Located on the banks of the Seine in Le Pecq, Parc Corbière is a large landscaped garden designed as a green haven in the middle of the city. And even though this side of the Yvelines is already home to large wooded areas (compared to the inner suburbs of Paris), it's always good to have a large park close to home: discover Parc Corbière This 8-hectare park offers you the chance to take a stroll along its promenade along the banks of the Seine, enjoy a snack at one of the picnic tables or let the kids play all afternoon in the play areas designed especially for them. Among them, discover the young residents of the Parc Corbière educational farm and meet the local chickens the zip line (for older children) or the merry-go-round (for a fee) come and discover the educational vegetable garden and enjoy sandwiches and desserts from a food stand in the park Refer your establishment, click herePromote your event, click here LE PECQ, France (AP) — Facebook on Saturday blocked live broadcasts from a chronically ill bed-ridden man who appealed to French President Emmanuel Macron for a medically-assisted death and who wanted to show what he expects will be a painful end to his life after he announced that he was stopping all food and drink Alain Cocq posted video of himself Friday after taking what he said would be his last liquid meal Macron said that French law forbade him from granting his request for the “right to leave with dignity,” with a medically-assisted death I respect your approach because it speaks to the very intimate relationship that each of us builds with the end of our life and our death," Macron said in the letter dated Thursday sent after one of his aides spoke at length with Cocq by telephone in August But Macron added that “because I am not above the law I am not in a position to grant your request." Macron signed off the letter with the words “With all of my personal support and my profound respect.” suffers from a long-term and incurable degenerative illness He says that he has lived in great pain for 34 years and that after multiple operations he said the alternative would be “the degradation of my body." “The path to my deliverance is starting and Cocq had planned to subsequently live-broadcast the end of his life that he expects will follow within days of his decision to stop all food But a message Saturday on Cocq's account said that Facebook has blocked him from posting videos until Tuesday Facebook confirmed that it had blocked Cocq's live broadcasts “Our hearts go out to Alain Cocq and those who are affected by this sad situation," it said in a statement “While we respect his decision to draw attention to this complex and difficult issue we have taken steps to keep Alain from broadcasting live as we do not allow the depiction of suicide attempts.” Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More PARIS (AP) — A French court on Monday convicted Marine Le Pen of embezzlement and barred her from seeking public office for five years — a hammer blow to the far-right leader’s presidential hopes and an earthquake for French politics Le Pen's lawyer said she would appeal the verdict — but she will remain ineligible while she does and so could be ruled out of the 2027 presidential race with two to be served under house arrest and two suspended The court ruling was a political as well as a judicial temblor for France hobbling one of the leading contenders to succeed President Emmanuel Macron at the end of his second and final term So broad were the political implications that even some of Le Pen's opponents reacted by saying that the Paris court had gone too far Le Pen herself wasn't around to hear the chief judge pronounce the sentence that threw her career into a tailspin when the judge first indicated that the 56-year-old would be barred from office Although Le Pen didn't immediately comment her supporters quickly expressed disapproval her 29-year-old protégé who could replace her on the ballot in 2027 if she can't run said on X that Le Pen “is being unjustly condemned” and that French democracy “is being executed.” quickly took to social media to express his support posting “Je suis Marine!” — I am Marine — on X Among political opponents of Le Pen who expressed unease was conservative lawmaker Laurent Wauquiez who said the verdict put “a very heavy weight on our democracy.” Only an appeal ruling that overturns the ban on public office could restore her hopes of running time is running out and there’s no guarantee that an appeals court would rule more favorably Appeals in France can take several years to conclude The verdict was a resounding defeat for Le Pen's National Rally party She and 24 other party officials were accused of having used money intended for European Union parliamentary aides to instead pay staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016 violating the 27-nation bloc’s regulations The judge handed down guilty verdicts to eight other current or former members of her party who previously served as European Parliament lawmakers Also convicted were 12 people who served as parliamentary aides and three others The chief judge said Le Pen had been at the heart of “a system” that her party used to siphon off EU parliament funds though she said they didn't enrich themselves personally The ruling described the embezzlement as “a democratic bypass" that deceived the parliament and voters From the front row of the court, Le Pen had initially shown no immediate reaction when the judge first declared her guilty But she grew more agitated as the verdict was delivered in greater detail She shook her head in disagreement as the judge said Le Pen’s party illegally used European funds for its own benefit “Incredible,” Le Pen she whispered at one point said he was “appalled” at the court’s decision which he described as “extremely scandalous” and said would be appealed The electoral ineligibility takes effect immediately but the house arrest is suspended while she appeals During the nine-week trial that took place in late 2024 Le Pen argued that ineligibility “would have the effect of depriving me of being a presidential candidate" and disenfranchise her supporters “There are 11 million people who voted for the movement I represent millions and millions of French people would see themselves deprived of their candidate in the election,” she told the panel of three judges Le Pen also serves as a lawmaker in France's National Assembly a role not affected by the ineligibility ruling that she can keep for now But if Macron dissolves parliament again as he did last year and calls early legislative elections Thomas Adamson in Paris and Justin Spike in Budapest contributed rewritten or redistributed without permission LE PECQ, France (AP) — Three days after George Floyd died with a Minneapolis police officer choking off his air another black man writhed on the tarmac of a street in Paris as a police officer pressed a knee to his neck during an arrest Immobilization techniques where officers apply pressure with their knees on prone suspects are used in policing around the world and have long drawn criticism One reason why Floyd's death is sparking anger and touching nerves globally is that such techniques have been blamed for asphyxiations and other deaths in police custody beyond American shores The muscular arrest on May 28 in Paris of a black man who was momentarily immobilized face-up with an officer's knee and upper shin pressing down on his jaw neck and upper chest is among those that have drawn angry comparisons with the killing of Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis The Paris arrest was filmed by bystanders and widely shared and viewed online Police said the man was driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and without a license and that he resisted arrest and insulted officers where police behavior is a hot-button issue after months of anti-government protests the city's force says it is investigating the death of a man who was immobilized face-down during his arrest in May by officers who were filmed kneeling on his shoulder Police rules and procedures on chokeholds and restraints vary internationally police instructor Stany Durieux says he reprimands trainees "every time I see a knee applied to the spinal column." Condemned by police and experts in the United States Floyd's death also drew criticism from officers abroad who disassociated themselves from the behavior of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin He was charged with third-degree murder after he was filmed pushing down with his knee on Floyd's neck until Floyd stopped crying out that he couldn't breathe and eventually stopped moving police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said "there is no tactic or protocol that calls to put pressure on the neck or airway." officers are allowed to briefly exert pressure on the side of a suspect's head but not on the neck the College of Policing says prone suspects should be placed on their side or in a sitting kneeling or standing position "as soon as practicable." Guidance on the website of London's police force discourages the use of