celebrates the centenary of the death of one of its illustrious sons Delaporte is a key figure in the history of colonial exploration and in the rediscovery of the archaeological site of Angkor one of the most extraordinary cultural treasures of Southeast Asia a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.To mark this centennial Loches is hosting an exhibition from May 22 to Sept 2025 to chronicle Delaporte’s life and discoveries allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the story of a man who changed knowledge about Khmer civilization and its legendary Angkor site scheduled at the Lansyer Museum and Logis Royal thus reconstructs the past of an explorer who dedicated his life to discovering and spreading the beauty of Indochina’s art Louis Delaporte was destined to become a sailor he had harbored a strong passion for the sea and at only 12 years old he moved to Lorient to study for his admission to theÉcole Navale in Brest His adventurous spirit soon led him to undertake numerous missions to the most distant places in the world that his life took a direction that no one could have predicted Delaporte was chosen for a scientific mission to Cocincina (present-day Vietnam) where he would witness the history and culture of a distant and fascinating land Delaporte was lucky enough to stumble upon the ruins of Angkor the archaeological site that would capture his imagination and passion forever an immense temple-city covering an area of about 400 square kilometers had been forgotten by most of the world for centuries but its magnificent ruins were a life-changing discovery for Delaporte He thus decided to devote himself completely to the study of Khmer art and culture Delaporte returned to Angkor with an official mission: to collect Khmer artworks for the French Ministry of Public Education and Fine Arts and to verify the navigability of the Red River and also took plaster casts of the finest works he could find The works he brought with him to France were initially rejected by the Louvre This rejection did not discourage Delaporte who tirelessly continued his struggle for the recognition of Angkor art and culture intensified his efforts to bring Khmer art to the forefront in France he finally succeeded in obtaining permission to exhibit his casts and discoveries in the Palais du Trocadéro a landmark venue in Paris for international exhibitions the French public could admire the art of Angkor up close thanks to the determination of a man who had made his passion a mission Delaporte continued to fight for the appreciation of Khmer heritage even during his tenure as curator of the Indochinese Museum at the Trocadero from 1889 to 1924 now integrated into the Musée Guimet represented a key center for the study and dissemination of Asian art in France Delaporte not only collected and preserved the works but also worked for their restoration and dissemination participating in major international events such as the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900 and the Colonial Exhibition in Marseille in 1906 where his collections were exhibited to an ever-widening public The Angkor - Louis Delaporte exhibition scheduled in Loches aims to tell the story of this extraordinary adventure through a series of original pieces casts and documents from the collections of the Musée Guimet which today holds many of the works Delaporte brought to France The exhibition is divided into three main sections each delving into a different aspect of his life and work The first section of the exhibition takes visitors directly to Delaporte’s footsteps at the Angkor site one can discover the world Delaporte saw with his own eyes (one room directly evokes the discovery of Angkor) The second part of the exhibition focuses on his determination to make Khmer art known in France highlighting the techniques he used to document and transport the works: visitors thus get to discover the passionate man who devoted his life to Khmer art and his skill in interpreting the buildings discovered in the thick vegetation The third and final part will expose the legacy Delaporte left to science with a focus on the Indochina Museum and his contribution to the creation of universal exhibitions This exhibition is not intended to be just a simple display of objects is put in a position to live an experience that leads them to “walk” through the ruins of Angkor to touch the majesty of the sculptures and to understand the extraordinary work of documentation and preservation that Delaporte accomplished There will be audio and video devices that will tell the story of the site along with interactive panels and installations that will allow visitors to explore the techniques used by the explorer to collect and educational activities for adults and children Visitors will be able to take part in guided tours to discover Louis Delaporte’s traces in the town of Loches an opportunity to immerse themselves even more in his life and exploits lecture series will be organized to explore specific topics On the 9th stage of the 2024 Tour de France this last stage of the first week is filled with difficulties As if 32.3 kilometers over gravel weren’t challenging enough the stage also winds through the Champagne vineyards over rolling terrain adding up to 2,000 meters of elevation gain The last stage before the first rest day is a real challenge While the riders won’t be climbing high mountains The 9th stage features 32.2 kilometers of gravel roads inspired by the 4th stage of the 2022 Tour de France Femmes from Troyes to Bar-sur-Aube Stage 9 of the 2024 Tour de France also starts in Troyes and begins with a flat 35 kilometers past Lac d’Orient and Vendeuvre-sur-Barse into the hills passing through vineyards and featuring four fourth-category climbs It’s only 1,200 meters long but leads directly into the category-4 climb Côte de Baroville (2.8 kilometers at 4.8%) earning a three-star difficulty rating from the race organizer A.S.O. similar to Paris-Roubaix’s cobblestones and Côte de Chacenay (3 kilometers at 4.3%) begins at the race’s midpoint is 9.6 kilometers before the finish in Troyes This stage is dreaded by many GC riders because it can’t win them the Tour but it can certainly cause them to lose it Mechanical issues or missing the right group could lead to significant time losses Similar stages in past editions of the Giro d’Italia and the Tour protecting their leader and keeping him close to his rivals will be crucial for the teams aiming for a good overall position The question remains if this will also be the case for Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) given that his teammate Carlos Rodriguez is seventh overall And will Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) get a chance to ride for himself or will he need to keep Jonas