Mâcon
Encyclopedia
Mâcon is a small city (commune
) in central France. It is prefecture of the Saône-et-Loire
department, in the region of Bourgogne
, and the capital of the Mâconnais district
. Mâcon is home to over 35,000 residents, called Mâconnais.
, between Bresse
in the East and the Beaujolais
hills in the South. Mâcon is the southernmost city in the region of Burgundy. It is located 65 kilometres north of Lyon
and 400 kilometres from Paris.
The Saône river
runs through the town. The climate is temperate with a slight continental tendency.
and of a river port by the Celts from the Aedui
, probably at the beginning of the first century BC. Known then under the name of Matisco, the town developed significantly during the age of the Roman Empire
. During the 4th century, the town was fortified.
During the Middle Ages
, Mâcon was the administrative center of a county belonging to the Duchy of Burgundy
, situated at the extremity of the bridge over the Saône leading to the Bresse
territory belonging to the Duchy of Savoy
. The town was controlling access to present-day Lamartinien Valley (Val Lamartinien), where the southern end of the Côte de Bourgogne joins the first foothills of the Beaujolais
hills, opening the way to the rich plains of the Loire
.
On 3 June 1564, Charles IX
from Chalon
, stopped in the town during his Royal Tour of France (1564–1566), accompanied by the Court and the nobles of his kingdom, including his brother the Duke of Anjou
, Henry of Navarre
, the cardinals of Bourbon and Lorraine. The town is strategically built: it was a possible entrance into the kingdom for the Swiss or German mercenaries during the French Wars of Religion
. He was welcomed by the Queen Jeanne III of Navarre
, nicknamed the “Queen of Protestants”, and 1,500 Huguenots.
poet and historian Alphonse de Lamartine
.
In 1790, the Revolutionary government
designated Mâcon as the capital (chef-lieu
) of Saône-et-Loire
, a newly-created département within the radical restructuring of national administration.
In 1814, the town was invaded by Austrian troops and then liberated twice by French troops before being permanently occupied until the fall of the Empire. After Napoléon
’s return and the subsequent Hundred Days
, Mâcon and the Mâconnais
were again captured by the Austrians.
between Paris and Lyon. The town was liberated on 4 September by the troops who had landed in Provence
.
competition.
and Crèches-sur-Saône
communes. The Urban Transport Area of the SITUM extends over 28 communes in total.
On the evening of 30 June 2009, the Mâcon Bus services ceased operation. This was due to the public service delegation contract between the SITUM and the Mâcon Bus company (a subsidiary of Transdev
), operating the network since 1987, not being renewed at the last call for bids. So since 1 July 2009, the company CarPostal Mâcon (CarPostal France's subsidiary) has been providing city transport services on the network renamed Tréma.
The network Tréma, restructured on 31 August 2009, made the following bid:
Mâcon is run by the network Buscephale of Saône-et-Loire
’s local council.
Mâcon is a member of CAMVAL (agglomeration community of the Mâconnais – Val de Saône districts). It is also where the CAMVAL headquarters is located.
s and four lycées. These establishments are located in the same area in the west of the city, with the exception of the collèges Schuman (north) and Saint-Exupery (south).
or Montceau-les-Mines
which are losing jobs. This dynamism is particularly helped by the many transportation links available and its proximity to Lyon
.
The decline in the town’s population is much to the profit of a phenomenon of urban sprawl in the communes of the Mâconnais
as well as the adjacent Ain. That is why the area of influence of Mâcon, the “Greater Mâcon”, focuses on three departments: the Saône-et-Loire, the Ain and the Rhône. Thus, among the 47 communes with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants in the urban area, 41 are currently growing and 6 are stable or in slight decline.
The center is the town’s shopping area. Most shops are located near the Town Hall (rue Carnot, rue Dufour, rue Sigorgne, rue Philibert-Laguiche, rue Dombert, rue Franche, the quay Lamartine, the esplanade Lamartine and rue de la Barre).
It is also the historical center of the town. Most monuments are located in that area (Cathedral of Saint-Vincent, Church Saint Pierre...), as are the town’s two museums.
The town centre consists of several districts which are all rather different from each other. With its Place aux Herbes, the Saint-Antoine district is the historic heart of Mâcon, despite its relative distance from the Town Hall. This district covers the northern part of the town centre; it is crossed by the rue de Strasbourg and consists of narrow lanes. There is the prefecture of Saône-et-Loire and the old Saint-Vincent Cathedral commonly called the Old Saint-Vincent.
Further west lies the Square de la Paix, bordered by the Hôtel-Dieu, the Palais de Justice, Saint-Vincent Cathedral, plus the Vallon des Rigollettes and the Héritan district.
From the late 1990s to the early 2000s, the esplanade Lamartine
underwent extensive redevelopment and upgrades. The winding car park and damaged cobblestones were replaced by an underground car park on three levels, a larger and brighter esplanade, bars, and a stage on the water (of the Saône river
) which now accommodates all kinds of events, concerts and shows. The Statue Lamartine, which sits proudly on the esplanade, was completely renovated. Small gardens now brighten up the immense space that Mâcon’s Esplanade Lamartine
occupies. All along, one can find an extract from the famous poem by Lamartine
, “Le Lac”: "Time, halt in your flight... " engraved in the ground in silver letters.
