As part of Bagneux Respire, the Hauts-de-Seine town will be hosting the Climate and Biodiversity Tour scientificexhibition on April 25, 26 and 28, 2025, at theEspace Léo-Ferré immersive experience to help you understand the challenges of climate change family-friendly events on the theme of ecology Produced in collaboration with the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle and experts from the Office français de la biodiversité and the Office for Climate Education this exhibition mobilizes a group of scientists from all over France to meet and talk with visitors throughout the exhibition and to interact with them through games and manipulations so that adults and children alike can learn while having fun Refer your establishment, click herePromote your event, click here Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés’ op-art-inspired facade of the Network I office building comes to life in Bagneux, France, along the evolving landscape of the Paris metropolitan area This project is part of the Grand Paris initiative reshaping urban connectivity and centrality in the region adapting to the plot’s geometric constraints through alternating solid and void elements all images by Stefan Tuchila For the architectural concept, Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés’ studio draws from Victor Vasarely’s geometric op art These frames create a dynamic interplay of depth and movement enhanced by double glass skins that disrupt the facade’s continuity at select points The crystalline surfaces reflect and refract fragments of the sky and urban surroundings forming an almost surreal collage of light Network I’s design will soon be complemented by the forthcoming Network II reinforcing its role in this transformative urban dynamic Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés unveil the op-art-inspired facade of Network I in Bagneux inspired by Victor Vasarely’s geometric op art adapting to the geometric constraints of its plot Network I’s design alternates solid and void elements creating a visually engaging and functional structure introducing moments of transparency and reflection the layered frames of Network I create a sense of depth and movement in the architectural composition crystalline surfaces reflect fragments of sky and city forming a surreal collage of light and color the building’s design captures the essence of op-art with its interplay of geometric forms and visual rhythm geometric compositions define Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés’ concept architects: Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés | @brenacgonzalezassocies photography: Stefan Tuchila | @stefan.tuchila designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here. edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Archive HOUSING Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: By 2022-01-14T10:28:00+00:00 FRANCE: Paris transport authority Île-de-France Mobilités and operator RATP opened the southern extension of metro Line 4 to Bagneux-Lucie Aubrac on January 13 Attending the inauguration ceremony were Prime Minister Jean Castex and Minister of Transport Jean-Baptiste Djebbari along with RATP President Catherine Guillouard IDF Mobilités Vice-President Grégoire de Lasteyrie and the Président of Hauts-de-Seine Georges Siffredi Previously running for 14 km from Porte de Clignancourt in the north to Mairie de Montrouge in the south Line 4 is the second busiest metro line in the capital carrying an average of 700 000 passengers per day The 2·7 km extension adds two more stations at Barbara and Bagneux-Lucie Aubrac along with extra stabling facilities at the southern end of the route The total cost of the extension is put at €406m with funding coming from the national government the Île-de-France région and Hauts-de-Seine département The extension is expected to carry 37 000 passengers per day; with trains running at up to 70 km/h Line 4 offers a journey time of 30 min from Bagneux-Lucie-Aubrac to the Chatelet hub in the city centre Interchange will be provided at Bagneux with the orbital Line 15 being built as part of the Grand Paris Express network Only 1·8 km of the extension is used by passenger services a new stabling facility and 1 500 m² maintenance depot provide accommodation for up to 15 trainsets The workshop will act as a satellite to the line’s main rolling stock depot in Saint-Ouen but will also provide facilities for commissioning the automated trainsets during the conversion of Line 4 to driverless operation Line 4 has been worked by a fleet of 52 six-car MP89CC rubber-tyred trainsets these trains run in attended ATO mode to Grade of Automation 2 using the PA135 train control system which permits 2 min headways The trains are currently operating manually on the southern extension as the new section has not been fitted with PA135 pending conversion of the whole line to GoA4 RATP explained to Metro Report International that there had been a choice between opening the extension first or waiting until the driverless conversion had been completed Because of delays in rolling out the automation project it was decided to open the extension using the existing trains and finish the conversion later Line 4 is being equipped with CBTC from Siemens Mobility and a new operational control centre was commissioned in April 2020 All stations have been fitted with platform edge screens and test running in GoA4 has started at night and on Sundays The first driverless trains are expected to be phased into passenger service from summer 2022 with conversion to fully automated operation completed by the end of 2023 Three different types of six-car train will be deployed on Line 4 once it has been automated: 21 Alsthom MP89CA trainsets and 11 similar MP05 sets displaced from Line 14 plus 20 new MP14CA sets being supplied by Alstom; the latter will be similar to the 35 eight-car sets that the manufacturer is building for Line 14 Integration of the three rolling stock types is expected to pose a challenge for the final commissioning of the automation FRANCE: Paris metro Line 4 has been fully converted to Grade of Automation 4 unattended operation FRANCE: RATP has started test running with the Octys train control system being installed on Paris metro Line 9 FRANCE: Work has started to modernise a fleet of 45 rubber-tyred MP89CC trainsets for use on Paris metro Line 6 Site powered by Webvision Cloud This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Transforming businesses through deep sector expertise and capabilities Accelerating seed-to-scale growth in partnership with visionary leaders Structuring bespoke solutions across asset types Enabling growth through innovative fund strategies and investment solutions across the capital structure Building the next generation of real assets Bain Capital