Vingegaard out of trouble Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is the favorite known for excelling in classics and gravel races as evidenced by his 2021 Strade Bianche victory With Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) out due to injury but Toms Skujiņš has shown strong performances on gravel Other contenders include Maxim Van Gils (Lotto Dstny) and Oier Lazkano (Movistar) they all need to watch out for Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) The Yellow Jersey wearer is uniquely suited to this ninth stage as demonstrated in the 2022 Roubaix stage of the Tour de France and Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) the aim will be to navigate the Chemins Blancs sections without losing time The stress before the start of this stage will be intense A negative mindset or fear can impact performance but UAE Team Emirates and Pogacar have an advantage as he takes things in stride and relishes such challenges Mathieu van der Poel’s Canyon Aeroad CFR: The Bike Behind His Spring Classic Wins Mathieu van der Poels Cyclocross Calendar 2024/2025 Season Review 2024: Great Success of Team Alpecin-Deceuninck Le Mans may be best known for its 24-hour car race but the French city offers more than high-speed thrills Explore its old town then venture into the Loire Valley for canoe trips and chateaux stays Le Mans can be reached by direct train from London St Pancras in just four and a half hours.Photograph by Massimo RipaniByAdrian PhillipsMay 10 2024This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).To most people this medieval city in the Loire region of northwest France has hosted the annual 24 Hours of Le Mans an iconic rally around the Circuit de la Sarthe that’s as much a test of stamina as speed You’ll find plenty of nods here to this rich motoring history from postcards of classic Aston Martins to a dedicated museum that displays numerous race cars But you don’t need to be a petrolhead to fall in love with Le Mans; it’s a place with the most evocative of ancient centres some of the world’s best-preserved Roman walls and a blockbuster of a cathedral with beautiful stained glass There are both intimate restaurants and busy al fresco bars by the river where you can take a bench seat and soak up the atmosphere And Le Mans is a springboard to much more besides from the pottery centre of Malicorne and the rustic charm of the Mancelles Alpes area to the royal city of Loches with the train journey from St Pancras International taking just four-and-a-half hours Have lunch at quirky Salon Arthé (7 Place de la République) with its dining room-cum-studio full of easels and canvases It showcases 140 racing cars and reveals the history of the epic race with fascinating archive footage Its Heroes’ Alley tells the tales of individuals who have made special contributions over the years focusing not only on the drivers but also the engineers who play such a key role in getting the cars across the finish line in the endurance race EveningArrange an evening tour of Le Mans old town with tour guide Nathalie Jupin You’ll stop at the town hall that was once the palace of Matilda who gave birth here to the future King Henry II of England and at the Cathedral of Saint Julian of Le Mans home to a 12th-century stained-glass window Equally engaging are the town’s smaller details such as the stone obelisks on street corners that once protected buildings from carriage wheels and the fourth-century arch that leads to a section of Roman wall Wrap up the day with a meal of veal steak and heritage vegetables at the intimate wood-beamed Bistrot des Gourmets 6 Rue Barbier local produce on the atmospheric terrace of the chateau a two-square-mile reserve that abuts the abbey grounds and includes a nature trail featuring artworks inspired by local wildlife EveningDinner is in Le Mans at Brasserie Madeleine (7 Place des Jacobins), a family-run restaurant in a square overlooking the cathedral. it serves a good selection of seafood dishes — lobster, oysters, mussels and more — and a fabulously creamy rillette on thick pieces of toast. Then it’s time for La Nuit des Chimères walls and trees are illuminated with colourful images from fairytale characters and historical symbols to portraits of locals who’ve made a special contribution to life here The tourist office has a map with a walking route that takes in the illuminations Round off the evening with a drink at Guingette des Tanneries (Square des Tanneries 1. La Maison du GasseauA blue-grey stone chateau with green shutters in the Mancelles Alpes this place was built as a family home in 1939 and now offers six guest rooms with exposed beams and wooden floors The breakfast features freshly baked scones 2. Domaine de L’EpauWith grass rolling over their roofs the six eco-lodges here look like Hobbit homes buried in the landscape with terraces perfect for an evening tipple Kitchenettes mean you can self-cater but the complex also has a bar and restaurant 3. Montmirail castleParts of this castle standing proud between Le Mans and Chartres Its guest rooms brim with a sense of history and each is individually decorated with heritage features such as four-poster beds and elegant wood panelling 4. Aventure NautiqueSet on the banks of the River Sarthe in Roëzé-sur-Sarthe Aventure Nautique has 10 bell tents that allow full but comfortable immersion in nature Hire one of the site’s paddleboards or electric boats for a river adventure then kick back with a mojito at the characterful bar set in a shack Maison Courtin is owned and run by Grégoire Courtin who rents out a couple of guest rooms furnished in 19th-century style He’s also the proprietor of the adjacent brush shop and homeware museum and will gladly give you a tour of his hoard of curiosities ranging from model Aston Martins to 18th-century medical instruments La Maison du Gasseau is the perfect place to savour ​local produce.Photograph by Juliette DenisWhat to eat in Le Mans1 RillettesA pâté of shredded pork cooked in fat that’s typically smothered on toast rillettes originated in nearby Touraine but became associated with Le Mans when a local started selling it to passengers passing through on the train There are several annual celebrations of the speciality including the annual Spring of Rillettes festival held in Sarthe Chenin blancOne of the Loire’s wine-producing areas in the south of Sarthe Its Chenin Blanc wines date to the Middle Ages when they were made by Cistercian monks Try them at the Domaine des Gauletteries winery in Ruillé-sur-Loir 1. Château de Loches and the DonjonThe royal city of Loches is dominated by its elevated medieval royal quarter surrounded by a fortified wall and featuring Charles VII’s royal residence an 11th-century castle tower containing dungeons etched with the graffiti of unfortunate former captives The castle has a varied royal history that includes occupation by the one-time king of England Visitors are issued with interactive tablets that bring the past to life by showing how each of the rooms would have looked in its prime The village of Abilly has a relaxing cycle path through woodland and fields of sunflowers.Photograph by Pascal Beltrami2. Cultu’raids ConceptThe city sits on the Indre River You can gain a deeper appreciation of it by renting a canoe from Cultu’raids Concept you can explore a quiet stretch of the water allowing you to feel a world away from civilisation winding through a tunnel of overhanging trees One option is to paddle five miles to the watermill at St Jean flashing yellow as they flit from stone to stone on the river bed you might catch a glimpse of red deer through the branches on the banks You can also rent standup paddleboards from the company Unauthorized use is prohibited."