The north-east of Mâcon is composed of various residential areas and the town’s sport centres (Physical Activity Training Course (P.A.P.A), public swimming pool, Centre for Sports Education, rowing, sailing and water skiing clubs, several football fields and clubs, and the Sports Palace). ). The residential areas consist mainly of low-rent council estates ( HLM
) with districts such as the priority development areas (ZUP) of Mâcon or the boulevard des États-Unis (road belonging administratively to the Saugeraies district).
, Lamartine, Alexandre Dumaine and Ozanam
) and most of the colleges are located, along with some residential areas merged with those of Charnay-lès-Mâcon
, the Hospital of Mâcon and the historic working class area of Mâcon,Bioux.
grape. The best known appellation of the Mâconnais is Pouilly-Fuissé
.
Mâcon holds the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Saône-et-Loire, which manages the river port of Mâcon through Aproport, the Automotive Training Center (CFA Automobile) and the Macon-Charnay airport. The headquarters for the Chamber of Agriculture of Saône-et-Loire is also based in Mâcon.
) featuring many concerts of a wide range of musical styles (classical, French song, jazz, rock, folk, hip-hop, rap), many shows (dance, comedy), open air film shows, open air plays, sporting events. In 2011, 48.000 people attended the festival.
Every year in July, the Crescent Jazz Club holds a jazz festival during three days (as part of the "Eté frappé" Festival) featuring international jazz musicians.
, United Kingdom, since 1957 Overijse
, Belgium, since 28 August 1960 Macon
, Georgia
, United States, since 1972 Shumen
, Bulgaria, since 18 September 2006 Lecco
, Italy, since 12 May 1973 Alcázar de San Juan
, Spain, since 15 March 1980 Eger
, Hungary, since 11 May 1985 Pori
, Finland, since 11 May 1990 Santo Tirso
, Portugal, since 20 June 1992
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
) in central France. It is prefecture of the Saône-et-Loire
Saône-et-Loire
Saône-et-Loire is a French department, named after the Saône and the Loire rivers between which it lies.-History:When it was formed during the French Revolution, as of March 4, 1790 in fulfillment of the law of December 22, 1789, the new department combined parts of the provinces of southern...
department, in the region of Bourgogne
Bourgogne
Burgundy is one of the 27 regions of France.The name comes from the Burgundians, an ancient Germanic people who settled in the area in early Middle-age. The region of Burgundy is both larger than the old Duchy of Burgundy and smaller than the area ruled by the Dukes of Burgundy, from the modern...
, and the capital of the Mâconnais district
Mâconnais
The Mâconnais district lies in the south of the Burgundy wine region in France, west of the River Saône. It takes its name from the town of Mâcon. It is best known as a source of good value white wines made from the Chardonnay grape; the wines from Pouilly-Fuissé are particularly sought-after....
. Mâcon is home to over 35,000 residents, called Mâconnais.
Geography
The city lies on the western bank of the Saône riverSaône
The Saône is a river of eastern France. It is a right tributary of the River Rhône. Rising at Vioménil in the Vosges department, it joins the Rhône in Lyon....
, between Bresse
Bresse
Bresse is a former French province. It is located in the regions of Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne, and Franche-Comté of eastern France. The geographical term Bresse has two meanings: Bresse bourguignonne , which is situated in the east of the department of Saône-et-Loire, and Bresse, which is located...
in the East and the Beaujolais
Beaujolais
Beaujolais is a French Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée wine generally made of the Gamay grape which has a thin skin and is low in tannins. Like most AOC wines they are not labeled varietally. Whites from the region, which make up only 1% of its production, are made mostly with Chardonnay grapes...
hills in the South. Mâcon is the southernmost city in the region of Burgundy. It is located 65 kilometres north of Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
and 400 kilometres from Paris.
The Saône river
Saône
The Saône is a river of eastern France. It is a right tributary of the River Rhône. Rising at Vioménil in the Vosges department, it joins the Rhône in Lyon....
runs through the town. The climate is temperate with a slight continental tendency.
Ancient and Medieval eras
The agglomeration of Mâcon originates from the establishment of an oppidumOppidum
Oppidum is a Latin word meaning the main settlement in any administrative area of ancient Rome. The word is derived from the earlier Latin ob-pedum, "enclosed space," possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *pedóm-, "occupied space" or "footprint."Julius Caesar described the larger Celtic Iron Age...
and of a river port by the Celts from the Aedui
Aedui
Aedui, Haedui or Hedui , were a Gallic people of Gallia Lugdunensis, who inhabited the country between the Arar and Liger , in today's France. Their territory thus included the greater part of the modern departments of Saône-et-Loire, Côte-d'Or and Nièvre.-Geography:The country of the Aedui is...
, probably at the beginning of the first century BC. Known then under the name of Matisco, the town developed significantly during the age of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. During the 4th century, the town was fortified.
During the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, Mâcon was the administrative center of a county belonging to the Duchy of Burgundy
Duchy of Burgundy
The Duchy of Burgundy , was heir to an ancient and prestigious reputation and a large division of the lands of the Second Kingdom of Burgundy and in its own right was one of the geographically larger ducal territories in the emergence of Early Modern Europe from Medieval Europe.Even in that...
, situated at the extremity of the bridge over the Saône leading to the Bresse
Bresse
Bresse is a former French province. It is located in the regions of Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne, and Franche-Comté of eastern France. The geographical term Bresse has two meanings: Bresse bourguignonne , which is situated in the east of the department of Saône-et-Loire, and Bresse, which is located...
territory belonging to the Duchy of Savoy
Duchy of Savoy
From 1416 to 1847, the House of Savoy ruled the eponymous Duchy of Savoy . The Duchy was a state in the northern part of the Italian Peninsula, with some territories that are now in France. It was a continuation of the County of Savoy...