Credit’s special situations strategy became “Bain Capital Special Situations” in Fall 2022 LP (“Bain Capital Credit”) and Hemisphere today announced the acquisition of a state of the art commercial real estate project south of Paris from the developer Coffim will develop 13,700m2 of efficient and environmentally sustainable Grade A offices and shared workspaces in a green and tree-lined space The building is set to be completed in the third quarter 2023 will transform a derelict building into a 13,700m2 eight-story complex set around gardens with more than 150 parking spaces and 2,700m2 of gardens and green terraces Efficient layout will permit an efficient staff density of 1 person per 10m2  The building will benefit from the innovative Hemisphere Smart Services (H2S) provide multi-use common spaces to meet modern tenant requirements for flexible working needs and any social distancing restrictions and will meet top quality sustainability regulations “We are pleased to announce our first real estate investment in Paris which we view as uniquely attractive and scalable,” says Fabio Longo “We see great opportunity in the Paris market as it has been historically undersupplied is the largest office market in Europe and is incredibly resilient especially relative to other large European metropolitan cities The project itself will benefit from flexible spaces and layout which will future proof the building  This acquisition complements the substantial portfolio we have built throughout Europe which we intend to continue to grow through attractive real estate investment opportunities in under-supplied office markets in Europe.” Hemisphere manages in excess of €1bn of offices in the Paris Region CEO of Hemisphere says “We are delighted to complete this acquisition in a new strategic hub of the Paris Region forming part of the Grand Paris project With a new metro station due to open at the end of 2021 400m away it is well connected The office space will be best in class with the differentiating factor of Hemisphere Smart Services (H2S) H2S provides the full scope of services in the building whilst not increasing the level of charges or communal areas through digital innovation and flexibility of space.” Hemisphere and Bain Capital Credit were advised for this acquisition by Gide Loyrette Nouel and A-O Legal Advice; Racine provided tax advice and Attal and Associates were notary About Bain Capital CreditBain Capital Credit is a leading global credit specialist with approximately $48 billion in assets under management Bain Capital Credit invests up and down the capital structure and across the spectrum of credit strategies Our team of more than 200 professionals creates value through rigorous independent analysis of thousands of corporate issuers around the world Bain Capital invests across asset classes including private equity and leverages the firm’s shared platform to capture opportunities in strategic areas of focus www.baincapitalcredit.com About Hemisphere Hemisphere is an independent real estate investment and asset manager specialising in French commercial (office and logistics) and residential real estate Hemisphere manages in excess of €1bn of assets in the Paris Region in both the Value Add and Core/Core+ segments Hemisphere's alpha is to implement new concepts of workspace real estate operations and services that best meet the changing needs of occupiers www.hemisphere-cap.com The Bain Capital square symbol is a trademark of Bain Capital Log in to access your account information. If you have any questions regarding your account, please contact ir@baincapital.com People are generally repulsed by or at the very least indifferent to It’s notoriously difficult to evangelize the city But that doesn’t stop Christian groups (including Adventists) from trying—especially with the 2024 Olympics in full swing I was intrigued by news of a large-scale Adventist mission campaign during the Paris Olympics Almost as soon as I stepped off my delayed and cramped July 31 flight from London I was subjected to an audacious evangelizing attempt on the train from the airport into Paris at least three campaigners leapt onto the train and hastily gave out tracts including one proclaiming “Le Seigneur Jesu Va Revenir” (The Lord Jesus Will Return) They delivered loud evangelical-style proclamations and were about to disembark at the next station when curious about their emphasis on the second coming I managed to ask which church was behind their initiative we’re Christian,” came the response before they jumped off again this interaction highlighted the low brand awareness of Adventists in France While Adventist outreach efforts during the Olympics don’t involve tactical train jumping they are very much focused on distributing printed material Well in advance of my visit I’d been informed that over 100 international Adventist volunteers including a group of about 40 students from Brazil were taking part in the Adventist evangelism effort in Paris which had been organized mainly by Adventist Laymen’s Services Industries (ASI) France-Belgium with support from Adventist World Radio (AWR) “Given that the ‘whole world’ is coming to Paris during the period of the Olympics we want to take this opportunity to execute a major mission campaign,” stated the campaign website coordinating the July 21 to August 11 Adventist mission effort A large part of the ASI mission participants was based at a campsite in Bagneux-sur-Loing a town about an hour south of Paris if you know what you are doing navigation-wise had bad luck with a train cancellation in Paris and a subsequent ill-advised decision to walk to the campsite from a local train station I got lost and what should have been a fairly picturesque walk turned into a 90-minute backpack and tent-laden slog under the blazing summer sun while mosquitos feasted on me I stumbled into camp hours later than I’d predicted and was cheerfully greeted by one of the organizers who showed me a spot to pitch my tent before joining the group that was finishing dinner and about to debrief on the day’s experiences handing out literature in key spots around Paris The volunteers were upbeat and shared testimonies and words of encouragement during the debrief They told stories of their interactions with people Over the last several days the team had been distributing Ellen White’s The Great Controversy a range of GLOW (short for Giving Light to Our World) evangelistic tracts most of those approached had refused the material but there were also success stories detailing what had worked As I started to speak to the volunteers one-on-one and in small groups it was clear that the crowd favorite as far as materials for distribution was The Great Controversy Living in Western Europe (if post-Brexit Britain can still lay claim to being part of it) I’m