CHALON SUR SAONE (LNB) - Elan Chalon have rewarded coach Gregor Beugnot for his outstanding performance this season by extending his contract for three years.\r\n\r\nBeugnot, 53, has been with the team since 2003.\r\n\r\nChalon just beat Nancy 71-62 on Tuesday to reach the French Cup Final where they will take on Limoges.\r\n\r\nIn that semi-final triumph for Chalon, ...
HomeNewsFRA - Beugnot extends stay at Chalon through 2014FIBA BasketballFRA - Beugnot extends stay at Chalon through 2014CHALON SUR SAONE (LNB) - Elan Chalon have rewarded coach Gregor Beugnot for his outstanding performance this season by extending his contract for three years
Chalon just beat Nancy 71-62 on Tuesday to reach the French Cup Final where they will take on Limoges
The Repsol Honda Trial Team riders come into the event off a great performance at the opening round in Barcelona
X-Trial World Championship action returns with the second round of the season in Chalon-Sur-Saône
The French town will host the series with Toni Bou leading the way
after taking the victory at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona a month ago
is currently third after his podium at the season opener
After sweeping the first event of the season at the Palau Sant Jordi
Bou is ready for what will be the second time that the Repsol Honda Team rider has competed in Chalon-Sur-Saône
and his goal this weekend will be to repeat that result
Marcelli started off the season on the podium in Barcelona
The young Spaniard is still looking for his first win in indoor competition and will try to climb positions in the overall standings as well
The action will begin on Friday at 8:00p.m
which hosts a round of the X-Trial World Championship for the second time
“I head to Chalon with much more motivation after the good feeling we had in Barcelona
My rivals have started out pushing very hard this season
and the key to fighting for victory will be to make the difference on the difficult areas to reach the final
Our objective for the second event of the year is to win
try to do our best and follow the same strategy as up to now.”
I think that the victory in the Spanish Championship has given me an extra boost
and I have been able to show that I am a rider to be taken into account in the fight for victories
because starting with a podium is positive
I have done my homework for this one and we will give everything to achieve our goal
“After the results of the first race and the work the team did during the month-long break we have had
Toni showed in Barcelona that he continues to be at the highest level and Gabri
after the great results he had in the Spanish Championship
has made it clear that he is very strong for the second round of the X-Trial World Championship
will be to fight for first and second position.”
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When you literally watch a beloved industry get blown up, it can be life-altering. The photographer Robert Burley can attest to that
began visiting and photographing the Kodak Canada complex in the Canadian city after learning about plans to shut down the plant
He spent a year and a half documenting the 18 buildings on the campus
he learned a lot about the previously secretive processes about how film was manufactured and was surprised about how little he knew about the medium he had loved since he was a teenager
Kodak began blowing up their buildings in Rochester
one of many closures and implosions of film producing factories around the world he would document
“To read newspaper stories about the decline of traditional film was one thing but to stand in front of one of those film factories and watch it reduced to dust in a matter of seconds was quite another,” Burley wrote via email
attending these scheduled implosions of the Kodak factories was the most poignant part of this 6-year project
I included the crowds in my photographs noting most everyone was documenting these spectacles with a digital capture device … of some kind—even though most had been employed by Kodak and worked in these buildings for the better part of their lives.”
Burley doesn’t see the conversation between digital and analog photography as an either/or debate
although he said while working on the book
it became clear “that photography was not simply undergoing another technological shift or refinement—it was being irrevocably changed forever.”
Burley compares the two formats to the way people used to compare horses and cars
noting that the car shaped not only the way people traveled but also the design of cities
“Digital media are changing the way we see and experience the world around us—even the way we see ourselves in the world,” he said
that doesn’t translate to revenue for film manufacturers that have seen their market dwindle as amateur photographers have embraced digital photography
“As I visited the gutted Polaroid factories in Boston
the Agfa and Ilford plants in Europe and many other buildings related to photography’s everyday uses in the world it became clear that photography as I had known it was quickly passing into history,” Burley said
“An alarming number of films have disappeared over the last two decades and I believe this trend will continue with the elimination of color film in the near future
My hope is that [black and white] materials will be available for a long time—the Ilford company appears to be in good position to continue this role.”
Burley chose to photograph the images in the book with film but said it wasn’t a sentimental choice
When he began shooting the images that would become the book in 2005
and he felt film was at that point still superior to digital photography
“By the time I finished the project in 2012 all of these things had changed—really
the whole world had changed in too many ways to count,” he wrote
it became clear that the culture of photography as we’d all known it during our lifetime was gone—it felt as though it had suddenly become a part of a distant past in the blink of an eye.”
In addition to the book, two museum exhibitions will feature the work: the Musée Nicéphore Niépce in Chalon-sur-Saône, France, beginning Oct. 12 and the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa beginning Oct
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The court in Chaon-sur-Saone, in Burgundy, accepted that Valérie Bacot, 40, who shot dead Daniel Polette, 25 years her senior, had been the victim of appalling mistreatment over decades in which she had been horrifically mistreated and forced into prostitution by her husband.
Her case has focused attention on the obstacles that French law poses for women in abusive relationships.
The public benches erupted into applause when Bacot was sentenced to four years imprisonment for premeditated murder, with three suspended. That meant that she was free because she had spent a year in detention after putting a
Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF.
The full Repsol Honda Trial Team, with Toni Bou and Gabriel Marcelli, will this Friday compete in the second round of the 2022 X-Trial World Championship to be held in Chalon-sur-Saône, France.
Chalon-sur-Saône’s sports arena, the Colisée, will make its debut as an X-Trial World Championship venue, hosting the second event of the 2022 World Championship. Round two of the campaign will get underway with Toni Bou in the lead after his undisputed win in Nice almost a fortnight ago. The Repsol Honda Trial Team rider arrives holding 22 points in the overall standings, seven points clear of second-placed Adam Raga (15p.). Third in the standings is Matteo Grattarola (12p.).
I am very happy to be in the next round of the 2022 X-Trial World Championship. Despite being one event behind, I think we can still do quite well in the overall championship. We will have to fight to be as far ahead as possible, then I won’t have to take part as a wildcard entry. I hope to do well so that I can put on a good show in Madrid and Barcelona for the Spanish fans who support us.
but the French side picked up steam throughout their FIBA Europe Cup campaign and showed their capabilities
CHALON-SUR-SAONE (FIBA Europe Cup) - It took time for Elan Chalon to get rolling, but the French side picked up steam throughout their FIBA Europe Cup campaign and showed their capabilities when they needed it the most
Consistently brilliant performances by John Roberson, Cameron Clark and Moustapha Fall have been a revelation for many basketball fans around Europe.