. The town was controlling access to present-day Lamartinien Valley (Val Lamartinien), where the southern end of the Côte de Bourgogne joins the first foothills of the Beaujolais
Beaujolais
Beaujolais is a French Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée wine generally made of the Gamay grape which has a thin skin and is low in tannins. Like most AOC wines they are not labeled varietally. Whites from the region, which make up only 1% of its production, are made mostly with Chardonnay grapes...
hills, opening the way to the rich plains of the Loire
Loire (river)
The Loire is the longest river in France. With a length of , it drains an area of , which represents more than a fifth of France's land area. It is the 170th longest river in the world...
.
On 3 June 1564, Charles IX
Charles IX of France
Charles IX was King of France, ruling from 1560 until his death. His reign was dominated by the Wars of Religion. He is best known as king at the time of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.-Childhood:...
from Chalon
Chalon-sur-Saône
Chalon-sur-Saône is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is the largest city in the department; however, the department capital is the smaller city of Mâcon....
, stopped in the town during his Royal Tour of France (1564–1566), accompanied by the Court and the nobles of his kingdom, including his brother the Duke of Anjou
Henry III of France
Henry III was King of France from 1574 to 1589. As Henry of Valois, he was the first elected monarch of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the dual titles of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1573 to 1575.-Childhood:Henry was born at the Royal Château de Fontainebleau,...
, Henry of Navarre
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
, the cardinals of Bourbon and Lorraine. The town is strategically built: it was a possible entrance into the kingdom for the Swiss or German mercenaries during the French Wars of Religion
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
. He was welcomed by the Queen Jeanne III of Navarre
Jeanne III of Navarre
Jeanne d'Albret , also known as Jeanne III or Joan III, was the queen regnant of Navarre from 1555 to 1572. She married Antoine de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme, and was the mother of Henry of Bourbon, who became King of Navarre and of France as Henry IV, the first Bourbon king...
, nicknamed the “Queen of Protestants”, and 1,500 Huguenots.
Revolutionary and Imperial eras
On 21 October 1790, the matriarch of a prominent local family gave birth to a son who remains highly visible in his hometown, the RomanticRomantic poetry
Romanticism, a philosophical, literary, artistic and cultural era which began in the mid/late-1700s as a reaction against the prevailing Enlightenment ideals of the day , also influenced poetry...
poet and historian Alphonse de Lamartine
Alphonse de Lamartine
Alphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine was a French writer, poet and politician who was instrumental in the foundation of the Second Republic.-Career:...
.
In 1790, the Revolutionary government
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
designated Mâcon as the capital (chef-lieu
Chef-lieu
A chef-lieu is a town or city that is pre-eminent, from an administrative perspective, in any given sub-division of territory in France and some French-speaking countries.-In Algeria:...
) of Saône-et-Loire
Saône-et-Loire
Saône-et-Loire is a French department, named after the Saône and the Loire rivers between which it lies.-History:When it was formed during the French Revolution, as of March 4, 1790 in fulfillment of the law of December 22, 1789, the new department combined parts of the provinces of southern...
, a newly-created département within the radical restructuring of national administration.
In 1814, the town was invaded by Austrian troops and then liberated twice by French troops before being permanently occupied until the fall of the Empire. After Napoléon
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
’s return and the subsequent Hundred Days
Hundred Days
The Hundred Days, sometimes known as the Hundred Days of Napoleon or Napoleon's Hundred Days for specificity, marked the period between Emperor Napoleon I of France's return from exile on Elba to Paris on 20 March 1815 and the second restoration of King Louis XVIII on 8 July 1815...
, Mâcon and the Mâconnais
Mâconnais
The Mâconnais district lies in the south of the Burgundy wine region in France, west of the River Saône. It takes its name from the town of Mâcon. It is best known as a source of good value white wines made from the Chardonnay grape; the wines from Pouilly-Fuissé are particularly sought-after....
were again captured by the Austrians.
Second World War
During World War II, Mâcon was the first town in the unoccupied zone libreZone libre
The zone libre was a partition of the French metropolitan territory during the Second World War, established at the Second Armistice at Compiègne on June 22, 1940. It lay to the south of the demarcation line and was administered by the French government of Marshal Philippe Pétain based in Vichy,...
between Paris and Lyon. The town was liberated on 4 September by the troops who had landed in Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
.
Main sights
- The Old Saint-Vincent in the town centre
- Mâcon Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Vincent de Mâcon) Mâcon CathedralMâcon Cathedral is a former Roman Catholic cathedral in Mâcon, Burgundy, France.It was formerly the seat of the Bishop of Mâcon, abolished under the Concordat of 1801 and merged into the Diocese of Autun....
in the town centre - Museum of Fine Arts (former Ursuline ConventConventA convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
) - Hôtel de Senecé (LamartineAlphonse de LamartineAlphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine was a French writer, poet and politician who was instrumental in the foundation of the Second Republic.-Career:...
museum) - Saint-Clément Catholic Church in the district of Saint-Clément
- Church Saint-Pierre, Place Saint-Pierre, opposite the Town Hall
- The Municipal Olympic Pool of Mâcon
- The Maison des Vins or Maison Maconnaise des Vins, located on De-Lattre de Tassigny Avenue.