used to quite a lot of Adventist member resistance to The Great Controversy distribution anti-Catholic and poor PR for the denomination This was not a view shared by the volunteers at the campsite I was curious why they were so enthused by the book IMAGE: Organizer Hannah Dehelt on the train to Paris ahead of a day of GLOW tract distribution “We (Adventists) in Europe have a very ecumenical outlook and this book is anything but ecumenical,” said Belgian-born Hannah Dehelt and was instrumental in bringing the group of about 40 Brazilians to support the campaign “It uses very cross language… specifically about the Catholic Church If you are going to be distributing this book you are obviously going to be associated with it is a veteran when it comes to literature distribution He explained that in France The Great Controversy is much more readily accepted by people than The Desire of Ages as the name and image of Jesus on the cover of the latter’s French version is not a crowdpleaser in secular France A number of the volunteers I spoke to said the same thing IMAGE: The French language versions of the Ellen White books distributed “The Great Controversy looks a little bit more neutral,” he said Max tells people the book is about “the history of liberty of conscience I say it covers what’s been happening the last 2,000 years… and what the Bible says is coming soon how liberty of conscience is being threatened.” I asked Max if he gets pushback about the book being perceived as anti-Catholic He said the French are generally anti-religion and are not offended at the book’s contents in a pre-event Zoom call I asked about the significance of distributing The Great Controversy key organizer of the campaign and General VP for ASI France-Belgium explained: “If people have questions in what book are they going to find answers to the questions they have Are they going to find them in The Desire of Ages or are they going to find them in The Great Controversy most of the time it’s based on The Desire of Ages when it comes to answering questions that are raised The questions they ask aren’t about Jesus; it’s about what’s going on (in the world) Why are things happening the way they are happening?” I talked to Henk Muller who is originally from the Netherlands but lives in Romania Henk is a man of action; he started an orphanage in Romania and is running other humanitarian projects there now He’s very outgoing and expressive and had spontaneously led the group at the camp in song after their feedback session on my first evening with them While there are campaigners that push themselves to see how many pieces of literature they can distribute in an hour I pray sometimes with the people; I talk with them I’m not just handing out flyers like a robot,” he said mimicking the sound of what can only be described as a highly efficient pamphlet distribution machine He said he wants what he gives to people to be relevant to them “I cannot distribute thousands of [GLOW tracts]; I can only distribute 50 a day,” he confided He had also composed a song to go with the health tract he’d been giving out so that he could entertain people at the same time He said passersby smile when they hear the song and are more likely to take his tract He added that kids sometimes come and play his guitar something that parents “love,” prompting them to take pictures and “We all have a good spirit here; it builds you up adding that he would encourage others to join similar efforts Henk’s approach to distributing The Great Controversy is disarmingly straightforward: “I say it’s a book about God and history recently got baptized and was also working on the campaign “When I first came here and I didn’t know anybody quickly adding that she felt she had made friends for life through meeting and working with the rest of the crew but I feel like it was really worth it because imagine saving people and when you get to heaven Hannah said that she distributed books and tracts “but also love and the character of Jesus.” She said that some people came back to her for books after they took one of her tracts and that they congratulated her for putting herself out there Noa Stanciu from Belgium said this was her first time distributing literature “It was very character-building because it was very much out of my comfort zone,” said Noa who said she enjoyed the experience and met interesting people She said the easiest GLOW tract to distribute had a picture of the Olympics on it “The original goal with this outreach was to have a lot of music and health expos,” said Noa explaining that security risks over terrorism threats during the Olympics meant these activities had not been allowed by Paris authorities so if I would choose to do outreach I would do it through music,” she said when I asked her what she would do differently if she were to do it all again she feels having conversations with people alongside the distribution of literature is far better than speedy distribution that feels like “advertising” to her “I had a great experience even if it was just two days,” said Lea Jelen who is originally Slovenian but lives in Austria Lea said she had done book distribution before What was less familiar was GLOW tract distribution describing the often faster pace of tract distribution during the Paris Olympics She preferred having conversations and building relationships with those she gave material something that was a lot less possible when you were rapidly distributing tracts to a crowd “I sometimes felt like I was part of an advertisement team and some people would come to us because they thought we had valuable information about the Olympics,” Lea said speaking of her experience distributing a tract with a cover depicting sport sometimes I felt I was misleading them as I was giving out spiritual literature.” said she had done door-to-door literature work before but that the distribution style at the Paris campaign was new to her She said she preferred conversations and the “actual interest” of people she met this way She concurred with her sister’s view that the sports cover of one of the GLOW tracts felt misleading “There was a young person who was like ‘What’s this about?’ and I said ‘The Olympics and a little about life,’ and he turned it over and saw the Bible there and was like ‘and about God… but OK All three of the friends felt that The Great Controversy was a good book for distribution “It’s very relevant to the times we live in,” said Noa “I think more and more there is a trend among the youth of people going to God,” added Noa saying that a struggle between good and evil is depicted across popular media “The Great Controversy is exactly about this so it puts the finger on the wound,” she said While nobody I spoke to pushed back on the importance of making a personal connection during literature distribution there were definitely some that found it exciting and rewarding to maximize the amount of material distributed Germany-based Nikola Gonda (he goes by Niko) said the Paris literature distribution had been the “best experience of his life.” Niko is an obvious extravert and said he never has problems approaching people He does door-to-door work and even some street preaching I pointed out that he was the opposite of his more reserved friend Natanael said he decided to make a contribution to the effort by helping to transport the books to the distribution points as the actual distribution was not for him Niko said God saved him from a life on the streets and brought him to the Adventist Church the “church prophesied by God in the Bible.” After the Bible which he sees as foundational “light,” he considers the writings of Ellen White “more precious than gold or silver.” Niko said it amazes him to meet some Adventists that are not as enthusiastic about Ellen White and prefer to see her as only being relevant to her time they are for all time; the principles are for all time.’” Niko enjoys making connections with people but also gets a thrill out of speed distribution of tracts at large events like a soccer game While I took advantage of the down time at the camp and on the train into Paris to do my interviews with volunteers I was also eager to see how the actual work took place I joined the camp group bound for the central meeting point near the Paris Gare du Nord train station our group was immobilized as our metro train stopped mid-tunnel for an entire hour before having to reverse to our departure station additional volunteers not staying at the camp joined the larger group there for a devotional thought and some distribution coaching by AWR’s Nelson Ernst Nelson had been instrumental in coining the brand “GLOW” for short form tracts His advice to the volunteers was aimed at maximizing the effectiveness of their efforts by careful positioning in large crowds and crowded entry points to popular venues across the city I tagged along with the group that was going to work the Arc de Triomphe area part of the group had already arrived and were experiencing some success IMAGE: An interested passerby picks up The Great Controversy Patience was definitely the name of the game though people said “No.” An optimistic summary of ‘yes’ vs the volunteers persisted for hours (3 hours a day I went looking for two other teams of volunteers at the Louvre and the commercial area of Montparnasse but completely struck out on finding them as the areas were large and team leaders were authorized to move their teams to different locations if they made more sense There was an enormous amount of printed material on hand for distribution in this campaign There were 150,000 Great Controversy books alone (all funded by private donations) and AWR had brought one million GLOW tracts As Vincent put it: “If God is making sure we have so many books and so many people are coming it’s because something is going to happen.” Although organizers conceded that some material would be left over for future distribution they expected about 500,000 GLOW tracts to be handed out by the end of the campaign on August 11 the team had surpassed the 350,000 mark a few days prior Whether or not you are a fan of literature distribution or The Great Controversy it’s hard not to admire the faith and energy of this group of volunteers At the camp team members were already inviting each other to join upcoming distribution campaigns I overheard a conversation about an upcoming visit of Pope Francis to Belgium An Adventist literature distribution campaign is being assembled to give printed content to those that come to see the Pope “Maybe he’ll read our material and convert,” said a volunteer Björn Karlman is the Executive Director of Adventist Today We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience and analyze our traffic This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again This enormous Megalithic sandstone chamber tomb is estimated to be about 5,000 years old It is the largest dolmen in France and the second largest in Europe after the Brownshill Dolmen in County Carlow More than 10,000 dolmens and standing stones can be found in France but this may be the only one located in the back garden of a cafe A remote Arctic mountain range is home to "granite cities" found almost nowhere else These four small islands contain unique hexagonal rock formations This small canyon is home to a treasure trove of geological oddities This often-overlooked canyon dazzles and intrigues with its many layers of colors Visit Europe's largest subterranean waterfall carved by water from the glaciers of the towering peaks surrounding the valley This volcanic crater lake is renowned for its perfectly round shape stone-capped formations are the product of glacial deposits and thousands of years of erosion The rocks exposed at Valley of Fire State Park also occur in a much less known but equally spectacular area a few miles to the southwest Join us for a stimulating experience: you’ll find a world of learning and development opportunities where inventiveness is at the heart of what we do from a technological innovation: the industrialization of oxygen production from air Air Liquide's head office is historically based in Paris. Today the Group is present throughout France and serves almost all sectors of the economy through its various entities Air Liquide France Industrie supplies gases equipment and services to a wide variety of customers from craftsmen to multinationals (Large Industries Industrial Merchant and Electronics activities) This entity also supports the deployment of hydrogen energy in the country both for the mobility of individuals and professionals A pharmaceutical laboratory specializing in gases for medical use Air Liquide Santé France ensures the supply of medical gases their distribution systems and associated services to hospitals private practitioners and emergency services The Group also supports patients with chronic pathologies the Engineering & Construction activity is responsible for designing and building the Group's production units and offering its external customers technologies and processes It has an engineering site in Champigny-sur-Marne and two manufacturing sites in Vitry-sur-Seine Air Liquide has several sites in France dedicated to innovation The Campus Technologies Grenoble focuses on deep tech and energy transition Alizent (specializing in digital solutions for industry) and the Digital Factory are located in Paris technologies and services for industry and healthcare Present in 60 countries with approximately 66,500 employees the Group serves more than 4 million customers and patients the Victor Hugo Eco District was born from the dynamic driven by