neck restraints saying "any form of pressure to the neck area can be highly dangerous." for the New York Police Department says in bold capitals that officers "SHALL NOT" use chokeholds and should "avoid actions which may result in chest compression or standing on a subject's chest or back thereby reducing the subject's ability to breathe." But the so-called "sleeper hold," where pressure is applied to the neck with an arm was allowed for police in San Diego before Floyd's death triggered a shift Police Chief David Nisleit said he would this week order an end to the tactic Gendarmes in France are discouraged from pressing down on the chests and vital organs of prone suspects and are no longer taught to apply pressure to the neck the other main law and order force in France they say pressure on a prone suspect's chest "should be as short as possible." a police union official who briefed lawmakers for their deliberations in March about the proposal to ban suffocating techniques said if officers don't draw pistols or use stun-guns then immobilizing people face-down is the safest option stopping suspects from kicking out at arresting officers "We don't have 5,000 options," he said "These techniques are used by all the police in the world because they represent the least amount of danger The only thing is that they have to be well used with pressure applied in the wrong place and for too long." He added that the "real problem" in France is that officers don't get enough follow-up training after being taught restraints in police school "You need to repeat them often to do them well," he said on the Paris XIV university campus (1960-1968).  Upper living room view at the Andre Bloc House in Cap d’Antibes Bordeaux le Pecq House in Bois le Roy (1963-1966).  Drusch House in Versailles: view of the cubic volume which sits above the living area.  Primary sketch of the Church of Sainte-Bernadette du Banlay in Nevers (1963-1966).  Exterior view of Carrade House in Tarn (1972-1974).  iconic French architect Claude Parent - together with theorist and urbanist Paul Virilio - famously developed the theory of 'fonction oblique’ in the 1960s which explored the concept of a fluid form of design - with ramps In an article exploring Parent's work back in 2007 (W*98) we eked out a few of his most famous designs such as the Villa Drusch and the Sainte Bernadette du Banlay featuring 92 projects completed between 1960 and 2009 Designed by French starchitect Jean Nouvel the exhibition uncovers both built and paper architecture - from numerous drawings and sketches to architectural models and built work photography by which elaborates on Parent's theory of the architectural ‘oblique’ alongside collaborations with Swiss sculptor and painter Jean Tinguely and French artist Yves Klein Ranging from private houses - like the André Bloc House and the Michel Carrade House - through to churches the show offers an in-depth introduction to the work of this great modernist A catalogue outlining everything you need to know about Parent and his work is on sale now at the Cité’s shop - the first monograph on the architect’s work since 1982 Maquette of Iran House (1960-1968) by Heydar Ghiaï © Gaston Bergeret / Collection DAF / Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine Archives d’architecture du XXe siècle North side of the Church of Sainte-Bernadette du Banlay in Nevers Morice Lipsi and Michel Carrade (1963-1966) escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox An interior perspective of the Church of Sainte-Bernadette du Banlay in Nevers Morice Lipsi and Michel Carrade (1963-1966).  Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine, Paris, France VIEW GOOGLE MAPS Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper* She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006 visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas Ellie has also taken part in judging panels such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022) PARIS (AP) — France voters turned out Sunday for a presidential runoff election that has wide repercussions for Europe’s future with President Emmanuel Macron considered the front-runner but fighting a tough challenge from far-right rival Marine Le Pen The centrist Macron is asking voters to trust him for a second five-year term despite a presidency that was troubled by protests the pandemic and Russia’s war on Ukraine A Macron victory in this vote would make him the first French president in 20 years to win a second term a nuclear-armed nation with one of the world’s biggest economies as France has played a key role in diplomatic efforts and firmly backed sanctions against Russia for its invasion of its neighbor All recent opinion polls converge toward a win for the 44-year-old pro-European Macron — yet the margin over his 53-year-old far-right rival varies broadly Polls also forecast a possibly record-high number of people who will either cast a blank vote or not vote at all Le Pen’s support in France’s electorate has grown during this campaign to her highest level ever and much will depend Sunday on how many people turn out to vote slightly higher than in the first-round vote on April 10 Many of those expected to choose Macron are doing so mainly to keep out Le Pen whose platform is seen as extreme and anti-democratic such as her plan to ban the Muslim headscarf in public Macron has questioned her party’s ties to Russia “I am serene,” Le Pen said as she voted in the northern town of Henin-Beaumont and took selfies with fans greeted crowds with handshakes and embraces in the English Channel coastal town of Le Touquet Both candidates are trying to court the 7.7 million supporters of leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon who was among the 10 other presidential candidates eliminated in the first round of voting on April 10 For many who voted for left-wing candidates in the first round the runoff presents an unpalatable choice between Le Pen a leader who some feel has veered to the right during his first term The outcome could depend on whether left-wing voters back Macron or abstain from voting leaving him to fend for himself against Le Pen Voting west of Paris in the suburb of Le Pecq Stephanie David cast her ballot for Macron “without much joy.” She had voted for the Communist Party candidate in round one “It was the least worst choice,” said the transport worker Retiree Jean-Pierre Roux voted to keep out Le Pen’s extreme-right father in France’s 2002 presidential runoff and voted against his daughter in 2017 But Roux could not bring himself to vote for Macron again this time Roux put an empty envelope in the voting box “I am not against his ideas but I cannot stand the person,” he said Le Pen has sought to appeal to working class voters struggling with surging prices amid the fallout of Russia’s war in Ukraine — an approach that even Macron acknowledged has found resonance in the public She said bringing down the cost of living would be her priority if elected as France’s first woman president and she portrayed herself as the candidate for voters unable to make ends meet Le Pen says Macron’s presidency has left the country deeply divided pointing to yellow vest protest movement that rocked his government before the COVID-19 pandemic with months of violent demonstrations against economic policies that some thought hurt the poorest Macron has sought to appeal to voters of immigrant heritage and religious minorities especially because of Le Pen’s proposed policies targeting Muslims and putting French citizens first in line for jobs and benefits Macron has also touted his environmental and climate accomplishments in a bid to draw in young voters popular with far-left left candidates Many young French voters are particularly engaged with climate issues Although Macron was associated with the slogan “Make The Planet Great Again,” in his first five-year term he capitulated to angry yellow vest protesters by scrapping a tax hike on fuel prices Macron has said his next prime minister would be put in charge of environmental planning as France seeks to become carbon neutral by 2050 wants to scrap subsidies for renewable energies She has vowed to dismantle wind farms and invest in nuclear and hydro energy © 1996 - 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins AmaWaterways Celebrates Travel Advisor Appreciation With Incentives and Rewards Bowman’s Travel Brief: Avoid Newark Airport Mastering the Art of Group Travel Bookings Fiesta Americana Travelty Celebrates Travel Advisors The Top 24 Most Powerful Travel Agencies of 2024 The Strategic Art of Pre-Planning Luxury Vacations: A Perspective for Travel Advisors The River Seine conjures dreams of gilded bridges in romantic cities it was also a major raiding and trading route for the Vikings as a strategic location for some of World War II’s most infamous characters and where the events that began the end of the war occurred yet its importance belongs not only to those of the past I had the fortune of being invited on a press trip with Viking River Cruises, on the line’s seven-day Paris & Normandy sailing on the second voyage of its 2024 European