},"ratio":"2048x1365","type":"xl","priority":"xl","colorMode":"light","title":"How to plan a weekend in Le Mans gateway to France's Loire Valley","description":"Le Mans may be best known for its 24-hour car race but the French city offers more than high-speed thrills Annecy and its lake tend to grab the limelight Getty Images","dsc":"Lake Annecy is found within south-eastern France and is a haven for water activities hiking and biking.","ttl":"Lake Annecy","rchDsc":{"markup":"Lake Annecy is found within south-eastern France and is a haven for water activities hiking and biking."},"rchTtl":{"markup":"Lake Annecy"},"ratio":"3x2"},"isFeatured":true,"sections":[{"name":"Travel","id":"432c4f83-2d55-3974-b95f-a221c87c0fd1","type":"sources","uri":"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel"}],"headline":"Why visit Annecy gateway to the French Alps","link":"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/weekend-in-annecy-french-alps"},{"description":"Framed by beaches and home to a collection of Portugal’s most eclectic historic mansions Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker 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 From cobbled streets and medieval castles to classical clock towers and panoramic views, the Loire Valley is defined by its authentic and charming living environment. The quaint commune of Loches, a historic “ville d’art et d’histoire”, provides an ideal backdrop for Saint-Denis International School Here, international students have been welcomed here for over 25 years, making up a multinational and supportive student body representing over 30 nationalities Regardless of whether you’ve come to pick up the French language participate in its exciting summer camps or enrol in its French baccalaureate programme Saint-Denis is where students from all corners of the world find their place academic excellence and personal development Thanks to the countryside and lush greenery surrounding them, Saint-Denis students learn in an idyllic, calm and safe environment. It’s rich in the arts, culture and history — ideal for students who speak English at a bilingual/native speaker level and are in the school’s BFI (baccalauréat français international) and Dual Diploma programmes Fully replacing the OIB in France as the international form of the French baccalaureate the new BFI diploma focuses more on oral presentation and argumentation skills and dives deeper into how the section’s culture fits a broader world context BFI students continue to follow the full national curriculum that makes up the French baccalaureate The Dual Diploma programme is just as global in approach Saint-Denis students get to attend classes in a French school and of an American high school based in Florida through online delivery they will receive the French Baccalauréat and a digital American High School Diploma verified by their respective authorities (the French Ministry of Education and Florida’s Department of Education in the US) whether their French language skills are non-existent gains a strong grasp of the French language project-based and kept intentionally small to maximise learning outcomes students are encouraged to actively participate in campus activities such as regular exchange trips and Model European Parliament sessions Apart from welcoming students throughout the academic year Saint-Denis also opens its doors to all students for its summer camps in July Each spring, the school invites international delegations from countries such as Italy, Bulgaria, Mexico, Vietnam and even South Africa, to its annual International Festival of Arts and Science The event is meant to inspire a multicultural and multilingual exchange through music More immersion in French culture helps students master the French language faster international students live with local host families and go on a variety of field trips to castles These opportunities not only let students apply what they learn in class to the real world but also connect them to locals in their community and beyond — making for one of the best and most enjoyable ways to learn a new language Saint-Denis opens its doors to more international students from all over the world These summer camps last between two to four weeks Students receive 15 hours of French classes weekly in a small class size of 15 Through different mediums and beyond the four walls of a classroom these lessons are led by dedicated summer staff with plenty of hands-on activities such as kayaking swimming and sports games to ensure students have a blast learning the language To learn more about joining this international community — apply here or visit the school virtually Follow Saint-Denis International School on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube Create an account for a 7-day trial to access this article and all of AL-Monitor For subscription inquiries, please contact subscription.support@al-monitor.com For all other inquiries, please use contactus@al-monitor.com routinely accused of opportunism and a lack of long-term vision could do worse than to consult the historical example of 17th-century French statesman Jean-Baptiste Colbert Colbert was a minister during the reign of Louis XIV taking on the key roles of Controller General of Finance and Secretary of State for the Navy in the 1660s His main mission was to bring order and efficiency to a notoriously chaotic and wasteful country – and to set the nation’s forests in order He began an eight-year survey of the woodland around Tours in 1661 and was horrified by what he found: deforestation cattle grazing everywhere. ‘France perira faute de bois,’ – ‘France will perish for lack of wood’ – he warned starkly in his 1669 work In an age when naval strength was vital to geopolitical power France’s chronic timber shortage was a massive weakness Colbert’s philosophy of ‘bon usage de la nature’ with its