The Grand Paris Express involving the creation of 200 km new metro lines and 68 stations set to link the various areas of Metropolitan Paris Located at the junction of the Victor Hugo ZAC and the Pierre Plate district the lot G3 site occupies a strategic position on a site scale This location defines the main challenge of its development: to guarantee a natural and efficient link between the future Greater Paris station centre and these new districts The project thus offers the opportunity to bring together parts of the city that are now separate In addition to this desire to connect all the adjoining parts of the plot there is the idea of proposing a strong architectural signal at the head of the block which fully participates in a rotational movement between the major urban axes. To achieve this the architects opened up a perspective through the very thickness of the block which leads from the exit of the station to the Pierre Plate district The unit tower has the status of a landmark of this entrance to the city anchored to the ground but closely complementary to the rest of the lot to which it is linked by a glass footbridge. The two towers at the northeast ends of the plot are each specifically treated with a set of random horizontal strata for one and a mantilla cut by a vertical fault for the other This variety gives a strong identity to each home It offers multiple and generous outdoor spaces that respond to this quest for appropriation and differentiation in the collective. The composition of the block creates a ventilated Skyline essential porosities to the quality of lighting and views of the homes The implementation of many forms of greening in the project completes this system and allows for green continuity patio.) The project thus develops new urban writings; its landscape treatment accompanies and underlines the building with which it interacts. The project will total 27,600 sqm and will be delivered in 2023 The main challenge in its development has therefore been as much a reflection on its urban architectural and sustainable functions as a reflection on the mix of activities it hosts (348 dwellings leisure facilities) to create a “whole” rich of its various components we have opened a perspective through the thickness of the block creating a natural and efficient link between the new station and the existing neighboring districts Linked by a glass footpath on the side to the common basement houses that hosts in a 4 m glass wall the various activities careful work on tiered planted terraces takes to the two other housing towers at the north and east ends each specifically treated by a set of random horizontal strata for one by the wearing of a mantilla cut out of a vertical fault for the other complete this game of contrasts and complementarity The composition creates a ventilated Skyline offering numerous visual openings and forms of vegetalization underlining the buildings and offering a green continuity guaranteeing biodiversity Input your search keywords and press Enter You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/ In the vast silence of Bagneux cemetery on the southern outskirts of Paris a gardener sweeps his gloved hand across a grey stone grave untended for years This is the 39th tomb on row 14 of plot 25 in a graveyard containing 80,000 Parisians As the leaves from the nearby Avenue of Sycamores disappear You need to bend down and squint to see the forename Jules Time and the seasons have all but eroded the letters But this is the place, Bagneux. Here at the end of Line 4 of the Paris Metro is where the man who brought the planet the first World Cup in 1930 who started it all and after whom the original trophy lifted by the competition’s winners was named in 1946 but moved with his family from central France at age 11 and stayed there until his death He is an umbilical Parisian link to the game he helped turn global and in a significant week for Paris and football Rimet is an attachment that should suggest the French capital is a football city Paris Saint-Germain reached the final two years ago but no club representing this major European capital city has won the coveted cup Yet France are the reigning world champions after winning the 2018 edition of the tournament Rimet created almost a century ago A lawyer by trade, Rimet came up with the idea of a World Cup while working as head of the FIFA executive FIFA itself was born this week in 1904 at 229 Rue Saint-Honore in the heart of the French capital and in the grand doorway of 229 on the fashionable street It was installed on FIFA’s centenary in 2004 and marks another connection between Paris and football Mbappe could be the best player in the game at the moment The presence of Rimet and Mbappe would have you think so As would their fellow Parisian and Rimet contemporary Henri Delaunay It was Delaunay who had the idea of a European Championship for national teams — hence the first final of that competition And yet, when UEFA previewed the 2006 Champions League final between Arsenal and Barcelona — held at the Stade de France — its official publication said: “For a city that has made such an immense contribution to international football Paris is remarkably laissez-faire about the beautiful game.” at the end of the year when France became world champions for the first time and this weekend’s Champions League venue will be forever associated with the triumph of a team personified by Zinedine Zidane Its 25th anniversary next July will be reviewed as a turning point in French football Mbappe’s Bondy illustrates a French term — “banlieue” — that has entered the lexicon of football since then is sometimes used in France to indicate economic and social disadvantage banlieue has taken on a different connotation A banlieue is somewhere footballers come from a 2020 book telling the story of the France team since ’98 “The sprawling suburbs of Paris represent the biggest reservoir of football talent in Europe Eight of France’s 2018 World Cup winners grew up in the hardened environs of ‘les banlieues Parisiennes’.” Mbappe, Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante are just three of those players and the rise of the banlieue as a source of gifted players over the past 20 years is a salient development in European football Whether people associate it with Paris™ — the City of Light the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower — is another matter as Mbappe prepared to unveil his news at Qatari-owned PSG’s base in the south west of the city Racing Club de France were once the greatest club in the country and their stadium in Colombes — the Yves-du-Manoir — hosted French cup finals France internationals and the 1938 World Cup final It was the venue for the 1924 Olympics — this is where Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell subjects of the Oscar-winning film Chariots Of Fire Sylvester Stallone and company would Escape To Victory in the 1981 movie set during the Second World War Stade Yves-du-Manoir could hold 45,000 then in the fifth division of French football and Promotion to the Championnat National 2 gives Racing a shot at moving up again to a level where clubs remain semi-professional but may soon go full-time hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and a collapsed TV deal By 2024-25 the top two divisions — Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 — will each be reduced to 18 clubs from the current 20 This will have a downward knock-on effect and the third tier — Championnat National 1 — will turn professional it would mean more opportunities for young French players to stay at home longer rather than take their careers abroad Another recent ruling has seen youth player contracts extended from a maximum of three years to five Clubs such as Racing and third division Red Star Paris six miles east across the north of the city are vulnerable to losing players they have developed The “player trading model” has become a fashionable phrase among investors buying clubs but it is less enticing if you are the source of the talent and compensation is inadequate In Paris, there is another factor in future change — the 2024 Olympics and Mbappe is eager to represent France in the Games he said: “We talked about that in the contract discussions it will be 100 years after Paris 1924 and it’s one of sports’ biggest events.” The Olympics are bringing a total regeneration of Stade Yves-du-Manoir A stadium that in a previous guise hosted those 1924 Olympics is to again be a Games venue reconstructed initially as a 10,000-seat capacity for hockey Racing will return and can enlarge it to 18,000 “With the changes that are coming with the Olympic stadium here — there will be a hybrid main pitch and four (fully) artificial surfaces — in theory we should be able to bring through many thousands of young Parisian footballers,” Racing’s president Patrick Norbert tells The Athletic a former actor and movie producer and ex-chairman of now Ligue 1 side Angers the Racing academy is full of players and matches Improved facilities will help retain the best of them — though he has another idea “We are looking for an English club to partner with,” Norbert says we get a lot of large French clubs coming to Paris and taking players aged 13 15 and paying a small amount of money for them There is no guarantee the players are ready to make that move “What we have in mind is an agreement with an English club where they could identify talent but the boys would be allowed to stay here and work gradually towards a move That would make the players more comfortable their education would not be disrupted and also that Racing would get the right compensation.” whose son Guillaume was a midfielder in Arsenal’s academy 25 years ago and now manages Racing sees a return to the top division as a realistic ambition It is a remarkable statistic that between Racing’s only title in 1936 and PSG’s first one 50 years later no Parisian club became champions of France which may help explain a laissez-faire attitude The city did not have the ingredients to stimulate a fan culture Equally remarkable is that there has been no Ligue 1 Parisian derby since February 1990 when Racing won 2-1 at the Parc des Princes against the PSG team of Joel Bats who had a young David Ginola on their books then quickly ran into debt and it spiralled out of control they were in the third division and would sink further “I do feel that something is changing in Paris,” he says I think there should be two or three high-profile clubs in Paris — it has the potential to be a big football city “Today the only big club is PSG and we are trying to exist away from them It’s not a tradition in Paris to have more than one big club “But now is the time for Paris to have two because of the importance football has taken on in the past few years We are confident that Racing has the right profile to be the true second club in Paris.” Norbert also feels there is an appetite for a club who last week lost to Sochaux in the Ligue 2 promotion play-offs might dispute Norbert’s claim to be the second club Paris FC merged with Stade Saint-Germain the following year to form Paris Saint-Germain — then split in 1972 the government of Bahrain bought around 20 per cent of Paris FC and it is Bahrain’s name that is the main sponsor on the fronts of their blue jerseys This pattern of foreign money coming into Parisian football has continued recently at Red Star They are in Championnat National 1, one rung below Paris FC and one above where promoted Racing will play next season, and have former Senegal international and Newcastle and Aston Villa old boy Habib Beye as manager with Steve Marlet and David Bellion also involved they are Paris’s oldest club — formed in 1897 by no less than Jules Rimet Rimet wanted this new club to be open to all classes Even as Red Star began to win French Cups and rise to prominence — they were still in Ligue 1 in 1975 — the profile of the club and its fanbase remained political and left-wing Not many grounds in Europe have stands named after a Communist footballer and member of the French Resistance who was executed by the Nazis in 1944 the Rino Della Negra is where their ultras gather in the working-class district of Saint-Ouen and just three miles from the Stade de France now undergoing an extensive renovation — another sign of Parisian football’s rejuvenation — has a traditional English feel or somewhere like Anderlecht’s Constant Vanden Stock in Brussels posters and stickers hail anti-fascists and Rino Della Negra himself Given this history and reputation it was unsurprising that when Red Star’s ownership announced last month that they had sold the club to 777 Partners an American investment fund based in Miami Fans forced the abandonment of the next home game and the following two were played behind closed doors When 777 Partners’ takeover was formally confirmed the supporters stepped up their protests and “The sale of Red Star to 777 Partners investment fund risks drowning our club its history and its identity in the flux of modern football where values are gradually being erased in the face of the interests of multinational corporations,” read a fans’ statement Albeit at a different level to PSG and Qatar Red Star are at the same crossroads where history identity and modern football economics collide 777 Partners has already bought Standard Liege in Belgium and Genoa in Italy, plus 13 per cent of Spain side Sevilla and a majority stake in Vasco da Gama in Rio de Janeiro Whether any of the fans of those clubs want to be part of a multi-club model is questionable They think 777 Partners’ real interest lies in