sailing season It was my first time in Europe and in France, and I learned so much The Eiffel Tower above the River Seine in Paris The itinerary began with two days in Paris before heading to the region of Normandy following the route that the original Vikings once took after they raided Paris in the early Middle Ages before heading back for one more day in Paris high water levels meant we had to port in Le Pecq Porting in Le Pecq didn’t stop any scheduled activities We also had opportunities to visit other towns where Vincent Van Gogh spent his last seventy days and where he and his brother While you can expect the overcast skies and occasional inclement weather that is typical of springtime full of the beauty that has given it a reputation for romance It’s also busy preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics The world’s largest sporting event is expected to draw millions of spectators were surrounded by concrete barricades and made transiting by bus or car a bit more challenging many of the streets we drove would become pedestrian-only for attendees The Hotel de Ville in Paris decorated with 2024 Paris Olympics decorations I enjoyed a walking tour of the area directly outside our ship which was about fifteen minutes away from the Eiffel Tower on foot I also took a panoramic tour of the city—the photo opportunities were amazing—and went on a short trip to the Palace of Versailles but it was a wonderful introduction to the city We left Paris by night and sailed to our second destination: the small town of La Roche-Guyon The town is home to less than 500 inhabitants and its own château The château is also accompanied by a beautiful 300-year-old manicured garden My first view of the French countryside was beautiful; everything was vibrantly green and the white blossoms of the garden’s pear trees were in full bloom I’d chosen to take an optional tour while in La Roche-Guyon learning about its former inhabitants (including Erwin Rommel) and also about how people in the past ate their meals The Chateau of La Roche-Guyon and its 12th-century tower One thing I loved about Viking’s tours: they always offer optional experiences depending on ability level we had an option to climb the town’s 12th-century watchtower that was built to keep the region safe from English invaders after we’d returned to the ship to eat lunch one that took me inland to the small town of Auvers-Sur-Oise our guide took our small group around the areas of the town where Van Gogh had lived she gave us an introduction to the people now called Normans: Vikings who found better opportunities in trade and diplomacy along the Seine than their raiding had given them in the past Auvers-Sur-Oise itself is charming; it offers a chocolate shop several parks and plenty of things to do for a Van Gogh lover small bronze circles with the name Vincent had been pounded into the pavement These were places where he’d once set down his easel to paint Van Gogh lived in this town during the last seventy days of his life and we spent the evening there before departing to Rouen it boasts over 100,000 residents and a history dating back to ancient Rome I spent my first day there enjoying the town’s historic center which largely consists of old stone walls and the half-timbered buildings that are typical of Norman construction from the Middle Ages onward There is also a more modern side to Rouen: these parts which are home to newer buildings that are markedly different from their half-timbered older siblings had been bombed during World War II and rebuilt in the decades that followed The half-timbered houses and medieval buildings of Rouen Yet Rouen’s claim to fame goes back centuries prior to the Second World War: its gorgeous 11th-century Notre-Dame de Rouen Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and its historic city center is forever memorialized as the location where Joan of Arc was famously burned at the stake There is now a church dedicated to her where she was killed practice your French language skills and just enjoy French living so it’s easy to walk around and immerse yourself in the city’s charming atmosphere The next day was the most popular excursion of the entire cruise the majority of cruisers I talked to said it was the main reason why they’d chosen the itinerary It was Viking’s curated WWII Memorial excursion one for the American participation in D-Day and the other for those within Commonwealth countries The flags of participating countries in WWII outside the Caen Memorial Museum in Caen The American tour included a visit to the Caen Memorial Museum a visit to the Normandy American Cemetery and to Omaha Beach where one of the worst battles had been fought The vast majority of my fellow cruisers had chosen to take one of the two offered excursions The day began earlier than usual with a quick breakfast then we got into our coach bus and whizzed down scenic country highways north until we reached the Caen Memorial Museum and learned about the human toll the Second World War had on the world and the local impact it had on the French—and Normandy “Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves,” statue at the Normandy American Cemetery We ate a private meal at the museum, then headed towards the Normandy American Cemetery which is managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission Each of the nearly 10,000 cemetery markers face west: towards home The Walls of the Missing ring around the backside of the towering bronze “Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves,” statue an homage to those who lost their lives on the beaches of Normandy on June 6 Viking held a special memorial service for those who participated in the war and for those who served in the military afterward Several cruisers stood in a row as we honored their service some of whom had served in WWII on D-Day itself "Les Braves," a metal sculpture on Omaha Beach where two memorial sculptures stood as a testament that many people had lost their lives to defend freedom worldwide like a scene from an impressionist painting becoming once more what it had always been: a place where the sea touches the land in an endless cycle of ebb and flow Our sixth day of the cruise brought us to Les Andelys a small area comprising two towns that had blended together over the centuries (Le Petit-Andely and Le Grand Andely) which was built in the last years of the twelfth century by Richard the Lionheart The ruins of Chateau Gaillard in Les Andelys and I spent the morning wandering the storybook town enjoying the flowering trees and tulips that bloomed in every direction I looked and the rare blue sky and sunshine beaming overhead a few were open or opened in the afternoon and I popped into a few to find some locally made souvenirs along with some more traditional ones (fridge magnets are always a great souvenir) I headed back into the town for a walking tour which took us up to the Château Gaillard on a steep unpaved shortcut that I took along with two others and it got us to the top of the castle in less time The view of the Viking Radgrid and the small town of Les Andelys from Chateau Gaillard Yet by the time I made it back down to the town I sheltered under an eave of a building and waited it out happy that I’d worn my waterproof boots and only had to worry about my wet clothes and hair While none of the weather ruined my cruise I would advise travelers visiting during the spring to pack accordingly: at least one raincoat and waterproof boots I then made it to the town’s boulangerie to console myself with a pain au chocolat and a chouquette we took a short bus ride to the Château de Malmaison He’d lived with her there for years during their marriage and it was there where he made the decision to sell the Louisiana Territory to America with a sizable garden with tulips everywhere I took an optional excursion to the Louvre which included a dinner at a traditional brasserie in Paris While the Louvre was crowded (it was the day after Easter I’m happy to have visited with a guide who was well-versed in dealing with the crowds The statue garden inside The Louvre Museum I loved getting to sit down and eat in Paris for the brasserie dinner portion of the tour My dinner consisted of a tomato and mozzarella salad a leg of lamb and a large profiterole for dessert—a delicious ending to an amazing week I will carry the memories I made in France for a lifetime It was an incredibly easy journey: I didn’t have to worry about how to get to the ship from the airport or how to transit to the places I wanted to visit or even how best to communicate with French shopkeepers (I received a lot of great tips from our cruise director— a happy “Bonjour!” goes a long way) but I found myself constantly walking in step with history and found myself standing where Joan of Arc was killed or stepping on the same sand where so many young men died in one of the worst conflicts in modern history—that left an impression on me Le Grand Palais viewed from across the famed Pont Alexandre III in Paris or any so-called Old World—is a lot like that beach ingenuity and all the complexities of life ebb and