Leading up to the title decider against Nanterre 92 at the Palais des Sports Maurice Thorez on Tuesday
we examine Elan Chalon's story in the FIBA Europe Cup game by game and chapter by chapter
A victorious start to the season saw Elan Chalon go 2-0 in Group A standings after wins against Brussels Basketball and SL Benfica
John Roberson registered the team's first double-double by scoring 21 points and dishing out 13 assists against the Portuguese side at home in Chalon-sur-Saone
After two wins to start the FIBA Europe Cup campaign, it didn't take long for Elan Chalon to get their first taste of defeat. Alba Fehervar handed the visiting French side a tough Hungarian pill to swallow in the third week of action
The team's lackluster defensive effort forced coach Choulet to call out his players: "We didn't play a single minute of good defense!"
The growing pains of a newly-assembled roster were still visible, as Elan Chalon barely escaped a home upset against the fourth-placed Belgian club
who were still winless at this point.
Three other French teams — BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque, Nanterre 92 and Pau-Lacq-Orthez — had already clinched Second Round berth
What about Elan Chalon? Although they were in a reasonably good position to qualify with a 3-2 record
the lowest-scoring game of the season and a defeat in Lisbon still meant they could finish anywhere between first and third
Elan Chalon threw the hammer down on Alba in Chalon-sur-Saone
getting revenge for the 20-point loss in Hungary with a 29-point victory at home behind a game-high of 26 points by Cameron Clark and double doubles of Moustapha Fall and John Roberson
The enormous victory margin allowed Elan Chalon to get the head-to-head advantage and qualify to the Second Round as the number one team in Group A
Having ended the Regular Season with a crushing win
Elan Chalon carried over their momentum to the Second Round as well
the French side were well and truly rolling
The game in Sweden against Sodertalje Kings was an emotional one for the team's starting point guard John Roberson
the playmaker scored 18 points and distributed 6 assists to his Elan Chalon teammates
who took advantage of the created opportunities
While impressive, wins against Mures and Sodertalje pale in comparison to the one-sided triumph against Turkish side Gaziantep in a battle of Group K leaders
Axel Bouteille exploded for 24 points
as Elan Chalon inscribed their third consecutive victory in the Second Round
setting themselves up nicely for the second part of the stage
Elan Chalon became the first team to book a place in the Round of 16 after making it five wins in as many games in the Second Round after defeating Mures and Sodertalje for the second time
The fact that Elan Chalon have been beating opponents by an average margin of 25.8 points might be even more impressive than their 5-0 record in the standings
Elan Chalon got used to winning by double digits in the Second Round
but their last game before the start of the Play-Offs was one of their worst performances this season
Gaziantep led by as many as 32 points in the third quarter
but a big fourth-quarter comeback allowed Elan Chalon to cut the deficit to just 12 points and get within the boundaries of the 19-point cushion
In the biggest first-leg win in the Round of 16, Elan Chalon beat Kormend by 21 points on the road in Hungary and gave themselves plenty of wiggle room for the return leg.
with Elan Chalon not being able close out Kormend at home
When you factor in the 21-point first-leg advantage
While the game might officially be classified as a loss for Elan Chalon, the all-out offensive back-and-forth between two point guards John Roberson and Scottie Reynolds made it one of the most memorable FIBA Europe Cup contests this season
John Roberson simply couldn't miss and set two FIBA Europe Cup records with competition records in scoring and three-point shooting with 39 points on 10-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc.
The roller-coaster Quarter-Finals match-up that started in Zagreb went through a number of ups and downs before coming to an end favorable to Elan Chalon in Chalon-sur-Saone after a clutch fourth-quarter outburst by Cameron Clark
who finished the game with 26 points and 8 rebounds
After being encouraged to step up by coach Jean-Denys Choulet
Moustapha Fall had arguably the best two-way game of the season in the FIBA Europe Cup
Not only did he score 12 points, grab 9 rebounds and block 6 shots, but he also completely shut down Rasko Katic, who caused Elan Chalon the most problems in Ostend.
It could have been better; it could have been worse.
Although Elan Chalon failed to build a cushion in the home leg, being on level terms was a positive result for the red-and-whites, considering they were down by as many as 15 points.
Cameron Clark, who had some problems with foul trouble in the first half, led all scorers with 16 points and was 13 in positives in the plus-minus department.
Elan ChalonCHALON-SUR-SAÔNE (FIBA Europe Cup Final) - We take a look at the first Semi-Final clash at the FIBA Europe Cup Final Four which pits Openjobmetis Varese against Elan Chalon
There is no way of knowing which of the two Friday Semi-Finals in Chalon-sur-Saône will turn out to be the most thrilling or the most engaging
but it is almost certain the first game will be the one with the highest score on the night
We know this firstly because Chalon are the best offensive team in the FIBA Europe Cup (and in the French Pro A)
"This is how we have been playing all season, this is how we like to play, so this is how we're going to play in the Semi-Final too," said Chalon head coach Jean Denys Choulet
"It would be nice of course if we also played a bit better on defence," he added tongue-in-cheek
Chalon attempt 1.6 shots from the floor per minute of play because they prefer to go to many
You won't catch them often committing a shot-clock violation
"If we get a good look in the first eight seconds, we are also happy to take the shot," explained Varese head coach Paolo Moretti
we also like to play this kind of basketball
against a team that does that better than we do
"We cannot create situations that concede them the opportunity to score an easy bucket on the other end
"So the key of the game for us will be how careful we are when it comes to our defensive transitions
"This is one of the concepts we have been training on all week
"Our main aim is to stay close until the end
against a team that can at any moment go on a run which kills off the game."
For the approximately 50,000 residents of Chalon
even those who do not feel the need for speed
this game is the only show in town on Friday night
The city is a basketball hub immensely proud of its team
You cannot go five metres in the centre without coming across a kid wearing the red-and-white jersey
or a shop's window showcasing club merchandise along with their own
Le Colisée arena is naturally sold-out for Friday's Semi-Final and
every Chalonnais who could get his or her hands on a ticket is holding on to it as a prized possession
"The club made a great effort to host the Final Four, people have been waiting for this and we cannot disappoint them," said Chalon captain Ilian Evtimov
"We are playing for this entire city but we are also playing for France."
