained it, 1561, along with Montbeliard.] Bas Evette (5 miles), is 41 miles from BELFORT, Or Befort, 274 miles from Paris, 30 from Mulhouse. Here the rail from Dijon and Besançon falls in (Route 21), as well as the old road, and five other high roads, making it a good place for trade. HOTELS.-De l'Ancienne Poste; Messageries Tonneau d'Or. Belfort is a sous-préfecture of 5,500 souls, in department Haut-Rhin, and a first-class fortress, in a healthy part of the Savoureuse, between the Vosges and Jura mountains. It has three gates and faubourgs, and is divided into Haute and Basse ville. The church was built, 1728; there are a good Hôtel de Ville, a college and a library of 20,000 vols.; also a military hospital and barracks. On the rocks above is the castle (or bel fort), built 1228, and held by the Austrians, till given up to France by the treaty of Munster, when it was fortified by Vauban, being the first on his system. Another rock to the north is crowned by a ruined tower, called Pierre Miotte. Trade in wine, eaux-de-vie, excellent kirsch-wasser, cheese, iron, brass, copper, &c. Coach to Giromagny. Chevremont (3 miles). Montreuil-Vieuil (42 miles), near the viaduct across the Rhine and Rhône canal. Coach to Delle. Dannemarie (5 miles). Altkirch (6 miles), a dull sous-préfecture, of 3,400 souls, on a hill-side by the Ill, with ruins of a château built by the Counts of Ferrette, and made the seat of the Dukes of Austria when Alsace belonged to them. Trade in pottery, hemp, ribbons, wine, cattle, &c. Hotels.-De la Tête d'Or (Golden Head). Coaches to Ferrette and Basle (33 kil, east), which is reached after passing a frontier douane at St. Louis. [FERRETTE (20 kil. south-south-east), or La Ferrette, has the picturesque remains of its old castle, on a rock above it, near a branch of the Ill, not far from the Swiss border. It figures in Scott's "Anne of Geierstein ;" and it has a well, they say, nearly 640 feet deep.-Lucelle, 9 kil. south-west of this, had a Cistercian abbey burnt 1524; to which was attached the castle of Loewenbourg, a ruin on a hill. That of Blomont, burnt by the Baslese, 1449, is on another hill.] Cross the Canal again to Illfurth (4) miles), from which is 53 miles to SECTION VI ROUTES THROUGH THE SOUTH OF FRANCE AND THE PYRENEES. CHIEFLY FROM BORDEAUX, IN CONNECTION WITH THE CHEMIN DE FER DU MIDI, or Southern Railway; SUPPLYING BAYONNE, BIARRITZ, DAX, PAU, CAUTERETS, EAUX-BONNES, EAUX-CHAUDES, TARBES, BAGNÈRES-DE-BIGORRE, BAGNÈRES-DELUCHON, ST. SAUVEUR, BARÈGES, AGEN, AUCH, MONTAUBAN, TOULOUSE, FOIX, CARCASSONNE, NARBONNE, PERPIGNAN, BEZIERS, CETTE, &c., IN THE OLD PROVINCES OF GUIENNE, GASCONY, LANGUEDOC, NAVARRE, BEARN, ROUSSILLON, &c. ROUTE 63. Bordeaux to La Teste, Arcachon, Mont de Marsan, Dax, Bayonne, into Spain. By rail to Bayonne, 198 kil., or 123 miles; three trains a day, in 5 to 7 hours. From the temporary station, near the Foundling Hospital (Enfants-Trouvés), in the south of Bordeaux, the line passes within view of Haut Brion, which annually produces about 120 tuns of one of the four first-growth clarets. It must not be bottled under six or seven years. Cross the Teste road, by a viaduct of 2,950 feet, on 91 arches, to Pessac (3 miles), near the Pope Clement vineyards; so called after Clement V., whose property they were when he was archbishop of Bordeaux. By a bull, in 1309, he gave them to his successors in the primacy, with whom they remained till the Revolution. Gazinet (3) miles), near traces of a Roman way, called the Levade. Here you are in the country (but not yet in the department) of Les Landes, a wild and desolate tract of Gascony, almost like an African desert--all sand, heath, and marshstretching about 50 leagues, and covering a million of acres between the Garrone and Adour. It is divided into Grandes and Petit Landes, including the landes of Médoc. The surface is so perfectly horizontal, that the streams, such as they are, flow either way, or settle into shallow pestilental lakes. It is intensely hot in summer. Nothing but pines grow; but wild fowl, game, wolves, foxes, wild boars, &c., are found in some parts. The shepherds, dressed in sheepskins, go about on tall stilts, or chanques: with which, assisted by a pole, they will sometimes travel three leagues an hour, never allowing any thing to turn them from the straight course. Each man, besides carrying a gun at his back for defence against the wolf, is also armed with a poële, or frying-pan, to serve for cooking. An attempt is to be made to plant, drain, and improve this tract, under a law of 1857. Pass Toquetoucan, a patois name for Touche tout doucement, or, Touch softly, because the marsh is dangerously soft, to Pierraton (4 miles). Mios (3 miles), or Chemin de Mios, near which is Croix de Heins, which marked a boundary (finis) in old time. Marcheprime (21 miles). Facture (21 miles), near the Leyre, which runs to the Basin of Arcachon, and which the Romans called Sigman. Lamothe (1 mile), a buffet, 243 miles from Bordeaux. Here the branch to Arcachon turns off. [The next stations for Arcachon, are Le Teich (2 miles). Mestras (2 miles). Gujan (miles), near an inlet of the name, and La Teste de Buch (1 mile), on the Bassin tobacco, &c., have been grown at Cazan, in the neighbourhood. In 1834 a company was formed to unite Bassin d'Arcachon with the other lakes by a navigable canal. This has been done in part, with a loss, however, to the company. Arcachon (1 mile), 36 miles from Bordeaux. Hotels.