emphasis on sustainable development was based more on pragmatism than eco-ideology: manage woodland correctly and the result would be tall providing the perfect material for shipbuilding Dappled shade: Forests like Loches in France have been nurtured for centuries But it was no short-term fix: the benefits from the forest planting and management programme that Colbert initiated would only be reaped when the oaks reached maturity maintained by the forest guards of France’s l’Office National des Forêts (ONF) some of the main beneficiaries of this painstaking work are not shipbuilders Traditionally, casks made from this fine-grained sessile oak (Quercus petraea) are destined for the winemakers of Bordeaux and Burgundy, but whisky makers like Gregg Glass of Whyte & Mackay are now getting in on the act too The company’s Jura Seven Wood, launched last year as part of a wholesale revamp of the island single malt uses casks sourced from six different French forests: Vosges Each forest lends its own distinctive note to the mix from the mocha and red fruit of Vosges to the unctuous peach and mango of Les Bertranges and the brooding astringency of Limousin these are great building blocks for the blender Black death: Lead from bullets fired during the First World War has infected this wood There’s far more than provenance to the work that Glass has done on oak with cask supplier Demptos – oak sub-species toasting regime and so on – but there’ll be time to explore all of that soon enough on Scotchwhisky.com Jura Seven Wood started life with cask trials almost a decade ago and some of the liquid has been matured for 17 years in total (10 years in ex-Bourbon before an extended ‘finish’ in French oak) But that timescale pales in comparison to the management programme in Loches Forest There’s a saying that making a cask takes ‘two centuries referring respectively to the typical life of the tree the seasoning process and the final manufacture of the cask For great wine you need great grapes; for a top-quality cask this is where Fabien Daureu and his fellow gardes forestiers (forest guards) weave their magic 200-year-old oak trees don’t come about by accident The keys are slow growth – 2mm a year is ideal – meaning narrow trunks and fine grain; straight trunks and no low branches Rosy future: A genetic anomaly makes this wood more valuable for cask manufacture So Fabien and his colleagues visit each block every 10 years there might be 700,000 or even 1m oaks per hectare; by the time 250 years have passed It’s a Darwinian process of dominant and submissive trees and fierce competition leaves no space for low-growing branches forcing trunks to rise ramrod-straight in search of the sun There are tricks – beech trees can give shade and stop the summer sun from causing imperfections in the wood – and there are surprises which only emerge once that two-century process is over and the tree has been felled The bad: split logs riddled with black and rendered useless by lead bullets embedded in the trees during the First World War; and the good: the rosy-hued wood created by the genetically mysterious presence of carotenoids which break down into norisprenoids and create a prized fruity flavour that commands a higher price in the form of the Essencia casks made by Demptos in what looks at first like an otherwise deserted part of the forest But look closer and you’ll see vast numbers of young saplings pushing up from the floor create the wine and whisky casks of the mid-23rd century And you thought making whisky was a long-term process.. Enter your email address below to keep updated with the latest news from Scotchwhisky.com There has always been a special bond between France and Italy and Naples occupies a privileged position there it has been the dream of many of our sovereigns the town of Loches accommodates part of the Treasure of San Gennaro of Naples silver and gold statues offered to the patron saint of Naples this treasure is one of the richest in the world surpassing that of the crown of England and the tsars of Russia San Gennaro suffered the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian against Christians tied to horses to be quartered then taken to the circus to be devoured by wild beasts: nothing helped his nurse collected his blood in two ampoules (vials) this blood liquefies: it is the miracle of San Gennaro the city of Naples was marked by three scourges: the resurgence of the plague the eruption of Vesuvius and the war between Spain and France as part of the Italian Wars The people of Naples then turned to their patron saint the elected officials of Naples signed in 1527 who had died twelve centuries earlier: San Gennaro would protect Naples and Naples would offer the saint a magnificent chapel This unique and founding contract will be exhibited in Loches each great family or even simple citizen offers a gift to San Gennaro: jewelry these objects have been preserved in the chapel adjacent to the Duomo who liked to bring war trophies back to Paris but asked Joachim Murat to visit the saint and give him a gift: a gold monstrance an institution independent of religious power the treasure of San Gennaro constitutes a unique heritage in the world This treasure is so precious that it has only been presented twice outside its dedicated chapel in Naples: in 2013 in Rome and in 2014 in Paris https://www.ville-loches.fr/ Log in to leave a comment 14jui(Jul 14)0 23 h min15(Jul 15)23 00 h minHauts-de-France Photo Festival The association "Les Images de Blanche" is organizing the 3rd edition of the Hauts-de-France Photo Festival The association " The Images of Blanche » organizes the 3rd edition of the Hauts-de-France Photo Festival 2025 visit us at the Dewailly Cloister à AmiensThis cultural and charitable event will highlight the 8th art while supporting actions in favor of children with disabilities This festival will bring together 36 amateur and professional photographers including extraordinary artists (with disabilities) They will be supported by the EPSM of Dury (Public Mental Health Establishment) and the APAJH (Association for Adults and Young People with Disabilities) A highlight of the festival will be the charity photography auction as well as by DROUOT PARIS and INTERENCHERES The funds raised will allow the association to finance projects for children with disabilities 11jui(Jul 11)9 00 h min13(Jul 13)23 00 h minSecret Nights in Hauts-de-France! Because the North is a land of festive tradition where we laugh loudly (in France) where we speak loudly and where we share “thoroughly” the party unfolds without apology and everyone enjoys it being neither ashamed of their joy nor afraid of ridicule When the music goes up in Aulnoye and it is good we willingly let off steam in an unbridled and good-natured atmosphere The scenes that