flow around it centuries of births and deaths and creation and destruction all memorialized for the traveler to discover For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter. Viking Thanks Travel Advisors at 2024 Travvy Awards Lacey Pfalz is Associate Editor at TravelPulse. She's a passionate advocate of responsible travel and believes the best travel experiences happen outside of a planned itinerary. Lacey currently lives in rural Wisconsin. She can be reached at lpfalz@ntmllc.com. Copyright © 2025 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 07070 USA | Telephone: (201) 902-2000 The ship features a modified hull design and new engines all of which are designed specifically to allow the ship to sail France's Seine River and dock right within the heart of Paris (water levels dependent) The 168-passenger ship carries fewer people than Viking's 190-passenger Longships yet still offer all the trademark features that cruisers have come to expect including Viking's Scandinavian design and the glass-enclosed Aquavit Terrace at the front of the ship the ship continues to offer a selection of true suites thanks to a unique offset cabin corridor design Do not expect any of the features that you can increasingly find on other river cruise lines such as an onboard spa plunge pools or bicycles; Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen has long stated he prefers to use the extra space for accommodations and public areas What it does offer is plenty of open space including an airy two-story atrium topped with a glass skylight and bookended by a cozy library area and computer nook and an elevator The adjacent Viking Lounge offers a casual place to meet and mingle with fellow passengers and flows out to the Aquavit Terrace the Restaurant features full floor-to-ceiling windows Viking Radgrid sails Seine itineraries from Paris to Rouen The ship begins its cruise in the heart of Paris some 10 minutes’ walk from the Eiffel Tower (though note high water levels sometimes forces the ship to moor 11 miles west of the city center in the suburb of Le Pecq) The ship overnights in the city then heads north west along the Seine to the tiny picture-postcard-perfect village of La Roche-Guyon topped by the Chateau de La Roche Guyon and the tower of the castle above; it leaves after lunch for Vernon with a pretty center and the stop off for one of the highlights of this cruise: Monet’s Garden at Giverny a beautiful city with 800 half-timbered houses and a truly stunning cathedral Rouen is the furthest it can sail and the setting off point for the Normandy Beaches but it's worth noting it’s still two hours from here to the beaches The following day the ship turns round and heads back toward Paris Viking Radgrid follows the exact same deck plans of all other Viking Longships (though slightly smaller) with a main lounge on Deck 3 which leads out to the part-enclosed Aquavit Terrace and a small library area and computer nook There is an elevator connecting Decks 2 and 3 The rest of the interior of the ship consists of cabins; there are no “extras” such as a gym or wellness area On the Sun Deck there are covered and uncovered seating options along with a jogging/walking track that encircles the outer perimeter of the deck including economical river-view cabins and cabins offering French and step-out balconies as well as some of river cruising's only true suites All cabins aboard Viking Radgrid offer Scandinavian decor and amenities like a 42-inch interactive flat-panel television a series of economically priced river-view staterooms measure 150 square feet and have fixed half-height windows situated near the top of the room All rooms are equipped with soft mood lighting options; complimentary glass water carafes replenished daily; QuietVox listening devices; a safe; and plenty of storage space in the room's closets and drawers Passengers will also find North American power outlets and USB outlets available for charging devices (including beside the bed) the ship's French Balcony staterooms are on the tight side but offer good value for those who must have a room with a window that opens The ship's larger Veranda Staterooms are 205 square feet and include a full step-out balcony with two chairs Moving up the accommodations ladder are Viking Radgrid's suites Veranda Suites are suitably spacious with 275 square feet of living space and dual French and full step-out balconies These rooms are true suites in the sense that they offer separate living and sleeping areas Two 42-inch flat-panel interactive television sets are included The best cabins onboard are the two 447-square-foot Explorer Suites situated all the way aft Outfitted with a 270-degree wraparound balcony and dual 42-inch flat-panel television sets they are among the largest suites on the Seine Passengers booking these suites are also entitled to special perks with Viking throwing in a complimentary Silver Spirits beverage package free laundry service and room service breakfast -- the latter of which is a novelty among European river cruise ships Cabins to avoid are the Deck 1 standard cabins near the aft crew stairwell which may be noisy from footfall Viking Radgrid offers two dining venues onboard: a main restaurant and an alternative venue glass-enclosed Aquavit Terrace (which serves the same food) and is the only venue with tables for two (all tables in the Restaurant are for four or more) lunch and dinner are served in both the Restaurant and the Aquavit Terrace with meals varying between buffet-style offerings with made-to-order items for breakfast and multi-course dinners Cuisine reflects a blend of European and North American favorites with some dishes offered in a nod to Viking Radgrid's host country of France such as “French Night” where you will be able to sample the best of Normandy cuisine creamy Normandy sauce) and Medallion de Porc au Cidre (pork medallion in cider) loveliest desserts such as crème caramel and tarte tatin chicken breast and salmon fillet available like complimentary Champagne or mimosas at breakfast and free-flowing beer wine and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner An optional package known as Silver Spirits can be purchased for a reasonable price making additional beverages free to order (except for top-of-the-range liquor and wines) that if you have the Silver Spirits package you can order anything off the wine menu without an asterisk the Aquavit Terrace offers up casual breakfast lunch and dinner in a light-filled setting that features 180-degree walls of glass that can be fully opened turning the venue into a lovely alfresco dining space (but note the space is limited to just a handful of small tables which are at a premium – we saw one passenger gatecrash a private event to sit at the table for more than an hour just to ensure he had it for dinner) Passengers should try to dine here at least once Viking also offers a “French Tea” on this itinerary but with a French twist – think eclairs and light pastries Around-the-clock coffee (including specialty coffees) teas and water are available at stations situated just outside the Viking Lounge Snacks like cookies and muffins are also staple items at these stations Viking labels every allergen and food type and there is always one or two vegetarian options available per meal (tell your server ahead of time) The shore excursions offered on Viking Radgrid are outstanding the highlight being the trip to the Normandy Beaches There is usually one included excursion per stop with one or two optional excursions (for fee) with a less active option for those who walk slower/have mobility issues You can of course branch out on your own as this is a very leisurely itinerary with two- sometimes three overnights so it’s hard to miss the ship (except when it moves in one day) many of the villages are tiny and can be seen on foot in a few minutes The Normandy Beaches: There are two options here – the U.S both of which take all day and involve a two-hour drive there and back.U.S Tour: This tour includes a stop at the Caen Memorial Museum which includes an exhibition specifically focusing on D-Day and the weeks after; and another on the war in general There is also a short film with archive footage about the landings Then it is on to the American cemetery at Colville-sur-Mer which overlooks Omaha Beach and is where 9,400 American servicemen are buried You can walk round the rows and rows of white crosses and Stars of David but not among them (unless you are a relative) There is also a wall for those whose bodies were never recovered Viking had organized a special memorial service for passengers Commonwealth Tour: This stops at Bayeux for the Tapestry where the museum offers insights into Canadian life before You can also visit the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian cemetery which was taken by the British so as to prevent a German counterattack the first village to be liberated by the British Paris: Viking offers a number of tours here at both ends of the cruise – the bus tour of the city and a visit to Napoleon’s Chateau are included; there are also a number of optional tours