Varese is also a basketball-crazy town though
a cradle of Italian basketball and their fans are well-versed in the notion that a game starts at the ticket counter long before the tip-off on the court
Italian fans have managed to dilute somewhat Chalon's home-court advantage
as approximately 400 of Varese's faithful will be in the stands for the Semi-Final
Moretti underlines this as a key figure ahead of Friday's battle
"It is extremely important because it gives our players the message that the city is on their side," the Varese coach said
"It provides the guys with an extra push to give everything they have
the rumour in Varese is that we would have well over a thousand fans travelling here for the Final
Varese are the second-best three-point shooting team in the competition as they convert 42.4% of their attempts from behind the arc
Chalon can however also lay claim at this label as their three-point field percentage is just slightly lower
Chalon attempt 27.2 three-pointers per game
while Varese take an average of 21.2 shots from beyond the arc
the Italian team have the lowest two-point field goal percentage at the Final Four
Chalon's two-point field goal percentage is 56.3%
tied with that of Fraport Skyliners for best among the four teams at the Final Four
For full FIBA Europe Cup coverage click here
Muslim organisation wins case against local government in Burgundy on human rights – not religious – grounds
A French court has ruled that schools should provide an alternative to pork school lunches in the interest of Muslim and Jewish children who do not eat the meat.
Read moreThe decision came after a rightwing local authority stopped providing a choice for children
On Monday a Muslim organisation won its legal case against the authority at Chalon-sur-Saône in Burgundy
annulled the town hall’s 2015 decision not to provide an alternative to pork in its school canteens
Chalon-sur-Saône officials said they would appeal against the decision
The judge said he was not concerned with religious considerations but ruled that the town’s failure to provide an alternative meal
which meant many local Muslim children went without lunch
was “not in keeping with the spirit of the international convention on the rights of children” and was not “in the interests of the children”
a state legal expert told the court they had come to the same conclusion
the mayor of Chalon-sur-Saône for the rightwing Les Républicains party
claimed he was upholding the French Republic’s principle of “laïcité”
when he decided to stop offering non-pork alternatives in the local schools
“The decision comes only a few days before the start of the term
It is materially impossible for the town of Chalon-sur-Saône to change the operation of a public service in such a short time without risking the continuity of that service,” Platret said in a statement on Monday
The council insisted that by making all children eat together they were combating separation and discrimination
The Ligue de Défense Judiciaire des Musulmans (LDJM – the Muslim Legal Defence League) rejected this and brought the legal action in 2015
claiming that the town hall’s decision to stop providing non-pork meals was “illegal
discriminatory and a violation of the freedom of conscience and religion”
The Dijon administrative court said it had not accepted the LDJM’s argument about religious freedoms but had considered the “greater interest of the child”
The judge pointed out that the town hall had provided alternative non-pork meals since 1984 “with no argument whatsoever”
The French national consultative committee on human rights said the town hall’s action relied on a “erroneous intepretation of the principles of secularism and equality”
“Secular principles come second to children’s rights,” Nicolas Gardères
Chalon-sur-Saône is not the only local authority that is a battleground over national identity and the place of Islam in French society, as the Guardian reported in October 2015
Fans in the Colisée were treated to a night of high drama in the inaugural X-Trial Chalon-sur-Saône
as Toni Bou claimed victory over his closest rival Adam Raga by just a single mark
the X-Trial was settled in the penultimate section
with Raga suffering his only blunder of the Final before Bou held his nerve to claim a second consecutive win with which he opened his title defense
Bou’s surprise failure in section six meant that just a single mark separated him across the night from Raga
with whom he tied in each of the opening two runs
as he matched Takahisa Fujinami’s record 139 X-Trial appearances and secured his fortieth consecutive podium
The biggest shocks of the night were provided by the youngest rider in the field Toby Martyn who became Britain’s first podium finisher since James Dabill at X-Trial Montpellier four years ago
Martyn is the first rider to have lowered the colours of Toni Bou in 2022
snatching a bonus World Championship point by topping the Round One Standings as the only rider successfully through Section Two
Matteo Grattarola remains third in the series Standings despite failing to back up his outstanding performance in Nice with another podium finish
The Italian left himself with too much work to do after finishing just sixth with a seventeen-mark opening run
Norwegian Haga finished a career-best fifth
as Wild Card Gabriel Marcelli and home hopeful Benoit Bincaz were shock eliminees in the opening round
“It was a very demanding X-Trial and the win was far from straightforward,” Bou said
“I didn’t feel comfortable in the first round and made some mistakes
but I changed bikes for the Second Round and things went much better from there
The Final was very close until Section Five proved decisive
It’s a second consecutive win so it consolidates my Championship lead
but Adam is riding at a very high level and keeping up the pressure.”
“I am very satisfied with my riding tonight because I was able to remain competitive
which being just a point in the end underlines
I made a few mistakes in the First Round but in general terms
For Toby Martyn it was high emotion with hos first podium
I’m emotional now after managing my first podium in the X-Trial World Championship,” Martyn said
“I had a really great first lap which was the root of this success
I’d like to dedicate this result to everyone who helps me from day to day
I really feel like I’m on the ascendency and that I am making steps forward every time I ride.”
The X-Trial World Championship returns to the Spanish capital next weekend for the first X-Trial Madrid since 2012 and the first in a new venue for the series the Madrid Arena
Since 2005, photographer and photography lecturer Robert Burley has been documenting the demise of film photography through film photographs
He has traveled around the world with his 4×5 field camera in tow
the equipment that once powered a giant industry
and the desolation of factories that were once teeming with workers
The photograph above shows a crowd watching the implosions of buildings 65 and 69 at Kodak Park in Rochester
crowds gathered to watch the death of photography in its birthplace
After the demolition team had set off the 950 kilograms of explosives placed at the base of the building
An embarrassed group of Kodak executives were forced to schedule a second attempt in February of 2008
which successfully ended the company’s presence in Niépce’s city
To be in attendance at [the demolition of Buildings 65 and 69] was to experience something thrilling and disheartening at once
The thrill came from the deafening explosions and the unreal collapse
This was invariably followed by an eerie silence; spectators
many of whom were former employees and had spent the better part of their lives working in these buildings
I was one of the few photographers recording the event on film
When I looked into the crowds in front of my view camera
I saw an array of digital devices—cell phones
and cameras—capturing a final “Kodak moment.”