follow one another at the frenetic pace of the enthusiastic crowds who respond “present” (even shout it) with all their heart and all their body with wild gestures ola and whimsical farandoles and astonishing looks To keep your turbulent child's soul but to lose your voice a way of being together without sulking in your pleasure in a warm fervor like no other… And not one artist who does not feel it it took a unique know-how to host such beautiful sets Long patience and a thousand tricks of the programming management of flows and a sense of welcoming audiences and artists talents and professions so that for 3 days the party is in full swing.. But the party would not be complete without this extraordinary savoir-vivre that this region spontaneously delivers: a warm sense of welcome a welcome self-mockery and good humor (even if it is a little noisy) to resell finally not to give… Knowing how to live together is also enjoying this constant benevolence in human relationships This is how we have remained “on a human scale” because we have ensured that each meeting keeps all its promises: a direct contact a sharing where no one would feel excluded a sort of instant memory that is invented before our eyes Like a Festival that wants to remain alive always ensures that the noise never causes discomfort and that the implementation of this celebration is as respectful as possible of others Because the new Savoir-fête must be as uncompromising as it is fervent It is the 23rd edition of this little pearl of the North which aims for excellence in matters of "party know-how" : beyond its now famous Secret Courses which will be unveiled in the spring its societal and environmental commitments the festival is distinguished by the diversity of its stages Contact : contact@artsixmic.fr exposure to foreign cultures and places is an important and valuable experience to prepare you for university and life Not only will it make you more appealing to admission officers and future employers it will also greatly enrich your perspectives If you’re looking for a diverse, cultural and affordable study experience, look no further than Saint-Denis International School this is a traditional French boarding school  for students across middle and high school levels you’ll be hard-pressed to find a school that better nurtures students into well-rounded graduates poised for success Students at Saint-Denis International School live and learn in a close to magical environment classical clock towers and a stunning landscape Saint-Denis International School combines an inspiring location with robust academic programmes Students can spend weekends exploring the Garden of France and taking in the fresh air and charms of the countryside It’s as if you’ve stepped into a picturesque fairytale That’s not to divert from the historic town of Loches which is fortified by 12th century ramparts and a keep constructed 1,000 years ago Few schools can offer a location as historical Over longer breaks, students can explore the surrounding areas. Regular bus lines from Loches connect to the vibrant student city of Tours, nicknamed “Little Paris,” for its cosmopolitan and artistic culture. The high-speed rail and airport also serve as convenient gateways to Paris Caption: Equip yourself with the necessary skills to successfully prepare for higher education and will help you acclimatise to your life in France from providing meals and transportation to integrating you into French culture With this, you’d be better equipped for the French Baccalaureate examinations, which are taken at the end of a three-year programme specially designed to prepare students for university. Saint-Denis offers a variety of French language General Baccalaureate specialties that span several fields of study geo-politics and political science; economics; literature and languages; art; engineering; the humanities; and more This is an ideal option if you’re looking to maximise your time in the country If you want to integrate more than one language into your repertoire, Saint-Denis also offers a Franco-American programme in the form of the American section of the International Option of the French Baccalaureate (OIB) This essentially adds a mix of extra English-taught subjects into the French Baccalaureate the OIB is also recognised by the US’s College Board which will definitely open up pathways into top higher education institutions all over the world Surround yourself with lush greenery and picturesque walks after classes Options for cultural or linguistic exchanges at a variety of schools are available to students as well Saint-Denis offers students the exciting opportunity to go on linguistic and cultural exchanges in the UK you’re guaranteed a unique mix of a traditional and global study experience As a result, you’ll most definitely be shaped into a truly global citizen by the end of your study at Saint-Denis. Need proof? The school’s track record of sending every one of its graduates to university certainly speaks for itself Of course, the current health and travel risks presented by the pandemic are valid concerns for international students. Saint-Denis takes the safety and wellbeing of its students seriously. It has enforced a strict health protocol, including rigorous testing, mask-wearing and sanitising, as well as encouraging health passes from students and staff Students at Saint-Denis are therefore able to enjoy a safe and relatively normal schooling experience with minimal health risks this allows the school to continue welcoming students from all over the world If this sounds appealing to you, apply for a position at Saint-Denis or visit the school virtually. Follow Saint-Denis International School on Facebook and YouTube Tuesday World Subscribers only Israel prepares large-scale Gaza offensive to achieve lasting occupation World Subscribers only Romania enters government crisis amid election World Subscribers only In Zurich the leaf blower war or the anti-'woke' backlash World Subscribers only Germany's Friedrich Merz is embracing pragmatism World Subscribers only Founder of Sant'Egidio community fears next pope could undo Francis's legacy Opinion Subscribers only 'Russian gas and Europe is an old story that ended badly Economy Subscribers only Europe's steel industry flattened by crisis World Subscribers only How European countries plan to fund defense efforts France Subscribers only Macron announces citizens' convention on school schedules France Subscribers only 21 charged over French prison attacks as investigation narrows in on drug traffickers France Subscribers only French mosque stabber was driven by 'morbid fascination,' prosecutor says France Subscribers only At the trial of Kim Kardashian's robbers Videos World expos: From Paris 1855 to Osaka 2025 Videos How the Trump administration is attacking scientific research in the US Videos Tesla cars set on fire in Las Vegas as calls to boycott Musk's company grow worldwide Videos Can France's nuclear deterrent protect Europe Opinion Subscribers only 'The American dream is dying' Editorial European call to aid foreign researchers is too modest Opinion Subscribers only John Bolton: 'The term chaos is commonly used to describe the top of the Defense Department' Magazine Subscribers only Tracking down the pianos taken from French Jews during the Nazi Occupation Magazine Subscribers only Eve Rodsky the American helping couples balance the mental load Magazine Subscribers only Desecration or more glory Joan Didion's private diaries are revealed Magazine Subscribers only For Jewish cartoonist Joann Sfar 2025."