- Grand Hotel, first-rate establishment. Casino open all the year, Boarding House, Villas, &c. Des Empereurs de France; Le Gallais, situated on the beach. A bathing-place, on the Bassin d'Arcachon, which The Landes become more desolate afterwards. Salles (7 miles), between the Leyre and the Etang or lake of Cazan, is near the Roman Salomacum, in a spot which shows some signs of cultivation, and is therefore styled the "paradise" of the Landes Ichoux (8 miles), in department Les Landes, stands 190 feet above sea level, on a brook which turns a few inills. Pop., 800. Pass near the Lake of Parentis, then over the Moulasse, where the country begins to improve a little, to Labouheyre (8 miles), a decayed town. About 20 kil. south-west is Mimizan, which was a port in the Gulph of Gascony, till overwhelmed by the sands in the 16th cent. Its abbey church, now in ruins, stands in a circle of brick pyramids, supposed to be tombs. A Roman road went this way to Bordeaux. Sabres (5 miles), is the highest station on the line (280 feet), and some miles distant from that village, which has a pop. of 2,480. Morcenx (7 miles), or Morcens, is a Buffet at the junction with Mont de Marsan, which supplies St. Severs, Tarbes, Bagnères-de-Bigorre, &c. (Route £4). The Pyrenees may be seen on a clear day. Riom (8) miles). Coach to Tartas. [TARTAS (14 kil, east), on a hill-side over the Medouze, is an old place, once fortified, and, in 1441, was saved from the English, who were besieging it, by Charles VII. The château was demolished by Louis XIII., because of its attachment to the reformed faith. It has a good trade in vinegar, saffron, wine, fruit, Bayonnne horses, and resin (from the pine forests around). Pop., 3,300. Buglose (4) miles) has a pilgrim's chapel dedicated to an image of the Virgin, and is near Puoy de Monsonet, where the excellent Vincent de Paul was born, 1576, the son of a poor shepherd. Close to an old ruined chapel is an oak named after him; and from a hill, the highest in the department, you mar see Bordeaux. Further off, are the mineral spring of Prechacq and Gamardes. St. Paul-les-Dax (12 kil.), a place of forges and furnaces, with a Gothic church, built 1441, with marble carvings, inside and out, of Scripture subjects. DAX, 9 miles from Bordeaux. De l'Europe; De St. Etienne: De la Croix d'Or (Golden Cross.) Omnibuses to the town, whence there are con veyances to Orthes, Pau, Eaux-Bonnes, Cauterets, Bareges, &c. (Route 65). Pop., 6,130 A sous-préfecture, on the Adour, founded by the Romans, with the name of Aqua Tarbellica, on account of its hot mineral waters, of which the chief spring, called Fontaine de Nesle, in the middle of the town, falls into a large basin, in front of a kind of triumphal arch, among clouds of steam, the temperature being 160°. The supply is most abundant, especially in spring time. It is very clear; contains sulphates of soda and lime, &c.; and is used not only by the sick, for rheumatism, paralysis, old wounds, &c., but by the town's people, to wash and make their bread with. Another spring at Baignots, close by, has large bath rooms over it, and a temperature of 90° to 145°. Two bridges, one of wood and another on five stone arches, built 1857, lead over to Sablar faubourg, where the old church of St. Paul stands, which was a cathedral till the Revolution. The body having fallen in, 1646, was rebuilt 1719, but the original Gothic front, of the 13th cent., offers several carvings of Scripture subjects, within and without. Another church, St. Vincent's, contains the effigy of the saint, and traces of the original basilica of the 3rd cent. The bishop's palace is now the Mairie, the diocese being united to that of Aire. Between the bridges are the walls and round towers of the old moated castle of the 14th cent. The town walls are of a genuine Roman character; and a Roman way went hence to Toulouse. Dax was once an English town, but was taken by the Count of Foix, 1441. Ducos, the conventionist, General Ducos, and Borda, the ma Laluque (7 miles) has a large church and a thematician, were born here; and here the jambons chapel of St. Vincent de Paul. A little to the west, on the old road to Bayonne, is CASTETS, on the Palue, with a church supposed to have been built by the English, and an intermitting iron spring.] de Bayonne are cured, |