Although some photographic films and papers could be handled in subdued (“safe”) light
many of the buildings were filled with darkened
to meet the needs of large-scale production
The building interiors were divided into a complex series of hallways and entrance and exit passages to accommodate the traffic of workers who had developed an equally complex system for working in
and finding their way through these dark areas without incident
While the Kodak Company had a long history of employing blind workers who were at ease in the pitch dark
most others whistled or called “Watch out !” to their peers as they made their way to their workstations
The Waltham facility was closed in 2008 when Polaroid
announced that it would discontinue the production of all its instant films
Once having employed more than 15,000 people in Massachusetts
the Polaroid Corporation was reduced to a workforce of 1,500 by 2010
it announced the production of a digital version of its instant camera
The economy of scale required in the manufacture of photographic film only becomes evident when confronted by the spaces in which the product is made or stored
The small rolls that photographers use (or used) in their cameras start out as enormous master rolls manufactured to high standards in a very few specialized facilities around the world
These rolls are some 54 inches wide by as much as 2 miles long
A typical master roll will produce approximately 50,000 rolls of 35mm film
or over forty hours of 35mm motion picture film
This Agfa warehouse contains an estimated 1
500 master rolls of film — enough to make 73
This month, Burley published 71 of large-format photographs as a hardcover book titled “The Disappearance of Darkness: Photography at the End of the Analog Era“:
You can read more about this project over on its official website
The Disappearance of Darkness (via CNN)
Update: Pete Brook over at Wired’s Raw File also has a great profile on this project
Image credits: Photographs by Robert Burley and used with permission
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France — At a factory nestled among Burgundy vineyards
polish and test pieces needed to put together a nuclear reactor
technical charts are pasted next to a map of the country buying the product
A reactor core marked for the Salem plant in New Jersey is propped on its side
16.5 feet wide and resembling a chunk of an enormous railroad tunnel
workers prepare to broach holes into a plate for 15,000 cooling tubes for a reactor in Ling?ao
Twenty years after the Chernobyl nuclear plant coughed a cloud of radiation over much of Europe and scared consumers and governments away from atomic power for a generation
One country has done perhaps the most to push back the pendulum: France
As the only European country that continued making new nuclear plants after Chernobyl
France has up-to-date expertise that it's keen to export
gas pipelines run through zones of political uncertainty and coal-fired power plants clog lungs and may overheat the Earth
With energy worries topping the world's agenda
even a few environmental activists are reconsidering nuclear power
persuaded by improved safety and the fear that fossil fuels pose even greater dangers to the planet
China and India are embracing nuclear energy to support breakneck growth
The United States and Russia are reviving long-dormant nuclear plans
overriding concerns about proliferation of the potentially deadly technology
Finland is building the first new reactor in western Europe since 1991
Not everyone is softening on nuclear power
Italy and the Netherlands are talking about the option
So far it's only talk - but groundbreaking talk
"We're positioned rather well for a nuclear renaissance," says Jacques-Emmanuel Saulnier
France's key partner in promoting that renaissance is an unexpected one: the United States
industries are cooperating closely in hopes of a new boom in nuclear power
France is the most nuclear-dependent country in the world
with 59 reactors churning out nearly 80 percent of its electricity
The French state owns the world's biggest electricity utility
the key to France's international nuclear influence
France is selling more than electricity and reactor parts
It's preaching an updated version of the long-abandoned nuclear idea
a gospel of emission-free energy to wean nations off foreign fuel and harness the atom for a peaceful
Some 25 reactors are under construction around the world
adding to the network of 440 commercial nuclear power plants spread out over 31 countries that supply 16 percent of the world's total electricity
Areva is directly involved in at least five of the new projects
who has fought France's all-powerful nuclear industry for years
expanding reactor factory in this modest industrial town is an alarming sight
"Whenever we see an offer on nuclear energy
Greenpeace insists that despite the industry's claims
is the key to solving the world's energy dilemma
France has never had intense debate over nuclear energy
Gassin and the few nuclear opponents in France's legislature say that's because the industry is run by a monopoly - EDF - which is in turn run by the state
France has also never suffered an accident the likes of Chernobyl or the partial meltdown at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania in 1979
nuclear energy generates radioactive waste that is costly to store and prone to theft by terrorists
More than 35 million cubic feet are stored in France alone
London-based energy analyst David Bryant says the French government has made safety paramount because it's key to keeping the crucial industry afloat
as more and more governments join research into the next generation of reactors
the industry says Generation IV will be the most efficient yet
will produce less waste and will be simplified to better handle and prevent accidents
chose the nuclear path in the 1970s and hasn't turned back
But only in the last few years has its nuclear industry gone so aggressively global
The company has become a showcase of French industrial might
with revenues of $12 billion last year and net profits up 54 percent since 2002
When French President Jacques Chirac makes major trips abroad
Areva chief Anne Lauvergeon accompanies him
Welding technician Tajeddine Taoufik has watched the Chalon-Sur-Saone plant's fortunes rise
fall and rise again since he started here in 1976
Taoufik is a veteran among an increasingly young work force
Areva is basking in the praise of local leaders for boosting employment
whose 22 percent jobless rate the government is desperate to reduce
While France has been working as the world's atomic advocate
any global nuclear rebound hinges on the United States
because it has more nuclear plants than any other country and is the world's biggest energy consumer
The Bush administration has enraged environmental groups with its new "alternative energy" plan which
while promising money for wind and solar energy
makes the government's first big pitch for nuclear energy in 27 years
Washington and Paris are aligning closely on the subject in a way few would have pictured during their clashes over Iraq
Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham was appointed chairman of the board of Areva Inc.