- The Quai Lamartine (quay), the Vallon des Rigollettes, the Physical Activity Training Course (P.A.P.A) and the Marina: many places suitable for walking and relaxing.
- The Theater of Mâcon (public theatre) is located not far from the Maison des vins on the Droits de l'Homme esplanade.
- Château Saint-Jean, located in the old commune of Saint-Jean-le-Priche annexed to Mâcon in 1972
- Château des Perrières, on a hill overlooking the town
Parks and gardens
In 2007, the city was awarded the Grand Prix prize and “4 flowers” in the Entente FloraleEntente Florale
The Entente Florale is an international horticultural competition established to recognise municipalities and villages in Europe for excellence in horticultural displays. Trophies are presented annually by tourist boards and horticultural societies of European countries...
competition.
Transportation
Mâcon is connected to neighbouring major cities through various routes:- Roads:
- A6 motorwayA6 autoroute (France)The A6, also known as the Autoroute du Soleil, Sun's Motorway, , is an Autoroute in France, linking Paris to Lyon. The motorway starts at Paris's Porte d'Orléans and Porte d'Italie with two branches, numbered A6a and A6b respectively, that join south of Paris...
(Route: Paris-LyonLyonLyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
) - A40 MotorwayA40 autorouteThe Autoroute A40 is a spectacular motorway in France that extends from Mâcon on the west to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains on the east, terminating not far from Chamonix and the Mont Blanc Tunnel. The road runs through Bresse, the high southern Jura Mountains, northern Prealps and French Alps. It was...
(route: Mâcon-GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
) - A406 MotorwayA406 autorouteThe A406 autoroute is a 10 km motorway in Mâcon, France. It was opened in 2008. In 2011, it will connect the RN79, and also the A6 motorway with the A40 motorway -External links:*...
(bypass south of Mâcon): This motorway is currently under construction - Route nationale 6Route nationale 6The Route nationale 6 is a trunk road in France between Paris and the frontier with Italy in the Alps.- Reclassification :The RN 6 runs parallel for a long portion of its route to the A 6 autoroute...
- RCEA (Center-Europe-Atlantic road) which allows a direct traffic flow from AnnemasseAnnemasseAnnemasse is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the border with Switzerland. It is the second town in the Haute-Savoie department with a population estimated to 29'450 in 2010.-Geography:...
to NantesNantesNantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
or BordeauxBordeauxBordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture... - The François Mitterrand Bridge is the second work of construction connecting Mâcon to the left bank of the Saône River
- A6 motorway
- Railway Infrastructures:
- Gare TGV Mâcon-Loché-TGV (routes: Paris-MarseilleMarseilleMarseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
and Paris-GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
) - Gare SNCF Mâcon-Ville (routes DijonDijonDijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
-LyonLyonLyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
and DijonDijonDijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
-MarseilleMarseilleMarseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
)
- Gare TGV Mâcon-Loché-TGV (routes: Paris-Marseille
- River infrastructures:
- The Saône riverSaôneThe Saône is a river of eastern France. It is a right tributary of the River Rhône. Rising at Vioménil in the Vosges department, it joins the Rhône in Lyon....
which allows access to the Mediterranean Sea via the RhôneRhôneRhone can refer to:* Rhone, one of the major rivers of Europe, running through Switzerland and France* Rhône Glacier, the source of the Rhone River and one of the primary contributors to Lake Geneva in the far eastern end of the canton of Valais in Switzerland...
River
- The Saône river
Public transport
Mâcon uses the urban transport service Tréma, run by the organising transport authorities, the SITUM (Inter-communal City Transport Union of Mâconnais – Val de Saône). The SITUM currently consists of 3 members: CAMVAL (Agglomeration Community of Mâcon-Val de Saône) (26 communes) and the ChaintréChaintré
Chaintré is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.-Wine:The vineyards of Chaintré form part of the appellation d'origine contrôlée Pouilly-Fuissé.-References:*...
and Crèches-sur-Saône
Crêches-sur-Saône
Crêches-sur-Saône is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.-References:*...
communes. The Urban Transport Area of the SITUM extends over 28 communes in total.
On the evening of 30 June 2009, the Mâcon Bus services ceased operation. This was due to the public service delegation contract between the SITUM and the Mâcon Bus company (a subsidiary of Transdev
Transdev
Transdev was a major international public transport group based in Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris, France and operating in several countries. Originally created as Société centrale pour l'équipement du territoire in 1955 and developing transportation activities since 1973, Transdev was a subsidiary...
), operating the network since 1987, not being renewed at the last call for bids. So since 1 July 2009, the company CarPostal Mâcon (CarPostal France's subsidiary) has been providing city transport services on the network renamed Tréma.
The network Tréma, restructured on 31 August 2009, made the following bid:
- urban lines (A to G) going through Mâcon, Crèches-sur-SaôneCrêches-sur-SaôneCrêches-sur-Saône is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.-References:*...
, SancéSancé, Saône-et-LoireSancé is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.-References:*...
, Saint-Laurent-sur-SaôneSaint-Laurent-sur-SaôneSaint-Laurent-sur-Saône is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Population:-References:*...
, central Charnay-lès-MâconCharnay-lès-MâconCharnay-lès-Mâcon is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.- External links :*...
and Mâcon-Loché TGV train station on a regular basis. - a transport service requested by TrémA'Fil to operate in the other communes of the SITUM area, to increase the frequency of the less busy regular lines (F and G) and to offer a service for each city stop in the morning before the beginning of services for scheduled lines and in the evening after the end of the services.
