assassinated, 1389; and Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I., died here, 1670, in great poverty. The Palace, built 1572, by Gondy, a banker, having been bought by Louis XIV., was given to his brother, the Duke of Orléans, and rebuilt by Mansard, &c. It makes three sides of a square, with a principal front of 170 feet long, and had many painted and gilt saloons full of pictures, statuary, Sèvres china, tapestry, &c., most of which was ruined, 1870, when the Palace was set fire to by the French to prevent its occupation by the Germans. It is now rebuilding. Louis XVI. gave it to his queen; Bonaparte, when consul, carried out the revolution of 18 Brumaire (10th November, 1799) here; the capitulation of Paris was here signed, 1815, when it was occupied by Blücher; and hence Charles X. issued the famous ordonnances against the press, 1830, which ended in another revolution. It was one of the principal residences of the Emperor Napoléon. The private grounds and Grand Park were laid out by Le Nôtre, and are open to the public. In the latter, are the water-works and cascades, with a jet d'eau, rising 140 feet, and Napoléon's Lantern of Diogenes, a copy of that at Athens, whence there is a fine prospect. A three weeks' fête is held in September. The unfinished church has two paintings. A fourteen-arch bridge leads over to Boulogne, in the Bois or wood of which the English encamped, 1815. It is noted for its duels, races, its new waterfall, and the Longchamps promenade. A tunnel under the park opens out, with Sèvres on the left, near the bridge, towards Passy. It was founded 560, and has a population of 6,330, with a church full of new stained windows, and the government factory of porcelain, or Sèvres china, established 1755. The show rooms are open daily; there is also a fine museum of china, pottery, &c., of all ages and countries, to be seen, by order. The line here runs close to the rive gauche, or south-bank line, past Ville d'Avray, Chaville, Grand Montreuil (where Gen. Hoche was born), to the main line of the Chemin de l'Ouest at Viroflay, leaving the old line to go on to the terminus in Rue Duplessis, at Versailles (see Route 15), Asniéres, as in Route 8. The small branch to Argenteuil (Route 8) turns off before Colombes (department Seine) where our present branch turns off from the Rouen line. Coaches to Bézons, Houilles. Nanterre was the birth-place of St. Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris, and is noted for its sausages and cakes. The rest of the line to St. Germain is worked on the atmospheric plan, by two fixed engines here, and others at Châtou and St. Germain. Rueil (department Seine-et-Oise) to the left, has a large barrack, and a church, partly as old as the 13th century, in which are monuments of Josephine and her daughter, Hortense; the latter placed here by her son, the Emperor Napoléon. Population, 5,000. Malmaison, the favourite seat of Napoléon and Josephine (who died in it, 1814), now belongs to Queen Christina. It is a plain building, and includes Napoléon's library and cabinet (near the lodge), in which he was nearly captured, 1815, by Blücher's cavalry, but his guards having time to break down the wooden bridge of Châtou, he fled to Rochefort. Coach to Bougival (5 kil. south) near La Jouchère château, once the seat of Louis Bonaparte and Count Bertrand. At La Celle-St. Cloud is the château, given by Louis XV. to Madame de Pompadour, with that of Beauregard, in a fine spot, on a hill. Châtou, in Vesinct wood, where the railway crosses the Seine, resting on Ile Chiard, is to the right. To the left are Croissy and Les Gabillons. Coaches to Le Pecq and Neauphile-le-Château. [Beyond (across the river) are seen the Port Marly waterworks, and aqueduct, on 36 arches, 2,165 feet long, 70 feet high, erected at great cost, for supplying Versailles. The viaduct strikes towards Louveciennes on the hill side, and Maisons pavilion, which belonged to Madame du Barri. Louis XIV.'s seat at Marly was pulled down at the Revolution.] Vesinet. Here a short branch turns off to Le Pecq bridge, opposite St. Germain, but the main line goes round by another bridge to the old palace. ST.GERMAIN-EN-LAYE, or ST. GERMAINS, 18 kil. west of Paris, in a healthy spot on the slope of a hill, is celebrated for its royal Château, begun by Louis-le-Jeune, 1143, but rebuilt and enlarged by Francis I. and Louis XIV., who was born here; as were Henry II. and Charles IX. It was the residence of Mary