Bush and Chirac both recently visited India and snared major new nuclear energy deals - and even consulted with each other to ensure their stances were in sync
Critics accuse the presidents of double standards in embracing India's nuclear power ambitions yet tolerating its nuclear weapons - while clamping down on Iran
A key to the resurgent interest in nuclear power is cost
While each new reactor costs several hundred million dollars
a University of Chicago study concluded that a new fleet of more efficient reactors can be expected to produce power as cheaply as coal and natural gas
France's electricity is among the cheapest in western Europe
costing $0.11 per kilowatt hour before taxes
below that of anti-nuclear neighbors Germany ($0.15) and Italy ($0.17)
The high-profile battle for control of U.S
nuclear company Westinghouse - which Toshiba recently bought from British Nuclear Fuels for $5.4 billion
twice the expected price - underscores the business world's view that the industry is poised for a takeoff
the shadow of the world's worst nuclear accident
explosion at Chernobyl in then-Soviet Ukraine
now says nuclear plants could safely help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and satisfy rising energy demand in the United States and abroad
While European public opinion remains strongly anti-nuclear
some governments are hoping that a European Union proposal to boost nuclear energy will help them overcome the naysayers
By Colin Barras
Key features of the skull indicate that the owner of this 1500-year old skeleton had Down’s syndrome
Down’s syndrome is caused by having an extra copy of chromosome 21
The oldest confirmed case of Down’s syndrome has been found: the skeleton of a child who died 1500 years ago in early medieval France
the way the child was buried hints that Down’s syndrome was not necessarily stigmatised in the Middle Ages
Down’s syndrome is a genetic disorder that delays a person’s growth and causes intellectual disability
People with Down’s syndrome have three copies of chromosome 21
but has probably existed throughout human history
However there are few cases of Down’s syndrome in the archaeological record
who has studied the skeleton with her colleagues
Rivollat’s team has studied the way the child with Down’s syndrome was buried
which hasn’t been possible with other ancient cases of the condition
The child was placed on its back in the tomb
in an east-west orientation with the head at the westward end – in common with all of the dead at the necropolis
this suggests the child was treated no differently in death from other members of the community
That in turn hints that they were not stigmatised while alive
A similar argument was put forward in a 2011 study that described the 1500-year-old burial in Israel of a man with dwarfism (International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, DOI: 10.1002/oa.1285)
The body was buried in a similar manner to others at the site
and archaeologists took that as indicating that the man was treated as a normal member of society
Starbuck is not convinced by this argument
“It can be very difficult to extrapolate cultural values and behaviour from burials or skeletal remains,” he says
Journal reference: International Journal of Paleopathology, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2014.05.004
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Alors que les Choletais avaient réussi à revenir au score au prix d'un excellent 3e quart-temps (28-15)
comblant ainsi les 9 points de retard à la pause
ces derniers n'ont pas su contenir le second effort des Chalonnais en dernier quart
Les joueurs de l'Élan Chalon avaient notamment très bien débuté la partie dans les tirs primés avec un 6/6 dans l'exercice dont 4 paniers à trois points pour le seul Lance Harris (22 pts)
il faut noter les grosses parties de Isaiah Swann (27 pts
Ce n'était pas suffisant pour endiguer le 27-17 en faveur de Chalon dans la dernière période
l'Elan Chalon arrive à la troisième place avec pour bilan 4 victoires et 2 défaites
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pull through against CibonaCHALON-SUR-SAONE (FIBA Europe Cup) - Elan Chalon booked their second consecutive Semi-Finals appearance in the FIBA Europe Cup
coming out on top of Cibona Zagreb after a gritty back-and-forth tussle
CHALON-SUR-SAONE (FIBA Europe Cup) - Elan Chalon booked their second consecutive Semi-Finals appearance in the FIBA Europe Cup, coming out on top against Cibona Zagreb after a gritty back-and-forth tussle in the second leg of the Quarter-Final tie in France
Having lost the first leg in Zagreb by two points, Jean-Denys Choulet's side outlasted the visitors from Croatia 83-78 thanks to crucial crunch time plays by Cameron Clark and John Roberson to win the tie 168-165 on aggregate
VICTOIRE !!!!ON EST EN DEMI-FINALE !!!!!!ELAN 83-78 ZAGREB#RougeEtBlanc #ENSEMBLE pic.twitter.com/RDJZM6M8Bc
The team from Chalon-sur-Saone will now face Belgian outfit Telenet Oostende in the Semi-Finals, while fellow French side Nanterre 92 will take on Telekom Baskets on the other side of the bracket
🏀📺WOUHAWWWW ! Quel alley-oop Roberson-Clark 😵😵😵 ! L'@ELANCHALON est bien de retour 🏀🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/044Wd4kkfL
Game Hero: Cameron Clark's energy was the difference-making factor for Elan Chalon
Although his 9-of-19 shooting from the field is nothing to write home about
the 25-year-old forward provided the otherwise stagnant French offense with a much-needed scoring punch with a game-high 26 points and 8 rebounds
Elan Chalon were outscored by double figures in the 9 minutes he was off the floor
Stats Don't Lie: Jean-Denys Choulet couldn't hide his frustration with his side's careless ball-handling
stressing the importance of taking care of the ball during every single timeout
Having committed 15 turnovers in the first three quarters
Elan Chalon lost the ball only once in the final frame. Even with a more composed finish
Cibona outscored the hosts 24-9 with fast-break points
🏀📺L'@ELANCHALON s'impose face à Zagreb (de 5 points) et accède aux 1/2 finales de la @FIBAEuropeCup 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/pHa4GszA2U
Bottom Line: Although Elan Chalon have made a name for themselves as the fun run-and-gun team this season
they proved their title credentials by getting the job done in grit-and-grid mode as well
Having finished third in the FIBA Europe Cup last season
Elan Chalon will have their eyes on the big prize this time around as the only returning Semi-Finalist
What They Said: "The crowd was amazing today and we simply couldn't lose in such an atmosphere" - Cameron Clark
Australian champion takes over GC lead with aggressive ride
Bahrain Victorious's Santiago Buitrago wins stage 4 at Paris-Nice(Image credit: Getty Images/ Thomas SAMSON / AFP)Santiago Buitrago of Bahrain Victorious celebrates at finish line as stage 4 winner(Image credit: Alex Broadway/Getty Images)Luke Plapp (Team Jayco AlUla) crosses the finish line in second on stage 4(Image credit: Alex Broadway/Getty Images)Mattias Skjelmose of Lidl-Trek takes third place on stage 4
ahead of Remco Evenepoel of Soudal-QuickStep(Image credit: Alex Broadway/Getty Images)Felix Gall of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale (left) finishes in sixth place
one position behind Egan Bernal of Ineos Grenadiers on Mont Brouilly(Image credit: Alex Broadway/Getty Images)Australian champion Luke Plapp of Jayco AlUla climbs behind Santiago Buitrago of Bahrain Victorious(Image credit: Alex Broadway/Getty Images)
while Luke Plapp (Jayco-AlUla) held on for second place to move into the yellow jersey as race leader
The race’s trek through the Beaujolais was expected to provide a clear showdown between Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) and Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe)
more shades of nuance were added to the overall picture of this race as Buitrago and Plapp stole a march on the favourites in the finale
On a typically cold and damp Paris-Nice afternoon
Plapp sparked what proved to be the winning move when he pressed clear of the yellow jersey group on the penultimate climb of the Col du Fût d’Avenas
with Buitrago bridging across to him shortly before the summit with 22km still remaining
The pair had just a dozen seconds or so in hand on the chasers at that point
but it would yawn out to 40 seconds ahead of the 3km haul to the finish up Mont Brouilly following something of an impasse in the yellow jersey group
Evenepoel set his Soudal-QuickStep teammate Ilan Van Wilder to work midway up the climb and the Belgian champion later launched two rasping accelerations
but those efforts didn’t suffice to bring back the two leaders
Buitrago danced clear of Plapp with 1.3km still to climb
but the Australian champion managed his resources smartly on the upper ramps of the climb
and he came home just 10 seconds down in second place
but he was pipped to the last of the bonus seconds by Matthias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)
Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) and Roglič lost a couple of seconds to the Belgian in the closing metres
while overnight leader Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) had to settle for 10th at 46 seconds
Plapp holds a lead of 13 seconds over Buitrago
“I didn’t really expect it today
but I came in with fantastic condition and when I saw Roglic put the pace down on the climb
“In the end you never how things will play out
I’m very happy with the victory today.”