These include “Scenic Paris and Highlights of the Louvre” “Flavors of Paris” and a walking tour of Montmartre Hill Scenic Paris and Highlights of the Louvre are a must you will be dealing with vast crowds in both venues at any time of year Flavors of Paris is a wonderful tour for those who want to get a little more under the skin of the city or have perhaps already seen the marquee sights The walking (and Metro) tour takes place in the boho-chic area of St Germain and includes stops in a market to sample local cheese followed by a stop in a patisserie and a specialist cheese store Monet’s Garden: This is an included tour and includes a visit to the enchanting gardens and estate that inspired one of history’s great painters the village that Monet called home from 1883 until his death in 1926 you will explore the artist’s home and gardens now a museum dedicated to the great painter Worth noting: The Monet Foundation is not available before April 1 or after November 1; during that time Other tours: Rouen Farm & Countryside is a visit to a cider farm and gives you an insight into the importance of calvados and cider in Normandy; Picturesque Hornfleur is a long day (5.5 hours) but lives up to its billing; Hornfleur is a beautiful coastal town Viking also includes walking tours to the Chateau and Tower in La Roche and Richard the Lionheart’s castle in Les Andeleys there are only a limited number of lectures – the Cruise Director provides most of the enrichment in her port talks – detailed insightful looks at where we the ship is headed to next These port talks take place every evening before dinner there is an enrichment lecture on the Impressionists who were deeply inspired by the architecture and scenery along this stretch of the river; and also a cooking class one day on how to make a local dessert Passengers head up to the lounge after dinner the Cruise Director comperes a well-attended Family Feud The bar tenders will mix up a good selection of cocktails which are included in the Silver Spirits Beverage Package Do not expect late night dancing; most guests are tucked up in bed by 10.30 p.m The minimum sail age for Viking River cruises is 18-years-old there are no lips to maneuver to get to the main public spaces The tricky aspect for wheelchair users is getting on and off the ship France (AP) — True or false: When he was the U.S Donald Trump called French leader Emmanuel Macron from the White House to wish him happy birthday the French president told that story in a YouTube video that quickly went viral Sunday Filmed in the French presidential palace with two of France’s most popular YouTube stars and a grungy rendition of “La Marseillaise” by heavy-metal band “Ultra Vomit” represented Macron’s most audacious effort yet to woo young voters hasn’t yet said if he’ll seek reelection in the presidential ballot next year But one of the takeaways from his playful “anecdote contest” with YouTubers Mcfly and Carlito was that beneath the suit and tie and the buttoned-down trappings of his office France’s youngest president remains a political risk-taker who still gets a thrill and sees electoral capital in shaking up the French establishment and its norms he is the first French president to say “oh merde” — crap — and another naughty word in a YouTube video that racked up 4 million views in eight hours His anecdote about Trump calling him on a secure line in 2018 to wish him happy birthday and was correctly identified as such by Carlito Seeing Macron bending the truth so comfortably The dude — on the strength of this oh-so-hip video it seems fine to call Macron that — is a convincing white-liar I said ‘Merci’ and pretended everything was fine Likely to win the most cool points from the YouTubers’ audience of 6.5 million subscribers was that Macron called up soccer megastar Kylian Mbappé on his mobile phone during the show The World Cup winner is hugely popular in France The icon’s multitude of fans will have been stunned that Macron was able to reach Mbappé so readily to get the Paris Saint-Germain player to back up another of his anecdotes Macron claimed that Mbappé would soon leave PSG for its archrival Marseille He called up the player and put him on speakerphone to get him to confirm the scoop “Impossible to go to Marseille,” the player told Macron Awarded a point for each anecdote correctly identified as true or false Macron and the YouTubing duo ended up tied with four points each That means both parties now have to complete dares that they committed to at the start of the show that means a stomach-churning ride with the French Air Force’s formation flying team he promised that in a future televised address to the nation he’ll put photos of the YouTubers on his desk beside him A small price to pay if the stunt lures young voters Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser Store Pecq's new track 'Out Loud' delivers intimate lyrics with a drum and bass twist A post shared by pecq (@pecqband) You must be logged in to post a comment by Harvey Solomon-Brady | May 01, 2025 | News by Harvey Solomon-Brady | Apr 30, 2025 | News by Harvey Solomon-Brady | Apr 29, 2025 | News Matt Maltese shares new single ‘Buses Replace Trains’, taken from Hers, out 16th May. Deadletter returns with their signature art-punk sound in 'More Heat!', exploring self-deception and paving the way for their debut album Hysterical Strength. Olivia Dean unveils 'Time', a single take recording that brings a fresh, energetic sound to her repertoire. James Blake will headline Solstice at Wasing 2025 with an intimate solo piano performance, alongside Anoushka Shankar, Salif Keita, and more. To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. 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' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Henri held his ground — using a weighty backpack he was carrying to swing at the assailant and fend off his blade French media hailed Henri as “the hero with a backpack” on Friday after he was shown in a video grappling with the assailant and charging after him during the rampage that critically wounded four children between the ages of 22 months and 3 years old The attack Thursday at a children’s playground in the French Alpine city of Annecy also injured two adults Henri, 24, received personal words of gratitude Friday from President Emmanuel Macron, who toured hospitals to meet victims and their families. In Annecy, the French leader thanked medical workers, police, firefighters, civilians — including Henri — and others whose first aid and swift interventions helped save lives during the attack in the town’s lakeside park. “You experienced very hard moments, traumatizing,” Macron said. “I am very proud of you.” Henri had a heavy backpack on his back and was holding another in his hand when the attacker slashed at him. Even after being slashed at, Henri continued to harry the attacker by pursuing him inside a playground — where the man repeatedly stabbed a child in a stroller — and then out of the park again, carrying his backpacks all the while. He appeared to hurl one of the packs at the assailant at one point and then pick it up again to take another swing. Henri’s father, François, said he believed that his son’s dogged pursuit helped dissuade the attacker from stabbing more victims before police wrestled him to the ground. World & Nation Each of 16 burned bodies of cult members found on an Alpine plateau over the weekend had one or more bullet wounds, investigators said Sunday, and vials of toxic drugs and sedatives also were found, suggesting that some were killed and others committed suicide. “He took a lot of risks when he wasn’t armed, with just his backpacks,” the father told the Associated Press. “He didn’t stop running after him for many minutes, to stop him from coming back and massacring the kids even more. I think he prevented carnage by scaring him off. Really very courageous.” François asked that his and his son’s last name not be published, expressing concerns about their family being thrust suddenly and inadvertently into the public eye at a time of shock and outrage in France provoked by the viciousness of Thursday’s attack and the helplessness of its young victims. The profile of the suspected attacker, a 31-year-old Syrian refugee, also fueled renewed political debate about French migration policies. Critics on the right and far-right of French politics quickly dusted off their arguments that French migration controls are too lax. For his part, Henri shied away from the “hero” label. He said he “tried to act as all French people should act, or would act.” Help has been slow in coming to Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in Ukraine that was inundated after a catastrophic dam collapse this week. “In that moment, you unplug your brain and react a bit like an animal by instinct,” he told broadcaster BFMTV. “It was impossible for me to witness that without reacting. “I am far from alone in having reacted. Many other people around started, like me, to run after him to try to scare him, push him away. And other people immediately went over to the children to take care of the injured.” Henri