- school lines named TrémA'Scol.
Mâcon is run by the network Buscephale of Saône-et-Loire
Saône-et-Loire
Saône-et-Loire is a French department, named after the Saône and the Loire rivers between which it lies.-History:When it was formed during the French Revolution, as of March 4, 1790 in fulfillment of the law of December 22, 1789, the new department combined parts of the provinces of southern...
’s local council.
Administration
In 2010, the Mâcon commune was awarded the plaque "Ville Internet @@".Mâcon is a member of CAMVAL (agglomeration community of the Mâconnais – Val de Saône districts). It is also where the CAMVAL headquarters is located.
| Period | Identity | Party | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 1953 – March 1977 | Louis Escande | DVD | . |
| March 1977– March 2001 | Michel Antoine Rognard | PS | |
| March 2001– | Jean-Patrick Courtois Jean-Patrick Courtois Jean-Patrick Courtois is a member of the Senate of France. He represents the Saône-et-Loire department, and is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement.He is the mayor of the city of Mâcon, in the Saône-et-Loire department since 2001.... |
UMP Union for a Popular Movement The Union for a Popular Movement is a centre-right political party in France, and one of the two major contemporary political parties in the country along with the center-left Socialist Party... |
Senator |
Education
Mâcon has five collègeCollege
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
s and four lycées. These establishments are located in the same area in the west of the city, with the exception of the collèges Schuman (north) and Saint-Exupery (south).
- Collèges
- Collège Louis Pasteur
- Collège Bréart
- Collège Schuman
- Collège Saint-Exupéry
- Collège Notre-Dame (private)
- Lycées
- Lycée Lamartine
- Lycée René-Cassin
- Lycée hôtelier Dumaine
- Lycée Ozanam (private)
Demography
Mâcon is one of the department’s major employment areas which is by far the most dynamic (13.5% increase between 1999 and 2006) compared to cities such as Chalon-sur-SaôneChalon-sur-Saône
Chalon-sur-Saône is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is the largest city in the department; however, the department capital is the smaller city of Mâcon....
or Montceau-les-Mines
Montceau-les-Mines
Montceau-les-Mines is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.It is the second-largest commune of the metropolitan Communauté urbaine Creusot-Montceau, which lies southwest of the city of Dijon....
which are losing jobs. This dynamism is particularly helped by the many transportation links available and its proximity to Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
.
The decline in the town’s population is much to the profit of a phenomenon of urban sprawl in the communes of the Mâconnais
Mâconnais
The Mâconnais district lies in the south of the Burgundy wine region in France, west of the River Saône. It takes its name from the town of Mâcon. It is best known as a source of good value white wines made from the Chardonnay grape; the wines from Pouilly-Fuissé are particularly sought-after....
as well as the adjacent Ain. That is why the area of influence of Mâcon, the “Greater Mâcon”, focuses on three departments: the Saône-et-Loire, the Ain and the Rhône. Thus, among the 47 communes with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants in the urban area, 41 are currently growing and 6 are stable or in slight decline.
Town centre
Mâcon’s town center of extends from Place Gardon, in the north, to the Roundabout of Europe in the south, from Place de la Barre, in the west, to the banks along the Saône in the east of the city.The center is the town’s shopping area. Most shops are located near the Town Hall (rue Carnot, rue Dufour, rue Sigorgne, rue Philibert-Laguiche, rue Dombert, rue Franche, the quay Lamartine, the esplanade Lamartine and rue de la Barre).
It is also the historical center of the town. Most monuments are located in that area (Cathedral of Saint-Vincent, Church Saint Pierre...), as are the town’s two museums.
The town centre consists of several districts which are all rather different from each other. With its Place aux Herbes, the Saint-Antoine district is the historic heart of Mâcon, despite its relative distance from the Town Hall. This district covers the northern part of the town centre; it is crossed by the rue de Strasbourg and consists of narrow lanes. There is the prefecture of Saône-et-Loire and the old Saint-Vincent Cathedral commonly called the Old Saint-Vincent.
Further west lies the Square de la Paix, bordered by the Hôtel-Dieu, the Palais de Justice, Saint-Vincent Cathedral, plus the Vallon des Rigollettes and the Héritan district.
From the late 1990s to the early 2000s, the esplanade Lamartine
Alphonse de Lamartine
Alphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine was a French writer, poet and politician who was instrumental in the foundation of the Second Republic.-Career:...
underwent extensive redevelopment and upgrades. The winding car park and damaged cobblestones were replaced by an underground car park on three levels, a larger and brighter esplanade, bars, and a stage on the water (of the Saône river
Saône
The Saône is a river of eastern France. It is a right tributary of the River Rhône. Rising at Vioménil in the Vosges department, it joins the Rhône in Lyon....
) which now accommodates all kinds of events, concerts and shows. The Statue Lamartine, which sits proudly on the esplanade, was completely renovated. Small gardens now brighten up the immense space that Mâcon’s Esplanade Lamartine
Alphonse de Lamartine
Alphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine was a French writer, poet and politician who was instrumental in the foundation of the Second Republic.-Career:...
occupies. All along, one can find an extract from the famous poem by Lamartine
Alphonse de Lamartine
Alphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine was a French writer, poet and politician who was instrumental in the foundation of the Second Republic.-Career:...
, “Le Lac”: "Time, halt in your flight... " engraved in the ground in silver letters.