> Pixels Subscribers only Golden Owl solution is revealed but leaves players of 31-year hunt disappointed Pixels Subscribers only Secrets of decades-long Golden Owl treasure hunt to be revealed Lifestyle Inside Chanel's French leather workshops Culture Subscribers only The marvelous bronzes of Angkor on display at the Musée Guimet in Paris Take time to discover the joys of walking in the countryside with your children this summer With our selection of hikes in different French regions you can follow in the footsteps of writer Marcel Pagnol By Thomas Doustaly Five steps to unleash your creativity ISABELLE BARDIAU INDRE-ET-LOIRE Get your notebooks and pencils out There's no better way of exploring the majestic royal Forêt de Loches in the heart of France with your family Beneath the oak and beech trees – some of which date back several hundred years – and between the many ponds rich with biodiversity Each one has benches and "tutorial panels," which also serve as drawing tables The "Randocroqueur" markers are there to help you find your way The most gifted of artists can learn possible ways of capturing the ballet of birds that live in the pond or mastering perspective drawing through a long forest path thanks to these five creative stops along the way the three-kilometer walk from the Pas-aux-Anes pond will take place without the sound of any grumbling toddlers Loches-valdeloire.com The impressive scenery of the Ecrins park / PHOTO12 VIA AFP HAUTES-ALPES Which animal has been here Does that pawprint belong to a wolf or a dog the small alpine village of Villar-d'Arène will be the starting point for your "little hiker" as well as for curious children who will follow the guide in search of animal tracks paw and hoof marks give immediate clues to the most recent visitor this outing is designed to take place without parents The exact meeting point changes according to the time of year but stays around the town of Villar-d'Arène You have 62.97% of this article left to read Lecture du Monde en cours sur un autre appareil Vous pouvez lire Le Monde sur un seul appareil à la fois Ce message s’affichera sur l’autre appareil Parce qu’une autre personne (ou vous) est en train de lire Le Monde avec ce compte sur un autre appareil Vous ne pouvez lire Le Monde que sur un seul appareil à la fois (ordinateur En cliquant sur « Continuer à lire ici » et en vous assurant que vous êtes la seule personne à consulter Le Monde avec ce compte Que se passera-t-il si vous continuez à lire ici Ce dernier restera connecté avec ce compte Vous pouvez vous connecter avec votre compte sur autant d’appareils que vous le souhaitez mais en les utilisant à des moments différents Nous vous conseillons de modifier votre mot de passe Votre abonnement n’autorise pas la lecture de cet article merci de contacter notre service commercial When presented with the opportunity to take a transition year Dublin-born Kate chose to take a leap of faith and sought out an experience away from the comforts of her home city she wanted to stay on track with her academics and ensure that she would be ready to begin her examination years once she returned home Saint-Denis International School is home to students from over 30 countries providing for a truly inclusive and international community Mind made up, Kate packed her bags and set off for the school. She was settled into an all-girls boarding house where she met her fellow classmates “I remember my first dinner at the dorms like it was yesterday,” she recalls fondly and we all talked about ourselves and where we were from The coolest part is all the girls I had dinner with that night are some of my best friends here at Saint-Denis.” Boarding houses at Saint-Denis are made up of a diverse mix of more than 350 French and foreign students hailing from over 30 countries. Head of American International Section Toby Webb credits the school’s international community to its bilingual curriculum which has attracted students and staff from a wide range of countries “We all get to encounter the world through multiple perspectives and cultures,” he shares “It is quite normal to walk through the playground and hear children speaking in French I think all this has an impact on everyone at the school “The first month flew by for me,” she shares This meant I was taking classes that were only in French as I had come to France with little to no French but I was lucky to have my friends at the dorm to relax with at night.” There’s never a dull moment at Saint-Denis International School where students are kept busy with academic classes Webb tells students to “expect a mass of activity.” “Saint-Denis is incredibly busy and it is impossible to keep track of everything that is happening throughout each day and each week,” he says but beyond that are a multitude of different clubs and other activities during lunch breaks and after school along with visits to other places in the area and far beyond!” students are surrounded by the enchanting Loire Valley a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s home to medieval castles “The beautiful architecture of the castles are unlike any other French village I have been to before,” Kate enthuses “I am given the opportunity to visit these castles and explore the gorgeous region of the Loire Valley through the school’s amazing French as a Foreign Language (FLE) programme.” Over weekends, international students are placed with host families, all of whom remain connected to the school in some way This allows students to gain a truly immersive French experience often in ways that are unique and eye-opening Saint-Denis International School is surrounded by a landscape that’s rich in culture inspiring students to realise their full potential this took the form of a small church concert in her host family’s village “That day I was feeling very tired,” she remembers but I was invited to this concert and I knew it was only polite to go I had never heard such beautiful pieces of music before If I was in Dublin I probably would have chosen not to go