added: “I remember there was also a municipal worker who arrived from the right with a large plastic shovel to try to hit him.” French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said Friday that all four children underwent surgery for their life-threatening knife wounds and “are under constant medical surveillance.” Politics Trump said he has been summoned to appear Tuesday in federal court in Miami after being indicted on seven counts related to his handling of classified records. Government spokesman Olivier Veran, a medical doctor by training, said that two of the children remained in critical condition. Macron and his wife, Brigitte, traveled to a hospital treating three of the four children. Motives for the attack in and around the lakeside playground remained unexplained. The suspect, who has refugee status in Sweden, remains in custody. Psychiatrists are evaluating him, Veran said. Henri’s father said his son told him after the attack “that the Syrian was incoherent, saying lots of strange things in different languages, invoking his father, his mother, all the gods. “In short, he was possessed by who knows what, but possessed by folly, that’s certain,” the father told the AP. He said he did not show the disturbing video of the attack to his other children and his wife, and added that he and his wife had trouble sleeping even after learning that Henri was safe. “We thanked providence and his guardian angels,” he said. California But in this year’s extraordinary conditions it is a full-on winter mountaineering expedition requiring serious gear and the expertise to use it Most of the injured children were rushed to a hospital in the French Alpine city of Grenoble — the first stop for Macron and his wife Friday morning. They didn’t speak to reporters as they went inside. The fourth wounded child was being treated in Geneva, in neighboring Switzerland. Two of the four children are French, and the other two are tourists — one British, the other Dutch. Two adults also suffered knife wounds — life-threatening for one them, authorities said. One of the adults was injured both with a knife and by a shot fired by police as they were detaining the suspected attacker. Metro workers watch and wait as drug overdoses unfold -- or go rogue to save lives. One has revived 21 riders. Portugal’s Foreign Ministry said that a Portuguese citizen was one of the two adults wounded. “In the course of the tragic event, a Portuguese citizen, while trying to stop the attacker from fleeing from the police, was seriously injured and is now out of danger. For this act of courage and bravery, we thank him profoundly,” the ministry said. French authorities said the suspect had recently been refused asylum in France, because Sweden had already granted him permanent residency and refugee status a decade ago. Lead prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis said the man’s motives were unknown, but didn’t appear to be terrorism-related. He was armed with a folding knife, she said. Hollywood Inc. Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Dear Reader,Unfortunately our comment platform isn\'t available at the moment due to issues with our paywall and authentication vendor the choice isn't yours," Emmanuel Macron said France — The question for France's president about his teenage romance with a teacher at his high school was so close to the bone so eye-popping in a country where politicians largely keep their private lives to themselves that the interviewer couldn't quite rustle up the courage to ask it So he got Emmanuel Macron to pose it to himself “He is the president," the French leader said reading the question out loud from a piece of paper his interviewer handed to him “He should set the example and not marry his teacher.” A group of interviewers on the autism spectrum, described by their publication as “atypical journalists,” got France's 45-year-old president to talk about himself with unusual and illuminating candor in a televised interview this weekend with frank but fair no-filter questions that professional journalists mostly don't dare ask of the French leader The interviewers from Le Papotin, a journal founded in 1990 in a Paris-region day care center for young people with autism playfully grilled Macron about his marriage to Brigitte his friends (he said he doesn't have many) Russian President Vladimir Putin and other matters in his heart and thoughts In the process, they winkled out some remarkably intimate details and gave Macron a platform to show a more personal side at a critical juncture in his second term as president His government is embarking on a high-risk effort to push back France's retirement age a promised reform of the pension system that is infuriating critics and threatens to bring protesters onto the streets Le Papotin's interviewers have over the years questioned numerous people of note, including former Presidents Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy, and actor Vincent Cassel ("Ocean’s Twelve," “Black Swan”) Their Macron interview was filmed in Paris in November and broadcast by France Televisions which said the only rule was: “Anything can be said to the Papotin but Macron responded gamefully, even to the probing about his romance with Brigitte when they met at the high school where he was a student and she was a teacher She later moved to the French capital to join Macron and divorced the choice isn't yours," Macron said in his defense It's not quite the same,” he additionally ventured a wiggle-round that Macron himself chuckled at and which provoked peals of laughter and a teasing “he's crafty!” from one of the interviewers sat beside him To another delicate question — “Do you have a lot of dough?” — the former banker said he earns less now as president he said: “It's not the best job to have lots of friends.” And of Putin, whom he's met, and the Russian president's war in Ukraine the French leader said: “When you meet him like that At the end of the half-hour question-and-answer session Macron thanked his interviewers for a job well done 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 The Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles will remain off-limits for the immediate future None of France's three most iconic tourist sites will reopen when the country lifts most of its remaining coronavirus lockdown restrictions next week Some of Europe's other major cultural sites are also taking their time to reopen The Eiffel Tower likely won't be able to reopen before the second half of June a labor representative for the monument's staff He said they still need to fine tune with the site's management how to protect employees and visitors and to maintain social distancing sightseers seeking breathtaking views of Paris may be in for a stair workout: the elevators that usually whisk visitors to the three different levels will likely remain closed At the Louvre Museum managers have told workers they are aiming to reopen some time between the end of June and mid-July a labor representative who has been involved in the planning discussions there will be strict public hygiene rules and visiting "the Louvre will not at all be as it was before That's impossible," Sacristin said About 20%-30% of the museum's rooms might be closed but "of course the Mona Lisa will be open," Sacristin said Details will be ironed out in further meetings between management and staff when most of the remaining lockdown restrictions are lifted in France The palace said a date for reopening hasn't yet been decided Adapting major tourists draws to coronavirus imperatives is taking time elsewhere Reina Sofía and Thyssen museums - the so-called "triangle of the arts"- are scheduled to jointly reopen on June 6 two weeks after they were officially allowed to welcome visitors again some of their exhibition space will remain closed and visitor numbers will be limited to 30% of their size before the pandemic While smaller Spanish museums were quick to reopen this month major ones said they needed more time to prepare protective gear for staff temperature checks for visitors and crowd-control measures The slogan chosen by the museum for its re-opening is "Re-encounter." Opening spread with Villa Drusch from Wallpaper's 2007 article on Claude Parent Spread from Wallpaper's 2007 article on Claude Parent showing Parent's church of Sainte Bernadette Detail from the interior of the church of Sainte Bernadette in Banlay We look back on Claude Parent's slant on modernist architecture five years after the iconic architect's passing by revisiting Wallpaper* contributing editor Emma O'Kelly's meeting with him in 2007 A version of this article first appeared in the April 2007 issue of Wallpaper* (W*161) Emma O'Kelly is a freelance journalist and author based in London Her books include Sauna: The Power of Deep Heat and she is currently working on a UK guide to wild saunas France — A late draft to the Tour de France Neilson Powless didn’t have time to scramble together a turtle necklace the spirit animal of his Native American tribe or paint one of their wampum bead belts on the frame of the bike that he’s ridden