the reservoir of local talent Spiro writes about in Sacre Bleu Saturday night will once again see Paris as the centre of European footballing attention Our perception is that it is neither Liverpool nor Madrid when it comes to the sport that the former France international initiated the European Cup in 1955 It is why its first-ever final — in 1956 — was played at the Parc des Princes Sixty-six years on, Paris has also staged the final in 1975 (Leeds loss to Bayern Munich) 2000 (Real Madrid win over Valencia) and 2006 (Arsenal loss to Barcelona) This season’s showpiece was originally awarded to Saint Petersburg but Russia’s bloody invasion of Ukraine was the end of that and UEFA switched the match to the French capital Perhaps they had reviewed their laissez-faire opinion Should Paris continue to produce players of the quality of Mbappe and Kante and if the city’s clubs below Ligue 1 can push upwards then we may all need to re-think the city of Rimet Paris challenged and changed the history and geography of football football’s challenging new geography is changing the history of the game in Paris (Top photo: Bertrand Guay/AFP via Getty Images) First published in The Observer in 1990, Michael Walker has covered World Cups and European Championships for The Guardian, Daily Mail and Irish Times among others. Author of two football books, one on England’s North-east, one on Ireland. Follow Michael on Twitter @mwalker2771 You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed +374 10 650015 Discover what the most popular suburbs of Paris have to offer in the way of property prices By Martina Di Gregorio While living in Paris might sound like a dream for many people, the reality of finding a home in the capital can be a challenge given the rising cost of rent and the fact that apartments are getting smaller Some Parisian neighborhoods may also be too loud and crowded with tourists making them less appealing to those looking to settle down if you are looking for a bigger home with a garden the suburbs of Paris might be a better option From the international vibrance of Croissy-sur-Seine to the elegance of Versailles there are many desirable places to consider they offer accommodation of every kind to suit a variety of preferences and budgets To give you an idea of what’s on offer this article includes the following information: Looking for an easy way to find your next home Spotahome is an online property portal operating in France that takes the stress out of renting and book your next rental property without leaving home Finding housing in Paris and its surrounding suburbs can be challenging and time-consuming especially for those who are not familiar with the local property market you will need to find the right suburb to match your budget and preferred lifestyle before beginning your search for a home there are multiple websites that make house-hunting easier SeLoger is particularly popular among internationals seeking accommodation in the Parisian suburbs The portal allows you to search under Louer (rent) for apartments for rent You then need to enter the postcode of the town or area you prefer and click on Rechercher (search) Before deep-diving into the many apartments available you can add filters such as pieces or chambres (rooms) and Extérieur (exterior) where you can specify whether you want a garden You can also filter by Meublé (furnished) or Non meublé (unfurnished) depending on whether you want to bring your own furniture you can head to Acheter (buy) and start your search Moving to France: the ultimate checklist for your move it might be worth searching for short and mid-term rentals on portals such as: might also want to join some of the local Facebook groups where people often post apartments or rooms for rent as well as search for roommates or sublets for short periods of time Some suburbs are also more affordable and spacious with family houses that come with gardens and parking spaces that allow for an easier commute to Paris Rental costs in the suburbs of Paris can vary greatly there are some suburbs in which prices are on par with the city center these prices are increasing every year as the areas continue to improve their urban plans You can find the most up-to-date rental costs on SeLoger Similar to rental costs, property prices in the suburbs of Paris are lower than in the capital, where the average cost exceeds €10,000 per square meter The city of Paris is divided into twenty districts – or arrondissements – which are arranged in the form of a clockwise spiral. However, the city and its surrounding suburbs (or banlieues) make up the region of Île-de-France This consists of eight administrative departments Essonne, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Seine-et-Marne, Val-de-Marne, Val-d’Oise According to statistics from 2020, 19% of the population of metropolitan France live within Île-de-France making it the most populated region in the country demographics vary significantly throughout the departments Seine-Saint-Denis in the northeast and Val-d’Oise in the northwest were formerly industrial and working-class zones the southern department of Essonne and the western department of Yvelines are predominantly inhabited by the upper class reputations also vary from suburb to suburb and Maisons-Laffitte are known to be some of the most affluent and desirable areas in Paris are also considered to be ‘unsafe’ while other residential areas like Fontenay-aux-Roses To give you more of an overview of the Paris suburbs below is a summary of some of the most popular ones to live in among the expat community Situated just 14km from the center of Paris, Chatou is a family-friendly suburb with many green spaces, making it the perfect location for those looking to escape the bustling city and enjoy some nature. However, although it is only a 15-minute commute with the RER line A meaning that many residents (or Catoviens) choose to own cars and houses usually have parking Chatou is perhaps best known for its Ile des Impressionistes (Island of Impressionists) which is located in the Seine River and got its name due to its popularity among multiple 19th-century artists such as Monet and Renoir and open woodland where visitors can relax and enjoy nature Art is still an important part of life in Chatou, and it hosts multiple art, music, and antique festivals every year, including the Chatou Island Festival and the National Antique Fair Whether you are single and looking to move to Paris for work, or you are a parent with young children seeking peace and quiet the rest of the town continues with its daily routine While Versailles may be more suited to working people and families, students might find themselves more drawn to Orsay. The university town is located 20km southwest of Paris, with a direct train providing easy access to the capital. The RER B is the cheapest option for those who commute daily and it takes around 30 minutes to reach the Cité Universitaire stop Orsay offers a mix of affordable apartments and family homes with gardens with a two-bedroom apartment costing between €1,000 and €2,100 per month these prices vary yearly depending on inflation The suburb provides ample green space, with the Bois de la Cyprenne – a small forest inside the city – offering a scenic escape from the hustle and bustle. Osary also boasts a variety of entertainment, including lectures and exhibitions at the Musée d’Orsay Those who love nightlife will also enjoy the various bars and restaurants in the student quarters.  