as I was so tired and would have missed out on this amazing experience.” her experience at Saint-Denis is one that Kate will never forget “I don’t know what my life would be like if I did not go to France,” she says “I have only been here for three months but I have learnt that there is more to life than my life in Dublin I have had so many new experiences that have helped me learn who I want to be.” For the second year in a row, Saint Denis won StudyTravel magazine’s European School Award they also renewed their French as a Second Language certification ensuring quality instruction for students coming from abroad with 25 years of experience Sound exciting? Apply for a position at Saint-Denis now or visit the school virtually The French media like to call him the “Indiana Jones of the graveyards,” but perhaps a better tag would be the Sherlock Holmes of forensic science With powerful microscopes and high-tech diagnostics that tease out chemical signatures and DNA telltales pathologist Philippe Charlier pores over centuries-old remains to probe the riddles of history He has determined that Vatican-authenticated bone fragments said to have come from Joan of Arc were in fact from a cat and an Egyptian mummy He has confirmed that a mummified heart came from the uncrowned boy French king Louis XVII He has crushed the folklore that said Napoleon was poisoned to death by his perfidious English captors Charlier made the shocking discovery that the 66-year-old had drunk an elixir of gold in what was apparently a desperate bid to keep her youth Now the scientist has turned his attentions to Richard the Lionheart hoping to use what is left of his famous ticker to learn more about the legendary 12th-century English monarch Charlier referred to his ancient subjects as “patients,” for which a forensic scientist gradually develops a doctor-like relationship Charlier used 3D imaging of a preserved skull to bring to life the face of French King Charles VII’s lover Agnes Sorel the first woman in French history to hold the title of official mistress but her death mask belied the pixie-like beauty for which she was famed in life The scientist’s analysis determined that Sorel had died of mercury poisoning an important ingredient of medical salts of the era Charlier’s laboratory is at the Raymond Poincare University Hospital in Garches it confirmed that a severed head long thought to belong to Henry IV was indeed his — a finding that is disputed by some from their tombs in the royal chapel at Saint-Denis in 1793 by revolutionaries The scientist is now examining a small sample of the heart of Richard I who ruled England from 1189 to his death in 1199 apparently from blood poisoning after he was shot with an arrow the relic comprises just a sprinkling of decomposed dust Charlier has taken “1mg or 2mg” of the precious remains and is carrying out chemical tests on them The results are likely to be unveiled in the next three months The goal is to find out more about 12th-century embalming — the practice was carried out by barbers or even cooks — and perhaps identify the germ that killed the warrior-king “We know virtually nothing about the [embalming] techniques of that time,” Charlier told the Parisien daily We want to get the maximum information from the smallest possible sample.” Richard is often described in textbooks as a pious leader brave soldier and a dashing man of letters but historians say this version masks a life of brutality He led the Third Crusade of the Christian world against Muslims who had captured Jerusalem in the 12th century He died at the age of 42 after being shot with a crossbow during a siege of the castle of Chalus-Chabrol in France 2011 in the French central city of Chanceau-pres-Loches Bettencourt Meyers, 71 has been on the board of directors for L’Oréal since 1997 and has been vice chairwoman since 2020 both of whom are also on the board of directors Bettencourt Meyers has written two books—a five-volume study of the Bible called “A Look at the Bible” and a genealogy of the Greek gods She is the president of her family’s philanthropic foundation which encourages French progress in the sciences and arts Bettencourt Meyers is the granddaughter of the founder of the L’Oréal cosmetics company and became its reigning heiress in 2017 Bettencourt Meyers’ inheritance was the subject of a sensational trial in France, in which eight people were found guilty of exploiting her mother including photographer Francois-Marie Banier who was given gifts worth hundreds of millions of dollars Liliane Bettencourt at one point named Banier her heir but it was later revealed she was exploited while suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease L’Oréal and the Bettencourt Meyers family jointly agreed to donate $226 million to repair Notre Dame Cathedral following the April 2019 fire Bettencourt Meyers was the 20th-wealthiest person in the world as of Thursday with an estimated net worth of $76.1 billion She is the second-richest woman in the world behind Alice Walton 15 on Thursday with a $110.9 billion net worth Look back on the week that was with hand-picked articles from Australia and around the world. Sign up to the Forbes Australia newsletter here or become a member here. I accept Forbes Australia's Terms and Privacy Policy Please check your inbox to confirm your subscription Get the magazine delivered with a Premium membership, find it at all good newsagents, or purchase previous issues online. Esther Marie LeBoeuf LeCompte, 79, a native and resident of Pointe-aux-Chenes, died at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to funeral time Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Montegut. Mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, with burial in St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery in Pointe-aux-Chenes. She is survived by two sons, Derryl LeCompte and wife, Carol, and Carol J. LeCompte and wife, Janelle; two daughters, Sandra Griffin and husband, Edward LeBoeuf; one sister, Thelma Dupre; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Willard LeCompte; her parents, Clairfey and Clothilde Naquin LeBoeuf; two sons, Kenneth and Glenn LeCompte; four brothers, Louby, Leon, Camile and Errol LeBoeuf; two sisters, Inez Authement and Lena Chauvin; and one great-grandson, Johnathon Egler. Samart Funeral Home of Houma is in charge of arrangements. PORTSMOUTH — Clotilde Magnant Straus, 88, of Pleasant Point, Portsmouth, died Sept. 21, 2007 at the Portsmouth Regional Hospital. Straus was born April 17, 1919 in Loches, France. She was the daughter of the late Guy Magnant and Therese (Riant) Magnant, and wife of the late Dr. David A. Straus. Straus earned a Master's degree in Botany at the University of Bordeaux and a Doctorate in Natural Sciences at the Sorbonne, a division of the