for three punishing weeks over 3,300 kilometres (2,000 miles) of roads But although unable to carry the Oneida Tribe’s symbols with him the Tour rookie has become a powerful symbol himself as the first tribally recognized Native North American to have raced in the 117-year-old event Not only has Powless survived cycling’s greatest and most grueling race he distinguished himself in a crop of exciting young talents who helped set this Tour alight Crossing the finish in Paris on Sunday will resonate on reservations back in the United States “My main hope is that I can be a positive role model for young indigenous kids who have a lot going against them,” Powless “I think finishing the Tour de France is a testament to years of hard work and dedication to a lifelong dream Hopefully I can help drive kids to setting their mind to a goal and going after it.” “It must make it a lot easier when you can see somebody else who is doing it Word of Powless’ feats in France has already filtered back to the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin says the cyclist is blazing “a trail of journey Neilson’s journey and accomplishments I’m sure are spoken of at many gatherings here in Oneida,” Hill told the AP he did not falter or give up on his dreams,” the Oneida leader added “This is an important message not only to our youth here in Oneida Powless traces his Oneida heritage back to his grandfather Army paratrooper lived on the Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation in Wisconsin He coached boxing and occasionally showed off his tribal smoke-dancing skills to his grandson “I saw him dance once or twice when I was younger but I wish I could have watched him more,” says Powless “He tried to get me into boxing for a few years and I would train at the gym he coached at sometimes when we would visit.” The good news for American cycling is that Powless saw his future on a bike His main job at this Tour has been to ride in support of his team leader But Powless has also shown off his own strengths he was part of a small group that powered to the front of the race in a fight on the slopes of the Mont Aigoual with stunning views across southern France He distinguished himself again two days later placing fifth on the brutal Stage 8 of climbing in the Pyrenees “This Tour will be a massive point of growth for him,” Jonathan Vaughters But he certainly is coming out of the Tour a much better rider than he went in.” The Tour confirms he is its first Native North American competitor The cyclist hasn’t made a fuss of his heritage Vaughters says he only found out that Powless is one-quarter Oneida from the rider’s dad just days before he took the Tour start on Aug Powless proudly points out that he has a tribal ID recognizing him as one of the 16,500 Oneida members “The tribe has helped me financially with schooling I have family on the reservation,” he says “It’s not that I just had a blood test one day and decided ‘Oh I guess I’m Native American.’ It is something I have sort of grown up with and it has been part of my whole life and the tribe recognizes that as well.” Told just days before the Tour that he was on the team Powless says he didn’t have time to discreetly decorate his bike or source a replacement for the turtle necklace he broke last year he’ll surely be back and able to fix that at future Tours “Normally I would have a painting of the Oneida bead belt It’s just something that I have always tried to keep close to me.” More Tour de France coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/TourdeFrance and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Olympic silver medalist Elvis Stojko is currently on tour with Stars on Ice and made a pit stop to talk about the tour and his need for speed on the racetrack with CityNews’ Sports reporter Lindsay Dunn public broadcasters NPR and PBS are vowing to fight President Trump's order to cut federal funding to the outlets ON courtroom heard from the woman who says she was sexually assaulted by five former Canadian world junior hockey players Michelle Mackey reports on what she says happened on the night in question in 2018 Prime Minister Mark Carney laid out his government's plans which don't include a coalition with the NDP Carney is also allowing Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre to run in an Alberta byelection Glen McGregor breaks down the developments Canada's largest General Motors plant in Oshawa says they will be reducing the number of shifts for 700 employees citing challenges following recent trade tensions with the U.S Listen live to NewsRadio Kitchener anytime and get breaking news and weather alerts from CityNews Kitchener – available for both Android and iOS it was planned in 1959 and built in 1961 by claude parent for andré bloc who is a french painter architect and founder of the ‘architecture d’aujourd’hui’ magazine image © dominique delaunay courtesy cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine archives d’architecture du XXe siècle l’œuvre graphique exhibition at ‘la cité de l’architecture’ in paris january 20 – may 02 the cité de l’architecture & du patrimoine in paris dedicates a large-scale retrospective to the french modernist architect claude parent the exhibition uncovers both built and paper architecture sketches and architectural models of 92 projects completed between 1960 and 2009 ‘villa bloc’ or ‘andré bloc house’ in cap d’antibes france – upper living room view image © dominique delaunay courtesy cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine claude parent was born in 1923 in neuilly-sur-seine he wanted to become an engineer but turned to architecture in 1956 parent got the rare privilege to be among the eight professionals listed in the french order of architects without having a diploma as well as a polemicist and caricaturist in his spare time he was an imaginative dreamer with a rebellious character the many facets of his work have challenged and also disturbed his contemporaries this explains perhaps why the recognition of a solo show has only taken place today front: model of the church with trilobe plan drawings and models of churches image © designboom image © gaston bergeret / collection DAF courtesy cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine claude parent met the architect ionel schein both were ‘children of corbusier’ and in 1952 they had a revelation of utopia when seeing sculptor nicolas schöffer’s ideas of the russian constructivism the de stijl movement and theories of the bauhaus (schöffer was unknown in france at that time) parent and active member of the ‘space group’ founded by andré bloc in the early 1950s he collaborated with many artists (among them yves klein and jean tinguely) and advocated for the integration of art in architecture and society in general a view into the exhibition image © designboom yves klein worked with claude parent on a water and fire fountain project and in 1969 they designed an aeromagnetic sculpture – ‘the pneumatic rocket’ 1969 maquette realized by designer roger tallon image © designboom together they developed the ‘oblique function’ theory which celebrated the inclined plane the intellectual marriage between the catholic situationist paul virilio and the liberal anarchist claude parent ended,’ says francis rambert when parent was selected to build the french pavilion of the biennale of contemporary art in venice architect testimonials on TV screens image © designboom exhibitionarchitect testimonials on TV screens: diana chan chieng 1993 image courtesy cité de l’architecture et du patrimoin the exhibition puts us back into the heart of current architectural debates. architect jean nouvel whose career began in claude parent’s studio is the exhibition’s scenographer after having dedicated his project for the paris’ philharmonie to claude parent nouvel’s set design is articulated as a sequence of cells the oblique function and critical space (1963-1968) involving the oblique (1970-1982) and recent projects (1975-2000) delimited by inclined surfaces and viewable from many different angles it marries the work of parent and his ‘oblique function’ manifesto perfectly slightly blurred image of a view inside the (scarcely illuminated) exhibition with model of ‘les grandes oreilles I parent’s utopian dream of a ‘spatio-dynamic city’ on the right a model of ‘la colline de sens’ ‘la colline de sens’ a project of an oblique city drawing by claude parent image taken by designboom ‘architecture will no longer be dominated by the visual but will relate to the human body as a receptive totality’ and ‘the individual will always be in a state of resistance – whether accelerating as when going down or slowing down as when climbing up whereas when one walks on a horizontal plane weight is nil.