Stuart (in her youth), Henry IV., and of James II. of England, who died here, 1701, and was buried in the Italian church, which contains a monument to him by George IV. It is a large heavy pile; and after being used as a barrack and military school, is now turned into a military penitentiary. James's body having been skirting the inner side of the fortifications. Embar- Les Batignolles, Courcelles, Neuilly (Porte Maillot), At Auteuil it connects with the Chemin de Ceinture, or circular line of Paris, which unites all the stations, and passes from Auteuil to Pont du Jour, Montrouge, Bel Air, Menilmontant, Avenue de Clichy, &c., round to Batignolles, a circuit of more than 24 miles, within the fortifications. It leaves the main line close to the Entrepôt. Les Batignolles, near the Barrière de Clichy and Parc des Monceaux, a flat spot now largely built on, with a population of nearly 30,000. Omnibuses, called "Batignolles," run to the Palais Royal. Courcelles, a suburban village. Neuilly, or Porte Maillot, near the Avenue de Neuilly, outside the Triumphal Arch and Champs embalmed had been removed to the convent of Élysées. The avenue leads to Château de Neuilly, English Bernardines at Paris for interment in England, when the sans culottes, at the Revolution, broke open the coffin, but it was at length safely restored to St. Germains, where it now lies. A noble shaded terrace, begun by Henry IV., is above 100 feet broad, and 7,870 feet long, and commands a fine prospect. The forest to the north was called Laia when the monastery of St. Germain was founded in the 11th century. It covers 8,000 acres, and two fairs are held in it-one near the Château des Loges for three days in September, when people picnic under the trees, ending with a dance. La Muette pavilion is used for a racing stud, under the management of Prince, of Newmarket. Population, 14,283. Many English live here. Church Service on Sunday. Good hotels, but all dear. Café du Pavillon d'Henri IV. Conveyances to Marly, Maule, Meulan, Poissy. At Cambourcy (2 kil.), near Marly forest, are some fine chestnuts, and the domain of Ketz, called the Desert. ROUTE 10-C. (Lignes de Banlieue.) Paris to Auteuil. the favourite seat of Louis Philippe, much injured by the mob in 1848. It was built 1755, by Comte d'Argenson, in the Italian style; and, at various times, was inhabited by Talleyrand, Princess Borghese, and Prince Murat. The house and grounds were beautifully laid out by the king, who was offered the crown here, 1830. A pillar marks where he was shot at just before that event. A bridge crosses the Seine. Nearer Paris, outside the triumphal arch, is a Chapel, on the spot where his son, the Duke of Orléans, was killed, when driving to the Château, 13th July, 1842. It contains two statues by his sister, Marie of Würtemburg. The Bois de Boulogne lies beyond the fortifications, and is a pleasant spot, ornamented with trees, several pieces of water, with a waterfall, &c. There was once a cell here to Nôtre Dame, of Boulogne-on-the-Sea, from which the name is derived. It contains Longchamp promenade, near the Seine. Before the Revolution there was an abbey close to Suresnes, founded by St. Louis's sister, Isabelle, which the ladies of Louis XIV.'s court used to attend in Passion Week; and hence arose the custom of appearing here in gay equipages at that time of A line about 3 miles long, out of the Rouen line, the year, when the spring fashions appear, Avenue de Bois de Boulogne (formerly de l'Impératrice), near the Porte Dauphine. Passy, on the slope of a hill by the Seine, is celebrated for its residents. Franklin lived here, 1788, and gives name to a street; also Abbé Raynal who died here, 1796; the Comte d'Estaing, who fought with Rodney; and Piccini and Bellini, the composers. Janin, the critic, who translated Clarissa Harlowe, &c., died at this villa, 1874. It has a Ranelagh Garden, near the site of La Muette Château, and a good iron spa, which is useful in indigestion, &c. An omnibus runs to the Palais Royal. Population, 5,200. Auteuil, near Bois de Boulogne, &c., was the favourite residence of Boileau, Molière, Racine, Lafontaine, Condorcet, Helvetius, Count Romford, and others. Population, 6,363. Boileau's house is still shown in the sixth street, to the left, from the church, on the St. Cloud road. A château occupies the site of Molière's. The spire church of the 12th century has the tomb of Nicolai; and there is a pillar to Chancellor d'Aguesseau in the