it can take up to an hour to reach the city by car or even longer during peak times.   although all that remains are outbuildings Another attraction is the Hippodrome de Saint-Cloud racecourse, where the Saint-Cloud Grand Prix takes place every year. Rock music lovers might also find themselves in this suburb when the annual Rock en Seine festival comes to town Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a quintessential French town that embraces a diverse and multicultural community. Located 15km west of Paris, the suburb is most suited to expat families, and is home to Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye; one of the top international schools in France which features beautiful gardens and a panoramic view of western Paris All of this is only 20 minutes away from the capital, with multiple bus routes and local trains on the RER A line connecting the two Located 7km northwest of Paris, in the department of Hauts-de-Seine, Neuilly-sur-Seine is one of the most expensive cities in France with rental prices exceeding €12,000 per square meter those looking to rent or buy in the area will need to have a hefty budget Although it is close to Paris, the suburb is relatively quiet and primarily residential with many family homes and multiple parks attracting expats with children. It is also home to Marymount and offers easy access to other international schools in the neighboring 16th arrondissement.  which attract thousands of tourists each year Commuting to the center of Paris is an easy 20-minute metro trip or a half-hour drive for those who are brave enough to face the city’s infamous traffic. There are also multiple buses and local rail connections that provide easy access to the rest of the country Situated in the affluent department of Yvelines, Croissy-sur-Seine is particularly attractive to expats due to its strong English-speaking community and the fact that it is home to the British School of Paris; one of the best international schools in France Similar to other popular suburbs, Croissy-sur-Seine is well connected to Paris, with the RER A line taking around 20 minutes which is ideal for those looking to commute Nogents-sur-Marne is a charming commuter town that lies 10km east of Paris on the River Marne. The suburb offers convenient access to the Bois de Vincennes which features several lakes The River Marne is also a popular destination for swimming and rowing enthusiasts those surrounding Paris are diverse in terms of demographics While some are known for their excellent amenities it might not be the most suitable place to live for those with children it is important to do your research and ask for recommendations from local expat groups to ensure that it is a safe and desirable place to live Martina has been living abroad for almost ten years She moved to the Netherlands to pursue her master’s and later kickstarted her career in marketing although her passion for writing never left so she decided to freelance and follow her love for storytelling and sharing stories with the world It was a busy start to peak season in Marrakesh this year with lengthy immigration queues at the city’s modern airport and heavy traffic on the roads at the height of summer when temperatures stretch uncomfortably towards 40C overall tourist numbers to Morocco were up 20 per cent year on year A year on from the earthquake that claimed nearly 3,000 lives and devastated areas around the Atlas Mountains tourism figures are back higher than in 2019 Daily life in Marrakesh continues: the call to prayer the colour-washed pale pink palette and the packed stalls and shadowy alleys in the medina (old town) remain firm the Red City — located less than four hours from London — Archive Architecture Rachel Thomas Pour ceux qui seraient déjà lassés des minis piscines parisiennes remplies de monde et qui veulent avoir un cran d'avance sur les autres pour se dorer la pilule au bord de l'eau, sachez que vous pouvez compter sur ces superbes piscines à Paris Cette piscine "à débordement" sur la Seine donne l'illusion de s'y baigner  L'été est la parfaite saison pour s'y rendre puisqu'on peut y faire des longueurs et bronzer dans un cadre original. Dépaysement qui fait du bien dans les jambes Une publication partagée par David (@david_viala) le 16 Sept Située sur l’île de Puteaux la piscine du Palais des Sports se compose de deux bassins intérieurs et d’un bassin extérieur de 50 mètres… chauffé On peut aussi se faire un petit kiff bien-être avec les jacuzzis Une publication partagée par MonikaPersonalShopperParis (@monikapersonalshopperparis) le 8 Mai 2018 à 12 :47 PDT 2, allée Georges-Hassoux – 92800 Puteaux les habitants de Montreuil (+ ceux qui font le déplacement) peuvent se rafraîchir dans la piscine des Murs à pêche Sa grosse particularité : le bassin extérieur possède un système 100% naturel une première en Île-de-France. Pour avoir l'impression de se baigner dans un lac Une publication partagée par Gwen (@coachgwen) le 7 Mai 2018 à 9 :16 PDT 9, rue Maurice-Bouchor – 93100 Montreuil Située au bout du paisible parc de Sceaux cette piscine – et ses 4 bassins – a l’avantage de ne… pas ressembler à une piscine malgré un large choix de plaisirs aquatiques Pour les plus sportifs : terrains de volley ball tables de ping-pong et aire de jeux pour enfants c’est surtout des étendues de verdure où se dorer la pilule Une publication partagée par Gregory Nowak (@gregnowak) le 26 Mai 2017 à 4 :37 PDT 8, rue du Port – 94130 Nogent-sur-Marne lumineuse et propre… L’agrandissement a profité au nouvel espace détente incluant hammam saunas ainsi qu'une salle de repos pour les plus léthargiques un solarium et une pataugeoire ont été créés pour le bonheur des bronzeurs et des plus petits. Mais bon, la meilleure photo qu'on ait trouvée à vous montrer est celle-ci prise lors de la dernière Nuit Blanche.. Une publication partagée par Franz Shaach (@fz.sh) le 7 Oct 1, avenue de Stalingrad – 92220 Bagneux Fortes chaleurs à Paris : le retour des piscines tombe à pic Voici les lignes de métro et RER fermées cet été Les meilleures adresses de cafés glacés où se rafraîchir à Paris cet été