Buitrago and Plapp have now placed themselves firmly among the contenders for final overall victory
not least because the forecast for snow at the weekend has cast some doubt on Saturday’s pivotal summit finish at Auron
When Evenepoel picked up six bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint with 32km remaining
it looked as though he would move to within striking distance of the yellow jersey on Mont Brouilly
he admitted to frustration at how the inertia of the favourites’ teams had allowed Plapp and Buitrago steal a march
“Some tactics from UAE were a bit strange
to let the guys go all of a sudden,” said Evenepoel
though an acceleration from his own teammate Louis Vervaeke had ultimately teed up Plapp’s attack on the Fût d’Avenas
“We’re going to have to sit down and have a good think about the tactics
but it was just a bit unfortunate for everybody
Nobody is happy with two strong riders taking 40 seconds out of nowhere.”
UAE had four riders atop the standings after their victory in Tuesday’s team time trial
but Finn Fisher-Black and Jay Vine have dropped away after their work on behalf of McNulty and João Almeida here
so positioning was important,” McNulty said
“We were trying to pull back Buitrago and Plapp with just Jay [Vine]
Evenepoel was again at the centre of attention
discussing the UCI’s decision to ban his ‘Head Sock’ time trial helmet and clarifying his comments about former teammate Tim Declercq following the previous day’s team time trial
that effort had marked the end of Paris-Nice
still suffering from his crash at Le Samyn last week
was a non-starter on Wednesday along with his compatriot Oliver Naesen (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale)
another man with designs on the Classics began to struggle
and a clearly ill Michael Matthews (Jayco-AlUla) abandoned after a frantic opening hour of race
the day’s early break had taken shape
Christian Scaroni (Astana Qazaqstan) and Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) forging clear after the category 2 Côte du Mont-Saint-Vincent
The quartet struck up a decent working alliance
building a maximum lead just shy of four minutes before the UAE Team Emirates squad of race leader McNulty set about policing affairs in earnest at the head of the peloton
The brisk pace and the rugged terrain of the Beaujolais combined to see the break’s lead gradually shrink after the Col de Boubo and Côte de Vauxrenard
while the reinforcements provided by Bora-Hansgrohe at the head of the bunch were a clear indication of Roglič’s ambitions
The break fragmented definitively on the category 2 Col de Durbize
but the peloton was closing in rapidly by the time the race made the first of two ascents of Mont Brouilly
the bunch would split on the descent of Mont Brouilly under Bora’s forcing
with João Almeida among those briefly caught out
and the intensity continued until the intermediate sprint at Régnié-Durette with 32km to go
where Evenepoel out-kicked Roglič and Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ) to the maximum six seconds
UAE Team Emirates took over the reins on the day’s toughest climb
the category 1 Col du Fût d’Avenas
but the race took on a different tenor with a shade over 3km to the summit
Evenepoel dispatched his Soudal-QuickStep team to work on the front
Vervaeke went on the attack with Plapp on his wheel
and the Australian pressed on alone shortly afterwards
building a lead of 20 seconds over the reduced peloton
The yellow jersey group began to fragment on the upper portion of the climb
with Buitrago bridging across to the Australian
was forced into a desperate and ultimately forlorn chase to make it back up to Evenepoel et al
When Plapp and Buitrago crested the summit with 12 seconds in hand on the chasers
it looked as though the race would be knitted back together ahead of the final haul up Mont Brouilly
Ineos and Soudal-QuickStep all had riders in the front group
but that served only to make each squad a touch more reluctant to commit to the chase
“We had the jersey so they were going to look to us,” McNulty said
“But there’s more than us trying to win the stage or the GC.”
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lawyers and teachers in protest marches after negotiations with the government over proposed pension reforms fail to end stand-off
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Chaotic scenes of violence broke out across France on Thursday, with police firing pepper spray at protesters, as strikes against Emmanuel Macron's proposed pension reforms entered their 36th day
Trade unions led doctors, lawyers, teachers and others in marches after negotiations with the government failed to end the stand-off
marking the fourth day of major demonstrations since the strikes began on 5 December
Clashes between police and protesters were once again shared across social media, with police appearing to use pepper spray outside a school in Chalon-sur-Saone in Burgundy
A protester was also injured in Rouen after reportedly being struck on the head with a police baton
national and international train services continued
while Paris metro traffic was halted for most of the day on all but two lines
are the longest since the national rail operator
Millions of passengers have been affected and the company has lost hundreds of millions of euros in revenue
France's 42 different pension schemes would be unified into a single
critics say it will force many people to work longer for less
The most controversial part of the reforms is the plan to raise the full retirement age from 62 to 64
claims is necessary in order to balance the pension budget
A new round of negotiations between the trade unions and the government will begin on Friday
with the president calling for a quick compromise to end the deadlock
Macron made the reforms a key part of his electoral campaign when he came to power in 2017 and has so far offered little compromise on the key proposals
The strike action has united the country's far left and far right in opposition
as well as drawing in nearly every sector of society
On Wednesday, firefighters sprayed foam over the town hall in Le Havre, where Mr Philippe served as mayor between 2012 and 2017.