Place. Population, 4,300. St. Cloud lies across the Bois de Boulogne. Sèvres is also near at hand. A steamer from Pont Royal touches here. Paris to Mantes, Evreux, Caen, and By rail, opened throughout in 1858; 230 miles. Two or three trains daily, 10 hours to 13 hours. A single line of rail for the most part. To [Pacy-sur-Eure (6 kil.), a decayed town on the Eure, once fortified, and given up by Richard I., with other places, as a ransom, to Philippe Auguste, 1196. Its church is ancient. About 20 kil. south, higher up the river, is the battle field of Ivry (see Route 8). A line is open from this to Vernon and Gisors (see p. 34).] A tunnel, of 978 feet, opens on a fine panorama, in the centre of which, 10 miles further, stands EVREUX, 67 miles from Paris. HOTEL.-Du Grand Cerf (Stag). OBJECTS OF NOTICE.-Cathedral-St. Tau rin's Church-Belfry Tower-Bishop's Palace. Population, 12,300. Capital of department Eure, seat of a diocese, &c., and once the head of a county which in Norman times gave name to the D'Evreux, or Devereux family (now represented by Lor Hereford) in England. It stands in a hollow among orchards and gardens, on an island made by the Iton. The old Roman town of Aulerei Eburo vices (of which name the present is a corruption), was at Vieil Evreux (9 miles off), where pieces of an aqueduct, baths, &c., have been found. present town was burnt or harassed many times between 1119 and 1441, when it was finally taken from the English by the French. It has good walks, broad streets, and several old-fashioned houses of wood and plaster. The The Cathedral is cross-shaped, and in various styles, from Norman downwards, to the 16th century, the oldest part being that built by Henry I., of Mantes, as in Route 8, descending the Seine, England. It has a tower of about 260 feet, a good 35 miles. A buffet; wait 20 minutes. Hotels.-Grand Cerf; De la Chasse Royal. Leaving the main line, with the Forest and Château de Rosny (once Sully's seat), to the east, our line passes through Boissy-Mauvoisin tunnel, 2,282 feet long, to Breval (8 miles), near the wood of that name, and the river Randon, which it crosses several times, and then reaches Bueil (6 miles), on the Eure, which gives name to the department we here enter, a part of Normandy. Rail to Dreux (page 67) and Pacysur-Eure (as below). Boisset-Pacy (6 miles) station, is properly Boisset-les-Prévanges. Coach to Pacy. north portal, and Lady chapel, with the rose and other windows beautifully stained, besides some good carving in the choir. St St. Taurin's Church (which was part of an abbey founded in the 7th century, and now a priest's seminary), has a very ancient specimen of the Byzantine style (like the Norman) in the south transept, and the saint's curious chasse, or ornamented shrine, as old as the 13th century. Gille's old church is now used as a stable. The Tour de l'Horloge, or belfry, was built 1472-97, by Pierre Moteau; it is 144 feet high, to the top of the spire, and has been partly restored. Two inscriptions in black letters are traced on it. Other buildings are the préfecture (over the hospital), the [Sec. 2. There bishop's palace of the 15th century, the new hospital, Manufactures of coarse cottons (coutil or ticking, &c.), stockings, linen, leather, and paper. Formerly flutes, and ivory and boxwood combs were made here. Conveyances to Chartres, Dreux, and Tillières. La Bonneville (54 miles), on the Iton. It has an old church with good stained windows. Glisottes, near this, is the seat of the Duc de Clermont-Tonnerre. Through a pretty valley and a tunnel of 1,640 feet, to Conches (5 miles), on a stream of the same name. Besides remains of an abbey and castle, it has a good Church, with 23 stained windows; the subject being the life of St. Foi. Nails are made. By rail (via Le Fidelaire, Lyre and Rugles) to L'Aigle, Verneuil, &c., towards Dreux. [L'Aigle (22 miles from Conches), has a popula- The RILLES near this (population, 5,700), on the Rille, has manufactures of nails, pins, needles. Verneuil (14 miles from L'Aigle), in the fertile part of the Avre, was fortified by Henry I., of England, and repeatedly taken and retaken, till given up to the French, 1449. The Duke of Bedford defeated Charles VII. here, 1424. Among its remains of antiquity are the cathedral Church and its spire (seen ten miles off), with quaint carvings on it; the beautiful tower of the Madeleine church; the Tour Grise on the old walls, large and round, about 66 feet diameter; and many Gothic houses of timber or brick. The public library has 3,000 volumes, and the walks are pleasant. Population, 4,100. Leather, for bookbinders, is prepared here. Hotels.