Conflans-Sainte-Honorine - by kerouac2
Jun 2, 2013 16:41:10 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 16:41:10 GMT
Conflans-Sainte-Honorine is a rather unique town in the outer suburbs of Paris. Actually, it is only 27 kilometers from Paris but the towns out there have a much more 'provincial' than suburban feel, and that is one of the attractions of it. It is located at the confluence of the Oise and Seine rivers, and that is the root of what makes the place unique -- it is considered to be the river navigation capital of France and a significant part of the population lives on boats and barges.
As for the name of the town, the "Conflans" part obviously comes from the Latin word for confluence, and the Sainte Honorine part is due to the fact that the relics of the saint (whoever she was) were brought from Le Havre to Conflans in 876 to keep them out of nasty Viking hands. But her name was not added to the name of the town until 1200. Naturally, after the French revolution, a saintly name was out of the question and the name was the rather dull "Confluent-de-Seine-et-Oise" for a number of years.
The town really became important only in 1855 when it became the first stage of the touage route to Paris. The English word for this (I just learned it 2 minutes ago) is "chain shipping" and it was a technique used throughout Europe (mostly in Germany). Basically, a huge chain is laid in the riverbed and a small steamship would pull itself along the chain while dragging about 12 barges behind it. Yes, there was a 27 kilometer chain to get to Paris.
The technique was abandoned gradually when steam engines became powerful enough to navigate upstream without using a chain. However, the Conflans-Paris chain remained in service until 1931.
Conflans-Sainte-Honorine stands on limestone bluffs and had a lot of quarries. Since transportation to Paris was easy, most of the Madeleine area of Paris was built with stones from Conflans. Later the Parisians dined off the quarries, because the gigantic underground caverns were used to produce champignons de Paris.
Okay, I'll admit it. This morning I did not have the slightest idea that I was going to Conflans-Sainte-Honorine. All I knew was that the sun was shining and that since the monthly 'Navigo' transportation passes have been 'dezoned' on weekends and holidays, I can go anywhere in the Paris metropolitan area without needing to buy a ticket. So I took the metro to Gare Saint Lazare and just looked at the departure board. (Last time I went to Gare du Nord to choose a destination, but I don't want the train stations to get jealous.)
As for the name of the town, the "Conflans" part obviously comes from the Latin word for confluence, and the Sainte Honorine part is due to the fact that the relics of the saint (whoever she was) were brought from Le Havre to Conflans in 876 to keep them out of nasty Viking hands. But her name was not added to the name of the town until 1200. Naturally, after the French revolution, a saintly name was out of the question and the name was the rather dull "Confluent-de-Seine-et-Oise" for a number of years.
The town really became important only in 1855 when it became the first stage of the touage route to Paris. The English word for this (I just learned it 2 minutes ago) is "chain shipping" and it was a technique used throughout Europe (mostly in Germany). Basically, a huge chain is laid in the riverbed and a small steamship would pull itself along the chain while dragging about 12 barges behind it. Yes, there was a 27 kilometer chain to get to Paris.
The technique was abandoned gradually when steam engines became powerful enough to navigate upstream without using a chain. However, the Conflans-Paris chain remained in service until 1931.
Conflans-Sainte-Honorine stands on limestone bluffs and had a lot of quarries. Since transportation to Paris was easy, most of the Madeleine area of Paris was built with stones from Conflans. Later the Parisians dined off the quarries, because the gigantic underground caverns were used to produce champignons de Paris.
Okay, I'll admit it. This morning I did not have the slightest idea that I was going to Conflans-Sainte-Honorine. All I knew was that the sun was shining and that since the monthly 'Navigo' transportation passes have been 'dezoned' on weekends and holidays, I can go anywhere in the Paris metropolitan area without needing to buy a ticket. So I took the metro to Gare Saint Lazare and just looked at the departure board. (Last time I went to Gare du Nord to choose a destination, but I don't want the train stations to get jealous.)
And so I was off to Conflans-Sainte Honorine...
Before 9 a.m. on a Sunday morning, the trains are not jam packed.
About half an hour later, I arrived and had to figure out where to go.
I had seen on the map that this huge park bordered the Seine, but I figured I would return to see it later.
In this northern part of the suburbs, we are not far from Charles de Gaulle airport.
This majestic residence made me know that I need to go and see the old part of town.
Obviously there is also a church.
Here's the Seine. That's what I want to see!
Before 9 a.m. on a Sunday morning, the trains are not jam packed.
About half an hour later, I arrived and had to figure out where to go.
I had seen on the map that this huge park bordered the Seine, but I figured I would return to see it later.
In this northern part of the suburbs, we are not far from Charles de Gaulle airport.
This majestic residence made me know that I need to go and see the old part of town.
Obviously there is also a church.
Here's the Seine. That's what I want to see!