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
A palette of colours on a silver plate: that is what the world’s first colour photograph looks like
It was taken by French physicist Edmond Becquerel in 1848
A team at the Centre de Recherche sur la Conservation (CNRS/Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle/Ministère de la Culture) has now shone a light on this
in collaboration with the SOLEIL synchrotron and the Laboratoire de Physique des Solides (CNRS/Université Paris-Saclay)
The colours obtained by Edmond Becquerel were due to the presence of metallic silver nanoparticles
according to their study published on XX March 2020 in Angewandte Chemie International Edition
the nature of these colours has been debated in the scientific community
thanks to a team at the Centre de Recherche sur la Conservation (CNRS/Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle/Ministère de la Culture) in collaboration with the SOLEIL synchrotron and the Laboratoire de Physique des Solides (CNRS/Université Paris-Saclay)
After having reproduced Edmond Becquerel's process to make samples of different colours
the team started by re-examining 19th century hypotheses in light of 21st century tools
If the colours were due to pigments formed during the reaction with light
we should have seen variations in chemical composition from one colour to another, which no spectroscopy method has shown
the coloured surface should have shown regular microstructures about the size of the wavelength of the colour in question
Yet no periodic structure was observed using electron microscopy
This work was supported by the SACRe programme at the Université PSL
the Observatoire des Patrimoines de Sorbonne Université and the CEA and CNRS’s national network for transmission electron microscopy and atom probe microscopy
A symposium for the bicentenary of the birth of Edmond Becquerel was to be held on March 24. A new date will be announced soon: www.ipvf.fr/edmond-becquerel-symposium
Replication and study of the colouration of Edmond Becquerel’s photochromatic images, Victor de Seauve, Marie-Angélique Languille, Saskia Vanpeene, Christine Andraud, Chantal Garnier, Bertrand Lavédrine, Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2020 (in press). https://arxiv.org/abs/2001.05250
CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE, France (FIBA Europe Cup Final Four) – Fraport Skyliners toppled Openjobmetis Varese 66-62 in the FIBA Europe Cup Final on Sunday to claim their first ever European title
A sell-out crowd of 4,950 in the French city of Chalon-sur-Saône witnessed an intense Final that saw the German side overturn a 12-point deficit
who count ten international titles in their trophy case
were looking for their first European title since 1980
The Italians looked in control for more than 30 minutes before the Skyliners outscored them 28-15 in the final quarter
inspired by a nine-point run by co-captain Quantez Robertson
The 31-year-old guard finished with 15 points
five rebounds and four assists and was consequently voted as the MVP of the Final Four
Earlier in the day, host team Elan Chalon blew past Russian Final Four debutants BC Enisey Krasnoyarsk Territory, 103-72
to bow out in front of their fans on a high note and take the bronze medal
Case that has drawn broad attention amid a national reckoning with long-held taboos
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A mother of four children is on trial in France for killing her husband after decades of sexual, physical and psychological abuse starting when she was an adolescent. The case that has drawn broad attention and support for her amid a national reckoning with long-held taboos around domestic abuse.
Valerie Bacot, 40, has admitted shooting Daniel Polette dead in 2016. Polette was first her stepfather before becoming her husband and forcing her into prostitution.
A verdict is expected on Friday at the courthouse of Chalon-sur-Saone, in central France.
The prosecutor requested one year of prison and a four-year suspended sentence, meaning Bacot could walk out of the courthouse free because she has already served time in preventive detention. The prosecutor said he does not consider her a danger to society.
Bacot fainted while hearing the prosecutor's requests on Friday morning, leading to a suspension of the trial until midday.
The trial showed the degree of control and influence Polette _ 25 years Bacot's senior _ had over her.
"Yes, I killed him but if I had not done it, my children would have,'' Bacot said.
Polette arrived in Bacot's life in 1992 as the companion of her mother. A few months later, the sexual abuse started. She was 12 when he began raping her, she said.
Polette's sisters reached out to a social worker and he was arrested in 1995 and convicted for sexual assaults, spending two years in prison.
Afterward, Polette returned to the family home and started abusing Bacot again.
"When he came back, he said he would leave me alone. My mother had forgiven him. But it started again. Following a rape I got pregnant,'' Bacot said. She was 17.
Her mother threw her out of the house and she started living with Polette, whom she described as having total control over her life.
He did not allowed her to work or use contraception. She had three other children.
"He was beating me, slaps then punches, he strangled me. He was beating and then things were going better,'' she said, adding he also threatened her with a revolver.
In 2002, he forced her into prostitution, still controlling all of her actions.
In March 2016, following a violent prostitution-related situation, she shot Polette with the revolver. Her children helped her bury the body, an act for which they were given suspended prison sentences.
Bacot was arrested by police the following year and imprisoned, before being released under judicial supervision in 2018 pending trial.
The psychologist who examined her said the protection of her children was key in Bacot's reaction. In 2016, she feared Polette would assault her 14-year old daughter and force her into prostitution.
A petition advocating for Bacot has gathered over 680,000 signatures.
Family members came to the court to say they don't regret Polette's death. His brother and sisters described him as a "monster.''
"The person I thank the most in the world is Valerie, because she killed him. She did what I should have done for a long time,'' said Polette's sister, 59. She said he raped her when she was 12.
Dr. Denis Prieur, a psychiatrist, said that at the time of the domestic abuse, Bacot no longer had free will. ``She was not able to turn to the law (for assistance) because her husband was always there.''
Now, "she has become somebody'' and is not "a thing'' anymore, he said.
Bacot's case echoes the one of another French woman, Jacqueline Sauvage, who was convicted of shooting and killing her allegedly violent husband. Sauvage was granted a presidential pardon in 2016, allowing her to get out of prison.
Sauvage had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for fatally shooting her husband three times in the back with a hunting rifle in 2012. During the trial, she said her husband had beaten her for 47 years. The couple's adult daughters also said he had abused them.
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Last Updated on 11th May 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
it’s no surprise that Bourgogne is one of those French regions that’s a total must-see once you’ve enjoyed the glittering lights of Paris and soaked up the sun of the Côte d’Azur
Here’s your ultimate guide to the best of beautiful villages and towns in Burgundy that will absolutely steal your heart
All pastel hues with a Provençal feel, the pretty town of Mâcon can be found somewhere between Chalon-Sur-Saône and Lyon
The town also happens to be the birthplace of the famous 18th-century politician Claude-Philibert Barthelot de Rambuteau (I dare you to find a town in France that doesn’t have at least one square or street named for Rambuteau!)
