On 14 December, the President of the French Republic, Jacques Chirac, officially opened the Millau Viaduct in France's southern Aveyron region. The Viaduct completes the A75 motorway across the Massif Central, creating a direct link between Paris towards Barcelona, and spans the Tarn Gorge to alleviate the notorious traffic congestion throughout the area.
Designed by Foster and Partners in association with an engineering group led by the French engineer Michel Virlogeux, the Viaduct illustrates how a collaboration between architects and engineers can result in a structure of breathtaking beauty.
- BBC "French construction group Eiffage - that built the Eiffel Tower - financed the project in return for the right to collect receipts from a bridge toll for 75 years".
Two hundred years after the Consecration of Napoleon in Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris and the Emperor's commission of a major painting commemorating the event, the Louvre organizes an exhibition of about fifty works paying tribute to the celebrated painting by David.
The special exhibition is on show from 21 October 2004- 17 January 2005
...or shouldn't it be Qui est Qui en France?........the French language police should have scuppered le title! But one supposes that all the Academie Francaise is in the book, so, c'est normale, qua! Of course the book is en francais.
One can look people up online, but it is 5 euros to read the full entry. The Actualites page is quite fun.
Who's Who in France Accueil du Who's Who. Rechercher, Rechercher, Qui sommes-nous ? Qui sommes-nous ? Nouveaux entrants, Nouveaux entrants, ...
4-13 December 2004 the 44th Salon Nautique de Paris is gaining impetus with new attractions, a new area dedicated to Fishing (Village de la Peche) which will delight well-informed fisherman and initiate youngsters, not to mention the show's main attractions.
3rd Prix Litteraire Salon Nautique - le Point
The sea, maritime adventures, tales of great voyages, the islands or maritime regions…there are so many subjects for novels, travel diaries and other books!
The French Nautical Industries Federation (FIN), the Syndicat National de l'Edition (SNE), and the magazine le Point have joined together to pay tribute to works whose subjects centre around the sea. A judging panel, composed of personalities from the world of water sports and publishing, will award a prize to a novel and a finely illustrated book.
Tsunamis
have devastated thousands of families and entire communities
bordering the Indian Ocean in South Asia. While the world
turns toward dozens of humanitarian agencies to help the
people who are gripped with incredible suffering, some
are also thinking of the forgotten victims of natural
disaster....the animals. The World Health Organization
estimates that 5 million people are now without food,
water and shelter. What will happen to the animals
who were under their care?
Chateau
de Fontainebleau Open daily except Tuesdays Closed on
1st January, 1st May and 25 December Open from 9.30 am to
5pm (6pm from June to September)