North of Mâcon
The north of Mâcon is split, with the Neusdadt roundabout marking the boundary between the two sections. Flacé-lès-Mâcon, a village built in the city, constitutes the north-west of Mâcon. . In addition to the adjoining Town Hall, church and small downtown area, Flacé consists entirely of residential areas.The north-east of Mâcon is composed of various residential areas and the town’s sport centres (Physical Activity Training Course (P.A.P.A), public swimming pool, Centre for Sports Education, rowing, sailing and water skiing clubs, several football fields and clubs, and the Sports Palace). ). The residential areas consist mainly of low-rent council estates ( HLM
HLM
HLM , French for "housing at moderated rents" or "rent-controlled housing", is a form of subsidised housing in France. There are approximately four million such residences, housing an estimated 12 million people — nearly one-fifth of the population of France...
) with districts such as the priority development areas (ZUP) of Mâcon or the boulevard des États-Unis (road belonging administratively to the Saugeraies district).
South of Mâcon
The south of Mâcon is composed of three major areas.- The first area is the Saint-Clément/Les Blanchettes block, also called Percée Sud. Saint-Clément only accounts for a small area but it is southern Mâcon’s main business area with the Europe roundabout. Les Blanchettes is a district of low-rent council estates (HLM) passing through Édouard-Herriot Avenue. It is a very woody area, which includes most notably the Parc des Allumettes and its numerous games for children. The Romanesque church is situated in Saint-Clément, bearing the name of this town.
- The second area is the largest in this part of the town; it is the industrial area south of Mâcon (the largest metropolitan area) which is composed of the Port River at Mâcon (6 in France).
- The third and final area in the south of Mâcon is the Chanaye / Fontenailles and is located southwest of the town. Fontenailles is a residential area consisting of detached houses. La Chanaye is an area of low-rent council estates (HLM) bordered by the greenhouses of Mâcon. This district, along with the Boulevard des États-Unis, Saint-Clément/les Blanchettes and priority development areas (ZUP) of Mâcon, belongs to the sensitive urban zones (French ZUS).
West of Mâcon
The west of Mâcon is the least populated part of the town. This is where Mâcon’s lycées (René CassinRené Cassin
René Samuel Cassin was a French jurist, law professor and judge. A soldier in World War I, he later went on to form the Union Fédérale, a leftist, pacifist Veterans organisation...
, Lamartine, Alexandre Dumaine and Ozanam
Ozanam
Ozanam is a surname, and may refer to:* Jacques Ozanam , French mathematician* Blessed Antoine-Frédéric Ozanam , French scholar...
) and most of the colleges are located, along with some residential areas merged with those of Charnay-lès-Mâcon
Charnay-lès-Mâcon
Charnay-lès-Mâcon is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.- External links :*...
, the Hospital of Mâcon and the historic working class area of Mâcon,Bioux.
Flacé
Formerly an independent commune, Flacé-lès-Mâcon was re-attached to Mâcon in 1965. It is now a residential area with a very prominent village atmosphere.Loché
Loché is an associated commune of Mâcon. The fusion-association dates from 1972. Mâcon-Loché-TGV station is located in this wine- producing village.Saint-Jean-le-Priche
Saint-Jean-le-Priche is an associated commune of Mâcon. The merging association dates from 1972.Sennecé-lès-Mâcon
Sennecé-lès-Mâcon is an associated commune of Mâcon. The merging association dates from 1972.Urbanism
On Sunday 28 June 2009, three buildings in the Marbé district were destroyed by implosion.Wine
The area west and north of Mâcon produces well-known wines from the ChardonnayChardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
grape. The best known appellation of the Mâconnais is Pouilly-Fuissé
Pouilly-Fuissé
Pouilly-Fuissé is an appellation for white wine in the Mâconnais subregion Burgundy in central France, located in the communes of Fuissé, Solutré-Pouilly, Vergisson and Chaintré...
.
Economy
- ViticultureViticultureViticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
and maturing; - Industrial River Port;
- MetallurgyMetallurgyMetallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
; - Logistics and road transport;
- Boating.
Mâcon holds the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Saône-et-Loire, which manages the river port of Mâcon through Aproport, the Automotive Training Center (CFA Automobile) and the Macon-Charnay airport. The headquarters for the Chamber of Agriculture of Saône-et-Loire is also based in Mâcon.
Culture
The "Eté frappé" Festival, a free art and music festival, takes place every summer from June to August all over the town (notably on the Lamartine esplanade alongside the river SaôneSaône
The Saône is a river of eastern France. It is a right tributary of the River Rhône. Rising at Vioménil in the Vosges department, it joins the Rhône in Lyon....
) featuring many concerts of a wide range of musical styles (classical, French song, jazz, rock, folk, hip-hop, rap), many shows (dance, comedy), open air film shows, open air plays, sporting events. In 2011, 48.000 people attended the festival.
Every year in July, the Crescent Jazz Club holds a jazz festival during three days (as part of the "Eté frappé" Festival) featuring international jazz musicians.
Sports and leisure
Mâcon has 73 clubs with 55 organisations, 40 different sports to play, and members of a sports association (42% of the population). It was elected the most sportive town in France in 2001.- The A.S Mâcon rugby club is now progressing to ‘Fédérale 2’ (the fourth division in the rugby union club championship). They reached the highest level in 1987–1988 (ASM appeared in the Pool league with Biarritz OlympiqueBiarritz OlympiqueBiarritz Olympique Pays Basque is a French professional rugby union team based in the Basque city of Biarritz, Aquitaine which competes in the Top 14 and the Heineken Cup...