Other highlights of this off the beaten track settlement include admiring the ruins of Cathédrale le Vieux Saint-Vincent and enjoying the works of the Museum of Fine Arts
which is housed within a former Ursuline convent
the Beaujolais vineyards are often said to produce some of the best wines in Burgundy
With a population of just under 5000 residents
Cluny is easily one of the smaller towns in Burgundy
Cluny is characterised by its central Abbey that was founded by Duke William I of Aquitaine in 910
a town grew up around the ecclesiastical building of Eastern France
thus resulting in a beautiful blend of Middle Ages buildings
including a particularly impressive Hôtel Dieu
Set across mainland France and a small island that lies on the River Saône
Chalon-Sur-Saône is a little off the beaten tourist track and can be found in the very heart of Burgundy
Surrounded by vineyards and filled with timber-framed houses
this tiny town was even the birthplace of Nicéphore Niépce
and the man who even took the earliest surviving photograph
Home to one of the most beautiful Cathedral Tympanums in France
Autun is located to the west of Beaune and was originally founded as Augustodunum during Roman times
and you can expect to find highlights such as plenty of Roman ruins (including a Roman theatre and the Temple of Janus) and the Musée Rolin
which features extensive artworks from the Burgundy region and beyond
A little off the beaten path and far away from the crowds of Burgundy cities such as Beaune or Dijon, the city of Auxerre can be found nestled in a horseshoe bend of the River Yonne
Famous across France as being the site of three important ecclesiastical buildings
all three can be spied from a single vantage point alongside the water
Wander through the city and you’ll soon discover that Auxerre is divided into three distinctive districts
In the Quartier de l’Horloge, there’s the 15th-century clock tower
while other highlights of Auxerre include several museums
and of course the free-to-visit Abbey of Saint Germain of Auxerre
World-famous wine originates from the tiny town of Chablis
an otherwise unknown French settlement in the Northernmost part of Bourgogne that has a population of around two and a half thousand residents
The biggest export from Chablis is Chablis Chardonnay
Other delights you can expect to find should you choose to visit include a historic town centre include the Porte Noel (the old city gate) and the churches of Saint-Pierre and Saint-Martin
the Festival du Chablisien is held on an annual basis and is a celebration of all things jazz and music
Best-known as being the French capital city of mustard, Dijon is one of the largest cities in Burgundy. Home to a population of around 155,000 some of the best things to do in the Burgundy city include mustard tasting, wandering around the timber-framed old town, and seeking out all of Dijon’s hidden gems
As if you thought Burgundy couldn’t get any dreamier
it turns out that there’s quite literally a Burgundy town called Avallon
Located somewhere between Auxerre and Beaune
history and legend are closely interwoven when it comes to Avallon’s past
While some theorists go as far to suggest that Avallon of Arthurian legend is the one and same as that of Bourgogne
there’s no denying the beauty of this settlement of seven thousand residents
other Avallon highlights include the collegiate church of Saint-Lazare d’Avallon and visiting one of the town’s two museums (the Museum of Costume and the town museum).
Founded as early as Roman times, if nearby Dijon is the French capital city of mustard, then Beaune is undoubtedly the French capital city of wine. Beaune is populated by plenty of wine tasting cellars, wine merchants, and even a wine bookshop
Elsewhere in the little city you’ll soon discover that there’s many stunning churches, historic mansion houses, and of course, the old Beaune hospital. For more Beaune inspiration, check out my complete guide to the best things to do in Beaune
For those who are looking for a fairytale town complete with medieval ramparts and picture perfect views
this historic settlement dates back to the 14th-century and is one of the last examples of Burgundian architecture of its kind
Located along the Route des Grands Crus, Nuits-Saint-Georges is perhaps most famous for its rich red wines
this world-famous town has much more to offer than venturing into the surrounding vineyards
is also an option if you’d like it to be
Instead, the town is small in size and has just a handful of churches and smattering of traditional French bars and cafés. Close to the train station, on the fringes of Nuits-Saint-Georges, Le Cassissium produces all things blackcurrant related
including the region’s other famous tipple
Meursault is a tiny village of just over 1500 residents
truth be told you come to this French settlement to experience some of the best wines that Burgundy has to offer
and spy filming locations from the 1966 film, La Grande Vadrouille (the Great Stroll)
there are several beautiful French châteaux worth visiting
Situated just a couple of kilometres from the much larger
Visne-Romanée is a quintessential Burgundian village with just a few hundred inhabitants
what makes this settlement truly remarkable is that on the edge of the town
down an unmarked and otherwise unremarkable road
the vineyard that produces the most expensive wine in the world is to be found
the vineyard for Romanée Conti looks like all of the other ‘climats’ in the area
The small plot of land is marked out by the kind of simple cross and stone wall that is so synonymous with the region
a little plaque on the wall indicates that this
For those who are searching for the best of ecclesiastical history in Bourgogne as well as some of the best Burgundy architecture
there is perhaps nowhere quite as picturesque as the tiny town of Vézelay
Identifiable by its hilltop fortified appearance
the 11th-century built Romanesque Basilica of St Magdalene
as well as the town itself as both listed as UNESCO world heritage sites
Situated just an hour south of Paris on the train
and one of the most Northern located towns in Burgundy
Sens may not have the draw of the Hospitals of Beaune
nor does it have the culinary scene of Dijon
or the world-famous wines of Nuits-Saint-Georges
the traditional streets and laid back nature of the town belies its fascinating history
it was here in this little-known town where Thomas à Becket chose to seek refuge
Other highlights of this tiny town include a breathtakingly beautiful cathedral (where the Becket stained glass window is clearly on view) and the covered market hall directly opposite the Cathedral
Of all the towns in Burgundy, one of the most magical of fairytale towns is that of Semur en Auxois. Perched atop a French hillside, the settlement in Bourgogne even features the remains of a medieval castle! Best seen over the course of a day, Semur-en-Auxois can be visited as a day trip from Dijon
The main language spoken in France is French. Though you can get by with English is more touristic places, it’s always a good idea to learn some of the local language. Bring along a simple phrasebook like this one to help make your travels easier
The capital of France is Paris. For more information and inspiration, check out our best Paris travel tips.
France uses plug types, types C and E. As such, if you’re travelling from the UK, USA, Canada, and many other destinations, you’ll need to buy an adapter. I recommend buying a universal travel adapter that you can use for multiple destinations (rather than buying a new adaptor for each place you visit)
As one of the most popular destinations in the world, you should always consider booking your accommodation well ahead of time. Check out this website for price comparison details and detailed reviews
Be careful with your belongings. I also highly advise to avoid wearing a backpack and to instead opt for a crossbody bag like these ones. I personally use a crossbody bag by this brand and love its shape
Enjoyed reading about the very best of towns in Burgundy
Sophie Nadeau is a full time travel writer and photographer focused on cultural experiences in Europe and beyond
When she's not chasing after the sunset (or cute dogs she sees on her travels) she can be found reading
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