-De la Poste; Du Cygne (Swan St. Martin.] Grand Romilly (4 miles) on the Andelle, which turns a foundry for zinc and copper. Beaumont-le-Roger (6 miles), belonged to Roger-à-la-Barbe, one of the Conqueror's great vassals. Population, 2,800. St. Nicholas's Church is worth notice. There are also remains of the castle of an old priory (now a factory), and the tower of Beaumontel Church. In the neighbouring forest is a curiosity, called Fontaine-Roger, with the fine NEUBOURG, with a great hall and other parts of a Serquigny (3 miles), at the junction of the Rille and Charentonne, is said to have taken its name from Serquinius, a Roman. A camp is traceable. The Marquis de Croise owns three cotton factories here. The church is ancient. Here a line turns off via Brionne (6 miles), and Glos-Montfort (2 miles), with branches towards Elbœuf and Pont Audemer. That to Elboeuf (see Route 8), passes over the Seine to the Rouen line. That to Pont Audemer, 33 miles long, turns from GlosMontfort past Montfort St. Philibert, Appeville, etc. Α [Brionne is a pretty spot on the Rille, with good It Pont Audemer, a sous-préfecture, of 6,860 population, in the fertile valley of the Rille, called after one Odomar, who founded it in the 5th century. It suffered in the English and civil wars. It has three or four churches. Trade in leather (for which it is noted), corn, cider, wool, &c. Hotels. De l'Image de St. Pierre; Du Lion d'Or (Golden Lion). Coach to Bernay on the Cherbourg line. At 12 kil. north-east, is Quillebœuf, a pilot station, on a point of the Seine, which the Norman dukes gave to Jumièges Abbey, and the walls of which were reduced by Louis XIV. Population, 1,350. The Seine is full of shifting sands here, and the tide frequently rushes in with a bore six feet high, at some risk to the shipping.] Bernay (5 miles), has a buffet, and is a souspréfecture in department Eure, in a hollow on the Charentonne, with 7,600 population, who manufacBesides some old ture linens, flannels, cotton, &c. houses (in Rue aux Févres), and two churches of the 15th century, it has at the corn hall, part of a Benedictine abbey, founded 1018, in the Norman style. Here was born, in 1150, Alexandre de Bernay, from whose productions the French heroic measure of twelve syllables is called Alexandrine. A cattle fair in March is attended by great numbers. Hotels.-Le Cheval Blanc (White Horse); Le Lion d'Or (Golden Lion). About 10 kil. to the south-west is Broglie, with its old church, and seat of the Duc de Broglie, pronounced "Bróille." St. Mards Orbec (8 miles), a village of 1,200 population, is 17 kil. from Orbec, which possesses a church and an old château, in a charming situation. Here we leave department Eure, and enter that of Calvados, so christened by the Constituent Assembly, after a ship of the Armada, which had been lost on its rocky coast. Lisieux (9 miles), a sous-préfecture in department Calvados, on the Touques, where the Orbec joins it, in a rich valley. It was the Roman Lerovii, whence this part is still called Pays de Lieuvain. Henry II. of England married Eleanor here, 1152 and here his rebellious subject, Becket, came when exiled, 1169. Grand Rue is the best built street the others are St. narrow and winding, with many curious timbered A branch rail to Pont l'Evêque, Trouville, and Orbec, now a station on a branch line from Lisieux, 19 kil. long, opened 1873, can be reached via Glos, Mesnil-Guillaume (as above), St. Marten-de-Mailloc, Chapel-Yvon, etc. [At 18 kil. to the south is Livarot, which is noted for its cheese; and 10 kil. beyond it, VIMOUTIERS, where large manufactures of coarse linens employ 20,000 people in and around the town.] Leaving Lisieux, the railway runs through the valley of Auge, the seat of an ancient county; and then through Motte tunnel, 7,759 feet long, and comes out at Houblonnière, where Cervoise beer is made. Its castle belonged to the Knights Templars, and is opposite Val-Richer Abbey, lately the seat of Guizot, where he died September, 1874. Here he was visited by President Thiers. This was a Bernardine house, now partly restored. Mesnil-Mauger (11 miles), on the Vie and Further on Viette, near Capo-Mesnil château. near the Dive, is Plainville château. Here was the abbey of St. Barbe-en-Auge, which belonged to Tankerville, the Conqueror's chamberlain. |