’s Serge BlancoSerge BlancoSerge Blanco is a former rugby union footballer who played fullback for Biarritz Olympique and the French national side, gaining 93 caps, 81 of them at fullback. His alternative position was wing....
, the US DaxUS DaxUnion Sportive Dacquoise, also known as US Dax, is a French rugby union club currently playing in Rugby Pro D2, the second level of the French league system....
, Montpellier Hérault RC Montpellier and Lavelanet).
- The rowing club (the Régates Mâconnaises) is a leading sport clubs in the town. Each year it organises several major events (regional, national championships) and sends many of its rowers to the biggest competitions. Similarly, each year, the Stade Nautique Mâconnais sends swimmers to the France N1 swimming championships.
- A motor boating Grand Prix is held annually in late September (part of the speed championship of France in categories S2000 and S3000).
- The Municipal Band of Mâcon.
- The Mâcon Academy is extensive and nationally recognised.
- Ski club and barefoot in Mâcon
Notable people
- Claude-Philibert Barthelot de RambuteauClaude-Philibert Barthelot de RambuteauClaude-Philibert Barthelot, comte de Rambuteau was a French senior official of the first half of the 19th century. He was Préfet of the former Départment of the Seine, which included Paris, from 1833 to 1848...
(1781–1869), politician - Pierre Batilliat, chemist and winemaker
- Antoine Bauderon de Sénecé (1643–1737), poet
- Jacques Bayardon (1934–1999), rugby player
- Pierre BoitardPierre BoitardPierre Boitard was a French botanist and geologist. As well as describing and classifying the Tasmanian Devil, he is notable for his fictional natural history Paris avant les hommes , published posthumously in 1861, which described a prehistoric ape-like human ancestor living in the region of Paris...
(1789–1859), botanist and geologist - Loïc Chavériat (1977–), football player
- Antoinette Henriette Clémence RobertAntoinette Henriette Clémence Robert-External links:...
(1797–1872), writer - Jean–Baptiste Debrun (1750–1831), serviceman
- André Déléage (1903–1944), historian focusing on ancient civilisations and the Middle Ages, resistance fighter
- Paul Devinat (1890–1980), politician
- Alain DigbeuAlain DigbeuAlain Digbeu is a French professional basketball player. He was drafted by the NBA pro club the Atlanta Hawks with the 49th pick in the 1997 NBA Draft. He is 6'6" in height and 220 lbs. in weight...
(1975–), basket–ball player - Joseph Dombey (1742–1794), naturalist
- Jean-Baptiste DrouetJean-Baptiste Drouet (French revolutionary)Jean-Baptiste Drouet was a French politician of the 1789 Revolution, chiefly noted for the part he played in the arrest of King Louis XVI during the Flight to Varennes.-Early life, Varennes, and in the Convention:...
(1763–1824), revolutionary who died in Mâcon - Georges DubyGeorges DubyGeorges Duby was a French historian specializing in the social and economic history of the Middle Ages...
(1919–1996), historian - Jean Gontard, clown, who was born in Mâcon on 1 January 1807
- Jean–Claude Goyon (1937–), Egyptologist
- Antoine GriezmannAntoine GriezmannAntoine Griezmann is a French footballer who currently plays for Spanish club Real Sociedad in La Liga. He plays mainly as a left winger, but can also be utilized as a striker. Griezmann is known for his technical skill, quick acceleration, and dribbling and is a French youth international, having...
(1991–), football player - Samuel Guichenon (1607–1664), lawyer, historiographer and genealogist
- Henri Guillemin (1903–1992), historian
- Frédéric JayFrédéric JayFrédéric Jay is a French football player.-External links:...
(1976–), football player - Florent–Alexandre–Melchior de La Baume (1736–1794), last count of Montrevel
- Alfred Lacroix (1863–1948), geologist and mineralogist
- Victor Amédée de La Fage (1750–1809), revolutionary
- Georges LecomteGeorges LecomteGeorges Lecomte was a French novelist and playwright, who also wrote literary, historical and artistic studies....
(1867–1958), writer - Maurice Lenormand (1913–2006), politician
- Le père Liochon, a grocer discovered on French television show Le Petit Rapporteur, who is paid tribute in a mural fresco
- Jimmy MainfroiJimmy MainfroiJimmy Mainfroi is a Réunion-French footballer who currently plays for Ligue 1 side Grenoble Foot 38.-Football career:...
(1983–), football player - Hugues Martin(1942–), politician
- Joseph Monet and Adrien Goyon, founders of the Monet–Goyon brand of motorcycles and velocimanes (a tricycle for disabled war veterans and physically–handicapped) in 1917
- Mgr Gabriel Piguet (1887–1952)), later, bishop of Clermont–Ferrand and Righteous Among the NationsRighteous Among the NationsRighteous among the Nations of the world's nations"), also translated as Righteous Gentiles is an honorific used by the State of Israel to describe non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews from extermination by the Nazis....
- Claude Roberjot (1752–1799), politician
- Henry Testot–Ferry, discoverer of the prehistoric site of Roche de Solutré and tenured lecturer at the Mâcon Academy
- Roland VieiraRoland VieiraRoland Vieira is a French football striker. He currently plays for the French Championnat de France amateur side Romorantin....
(1979–), football player - Jean–Claude Villain (1947–), poet
- Gérard VoisinGérard VoisinGérard Voisin is a member of the National Assembly of France. He represents the Saône-et-Loire department, and is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement.-References:...