‘ – ‘architecture principe’ claude parent / paul virilio the leitmotif is the denial of the severity of horizontal and vertical planes to invent a universe composed of unstructured ramps image © designboom wall-free where possible; space should predominate over surface image taken from ‘functioning the oblique’ ‘we are in front of the imperious necessity to accept as an historical fact the end of verticality as an elevation axis the end of horizontality as a permanent plan in the benefit of oblique axis and lean plan which achieve all the needed conditions to create a new urban order and which also allow to totally reinvent architecture’s vocabulary this shift should be understood for what it actually is: the third architecture’s spatial possibility.‘ -‘architecture principe’ maison bordeaux le pecq house in bois le roy (1963-1966) giant wave like gestures of the roof create one of residential architecture’s great rooms on the inside drawing of maison bordeaux le pecq image taken by designboom the bordeaux le pecq house consists almost entirely of one large open space claude parent created the house for an art collector andrée bordeaux le pecq she designed most of the interior with a small kitchen maison bordeaux le pecq house with giant wave like roof image © dominique delaunay courtesy cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine model of drusch house in versailles image © designboom villa drusch in versailles by claude parent and d.m michel carrade and roger fatus (1963-1965) built for local entrepreneur gaston drusch.image © dominique delaunay courtesy cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine villa drusch a rectangular concrete box which stands on one of its corners north side of the church of sainte-bernadette du banlay in nevers image © dominique delaunay courtesy cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine michel carrade and paul virilio built the church of sainte-bernadette du banlay in nevers it is a concrete monolith whose interior is organized with slopes the church with its exterior resembling a bunker and a nearly empty interior is considered as one of his most scandalous buildings interior of the church of sainte-bernadette du banlay in nevers image © dominique delaunay courtesy cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine gif-sur-yvette (1969 – 1970 image © designboom a model and books in a showcase image © designboom in the ’70ies claude parent became responsible for the architectural aspect of EDF nuclear power plants he planned two ‘houses of the atom’ at cattenom and chooz – a futuristic world populated by nuclear power plants or cities in the form of waves at infinity claude parent at the opening of the exhibition on january 19 parent was awarded with the gran prix national d’architecture catalog published by hyx / cité de l’architecture the first monograph on the architect’s work since 1982 AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time France: A former model who testified to French police that she was drugged and raped as a teenager by an associate of disgraced late financier Jeffrey Epstein said she wept “tears of joy” after the modelling agent was taken into custody at Paris’ main airport for an array of suspected sex crimes was detained on Wednesday at Charles de Gaulle airport and was being held in police custody for questioning Prosecutors didn’t specify whether Brunel was arriving or departing when he was picked up Dutch former model Thysia Huisman is among women who have accused Brunel of rape and sexual assault as part of what has become a broad French probe into alleged sexual exploitation of women and girls by Epstein and his circle Brunel’s lawyer in Paris wasn’t immediately available to comment on his arrest But she has previously said that Brunel “firmly contests” accusations against him and that he was available to talk to investigators Contacted for comment by The Associated Press Huisman described Brunel’s arrest as “such great news She broke down in tears when the prosecutors’ list of suspected sex crimes for which Brunel was detained was read to her over the phone The list includes multiple possible charges of rape and sexual assault and the suspected trafficking of minors for sexual exploitation “It sounds like he is not getting out,” Huisman said Huisman is among at least a dozen people known to have given evidence for the French probe She says she told police that she was drugged and raped in 1991 at age 18 by Brunel She believes that her accusations now fall outside of French legal time-limits for prosecutions But she says she went public with them partly in hope that doing so might encourage other alleged victims to come forward Multiple women have identified themselves as victims and spoken to police since the French probe was opened in August last year Prosecutors have previously said that police have questioned at least eight alleged victims of rape and other abuse and four other people who say they were witnesses Jean-Luc Brunel was an associate of Jeffrey Epstein Brunel was considered central to the French investigation because he was a frequent companion of Epstein who travelled often to France and had apartments in Paris in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges luring them with promises of modelling work ❏ Support is available for those who may be distressed by phoning Lifeline 13 11 14; Mensline 1300 789 978; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636 France: A former model who testified to French police that she was drugged and raped as a teenager by an associate of disgraced late financier Jeffrey Epstein said she wept \\u201Ctears of joy\\u201D after the modelling agent was taken into custody at Paris\\u2019 main airport for an array of suspected sex crimes Prosecutors didn\\u2019t specify whether Brunel was arriving or departing when he was picked up Brunel\\u2019s lawyer in Paris wasn\\u2019t immediately available to comment on his arrest But she has previously said that Brunel \\u201Cfirmly contests\\u201D accusations against him and that he was available to talk to investigators Huisman described Brunel\\u2019s arrest as \\u201Csuch great news She broke down in tears when the prosecutors\\u2019 list of suspected sex crimes for which Brunel was detained was read to her over the phone \\u201CIt sounds like he is not getting out,\\u201D Huisman said meaning Brunel won\\u2019t have to answer them \\u274F Support is available for those who may be distressed by phoning Lifeline 13 11 14; Mensline 1300 789 978; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636 Malta international Maria Coppola has already played abroad during her career in women's football In the late 90s she left the Malta FA national championship and travelled across the continent to play in the United States for Oklahoma University and Bartlesville University the one-season stint she has just completed in the French league with Division Two side US Pecq Football has seen her game flourishing so much that the 29-year-old former Melita midfielder is now pondering on a move to the French top league next season after receiving some tempting offers Women's football in France is very popular with regional competitions organised by the national federation the national team qualified for the final stages of the UEFA Women's Championship in England but were drawn in a tough group with eventual winners Germany and finalists Norway "There was a lot of interest when the national team was playing in England," Coppola said "The game has an incredible following and the competition is tough Le Pecq are in Division Two along with 23 other teams "We had a good season and the club was happy with my contribution They told me that in previous years the team struggled in mid-table positions but this time we finished among the top sides in the league." in charge and despite the relatively young age she did a wonderful job for the team Coppola reckons Robbles's influence left a positive mark on her performances "She is fully qualified and her training sessions are innovative," Coppola said "When I joined the side I was more like a roving midfielder in the opponents' half Robbles then asked me to play a pivotal role for Le Pecq I had to run faster and distribute the ball more effectively in attack "I was the only foreign player in the squad and the training was hard but with Robbles around it wasn't difficult to settle in my new position I also scored a couple of vital goals for the team and that lifted my confidence as the season progressed." Coppola is currently in Malta taking a deserved break from the game and mulling on her future in football With her husband working full time in Paris there's no doubt that she will settle there for the time being Her destination in the French league is still undecided however "I liked playing for Le Pecq," Coppola remarked "They're an organised multi-sport club with professional facilities "I miss my former team-mates at Melita and the MFA league but playing abroad has always been a priority for me The experience of home and away matches and the travelling with the squad is unique "Le Pecq want me to stay but I'm also evaluating a couple of offers from Division One teams I'm not getting younger and opportunities like these come once in a lifetime The league in France starts in October so there's no particular hurry even though I have to keep the hard training going to stay in shape for the pre-season." please register for free or log in to your account.