(1945–), homme politique - Jaouad ZairiJaouad ZairiJaouad Zairi is a Moroccan footballer. He is currently free transfer and member of the Moroccan national team. He is nicknamed The Juggler because of his impressive technical skills.- Early life :...
(1982–), football player - Emile–Edouard Chane dit Violet (1880–1955), actor and director
Religions
- Islamic Cultural Association in Macôn
- Turkish Cultural Center of Mâcon, Fontenaille.
- Great Mosque in construction work to be finished for summer 2010
In popular culture
- The Baby of MâconThe Baby of MâconThe Baby of Mâcon is a 1993 film written and directed by Peter Greenaway starring Ralph Fiennes, Julia Ormond and Philip Stone.-Plot:A town cursed with barren women and famine is saved by a miracle birth to an old, ugly woman: the Mother. Immediately afterwards, the old woman's Daughter claims to...
is a 1993 film directed by Peter GreenawayPeter GreenawayPeter Greenaway, CBE is a British film director. His films are noted for the distinct influence of Renaissance and Baroque painting, and Flemish painting in particular...
. - Mâcon is the hometown of petulant waitress Jessica (Cécile de FranceCécile de FranceCécile de France is a Belgian actress. After achieving success in French cinema hits such as L'Art de la séduction and Irène , she gained international attention for her lead role in Haute Tension and Hereafter .- Career :Born in Namur, she left Belgium at the age of 17 to go to Paris where she...
) in Avenue MontaigneFauteuils d'orchestreFauteuils d'orchestre is a French film released in 2006 directed by Danièle Thompson, which she co-scripted with her son, Christopher Thompson.-Release:...
, Danièle ThompsonDanièle ThompsonDanièle Thompson is a French film director and screenwriter. She is the daughter of film director Gérard Oury and actress Jacqueline Roma....
's 2006 film.
Twin towns
Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, Germany, since 26 June 1956 Crewe and NantwichCrewe and Nantwich
Crewe and Nantwich was, from 1974 to 2009, a local government district with borough status in Cheshire, England. It had a population of 111,007...
, United Kingdom, since 1957 Overijse
Overijse
Overijse is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the town of Overijse, and the communities of Eizer, Maleizen, Jezus-Eik, Tombeek and Terlanen. On December 31, 2008 Overijse had a total population of 24,410...
, Belgium, since 28 August 1960 Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States, since 1972 Shumen
Shumen
Shumen is the tenth-largest city in Bulgaria and capital of Shumen Province. In the period 1950–1965 it was called Kolarovgrad, after the name of the communist leader Vasil Kolarov...
, Bulgaria, since 18 September 2006 Lecco
Lecco
Lecco is a town of c. 47,760 inhabitants in Lombardy, northern Italy, north of Milan, the capital of the province of Lecco. It lies at the end of the south-eastern branch of Lake Como...
, Italy, since 12 May 1973 Alcázar de San Juan
Alcázar de San Juan
Alcázar de San Juan is a town and municipality in the province of Ciudad Real, part of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha, Spain...
, Spain, since 15 March 1980 Eger
Eger
Eger is the second largest city in Northern Hungary, the county seat of Heves, east of the Mátra Mountains. Eger is best known for its castle, thermal baths, historic buildings , and red and white wines.- Name :...
, Hungary, since 11 May 1985 Pori
Pori
Pori is a city and municipality on the west coast of Finland. The city is located some from the Gulf of Bothnia, on the estuary of the Kokemäenjoki river, which is the largest in Finland. Pori is the most important town in the Satakunta region....
, Finland, since 11 May 1990 Santo Tirso
Santo Tirso
Santo Tirso is a city and municipality located in the north of Porto Metropolitan Area, Porto District, Portugal. In the region, the Ave Valley, there is a large center of textile industry....
, Portugal, since 20 June 1992
Culinary specialties
- Mâcon's specialty is a cake made of meringue and filled with butter cream.
- Mâcon is surrounded by a vineyard of acres which produces 49 million bottles of wine including the famous crus like Saint-Véran or Pouilly-fuisséPouilly-FuisséPouilly-Fuissé is an appellation for white wine in the Mâconnais subregion Burgundy in central France, located in the communes of Fuissé, Solutré-Pouilly, Vergisson and Chaintré...
.
- West of Mâcon, there is the Charolais area famous for its white-coated cattle.
- East of Mâcon, on the other side of the Saône riverSaôneThe Saône is a river of eastern France. It is a right tributary of the River Rhône. Rising at Vioménil in the Vosges department, it joins the Rhône in Lyon....
, there is BresseBresseBresse is a former French province. It is located in the regions of Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne, and Franche-Comté of eastern France. The geographical term Bresse has two meanings: Bresse bourguignonne , which is situated in the east of the department of Saône-et-Loire, and Bresse, which is located...
, famous for its white poultry, the only ones to have received an Appellation d'Origine ContrôléeAppellation d'Origine ContrôléeAppellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
(AOC) stamp.
See also
- Ancient Diocese of Mâcon
- Burgundy wineBurgundy wineBurgundy wine is wine made in the Burgundy region in eastern France, in the valleys and slopes west of the Saône River, a tributary of the Rhône. The most famous wines produced here - those commonly referred to as "Burgundies" - are red wines made from Pinot Noir grapes or white wines made from...
- Communes of the Saône-et-Loire department
External links
- City council website and mirror site (in French)
- Tourist office website
- Virtual visit
- Mâcon library (in French)