University of Paris. Her doctorate, with research conducted at the Pasteur Institute, was one of the first to be awarded to a woman in France in the field of biochemistry. As a graduate student during the German occupation of Paris, Straus met her future husband, David Straus, who was an officer in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and a member of the American liberating forces. She often recalled, with great emotion, the day the American troops marched into Paris. Hearing of the imminent arrival of the Americans, she ran to the Eiffel Tower. From the top, she was among the first to see Gen. Eisenhower leading his army down the Champs Elysees to liberate the city. Straus immigrated to the United States in 1947 to marry, and proudly became a U.S. citizen in 1959. She never lost her gratitude to and love for America. After the war, the Strauses chose to settle in the Seacoast region based on their mutual love of nature, history, and their desire to live near the ocean. They moved to New Castle in 1949 and subsequently settled in Portsmouth in 1953. Although Straus gave up the pursuit of a career in biochemistry to raise a family, she ardently threw herself into studying the flora of New England. She quickly became known for her extensive knowledge of the plants of New Hampshire. For 26 years, Straus also served as the Portsmouth City Arborist. She helped direct the planting of over 2,000 trees and myriads of city flower gardens, including those that thrive today in Market Square. She retired in 2002 in order to devote herself full-time to the care of her husband. In 1985, Straus was named Conservationist of the Year by the Society for the Protection of N.H. Forests. She was a longstanding member of the Portsmouth Garden Club and was honored with the Marion Prince Hosmer Fellowship Award in 2003 for her "unstinting involvement in civic plantings in Portsmouth and the sharing of her extensive knowledge of native plants." In March 2002, Straus was honored by the City of Portsmouth with a proclamation hailing her as "a guiding light for the environmentalists of Portsmouth." Straus is survived by her son Prof. Lawrence G. Straus, of Albuquerque, N.M.; her daughters Elise Straus-Bowers, of Woolwich, Me., and Jessica Straus of Newton, Mass.; and five grandchildren, Eva Straus, Erika and Caitlin Straus-Bowers, and Nora and Isaiah Berson. She is also survived by her brother Dominique Magnant of Paris. A memorial gathering will be held at a future date. Donations can be made in Straus's honor to the Society for the Preservation of N.H. Forests at 54 Portsmouth St., Concord, NH 03301 or the David A. Straus Memorial Furthering Education Fund at The Edgewood Centre at 928 South St., Portsmouth 03801. The J. Verne Wood Funeral Home - Buckminster Chapel is assisting with arrangements. 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. Please sign in to your account to add a vehicle to favourite A Citroën 2CV made out of wood is on the point of getting official approval from the French authorities to be taken onto the road. It has been built by Michel Robillard, a retired cabinet maker, who spent six years lovingly crafting the car at his workshop near Loches in central France. This is not just a replica of the cars which for decades puttered up and down French country roads, it is a working vehicle complete with an engine. Eventually, M. Robillard hopes to display the car in an art gallery, the Local reported. He has already had approaches from people who would like to buy the car. Not only is the body made from Touraine fruitwood, but so is the grille and of course the interior, including the seats. The interior is pretty basic, much as the original model was. The wooden seat has been made slightly more comfortable with the addition of a cushion. M Robillard hopes his replica of a 1953 Citroen 2CV will hit the open road in the summer. DRIVEN Car Guide is the first stop for any Kiwi looking to buy their next car. With in-depth vehicle reviews, latest motoring news, car comparisons, and ask an expert - drivencarguide.co.nz has all you need to know to buy your next car. Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account LA LOCHE — Kevin Janvier was acting mayor of La Loche for 22 days before the remote Dene community became the location of Saskatchewan’s only school shooting but Janvier says his family understands his responsibilities as mayor that included rescheduling his Saturday plans to meet with members of the provincial government Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience And while 22 days may seem like not enough time to get one’s feet wet let alone guide a community through a tragedy Janvier has three years of deputy mayoral experience and a total of 10 years in local politics from which to draw as he helped his community through the first steps of healing after four people — a teacher an aide and two teenaged brothers — were killed in La Loche who cannot be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder This is something that should never happen anywhere,” Janvier says From this tragedy we’re going to come out stronger We’re going to learn from it and hopefully come up with solutions to prevent anything from happening again in La Loche.” has been a destination for politicians since the shooting have been a part of community meetings and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came to pay his respects “The spotlight is on La Loche and everybody looks at it,” Janvier says There’s no doubt in my mind that they’re not going to forget about us.” Sitting in the back office of his gas station Janvier describes the Dene people who make up the village’s population as strong and resilient he believed the high school had to be torn down We’ve got to continue what La Loche always did,” Janvier says transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account and the boys from La Loche are on the move Nobody breaks down tire tread like these kids from the boreal forest the provincial high school basketball championship who can walk down a school hall and execute a flip on his feet whose jump shot is the best in Saskatchewan Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. with that ritual he swears by: He drinks copious amounts of water two hours before a game takes a shower to keep the hydration going — storing it all up He arrived in La Loche seven years earlier from Dryden — just a few days before the switch flipped on the town’s first television and two years after direct-dial phones came along so when Julius tells Walter to cut to the basket for a pass Opponents have heard of La Loche only through whispers and rumours His father works a trapline and his mother sews mukluks and vests; they eat the game his dad brings home The three-point line hasn’t yet been implemented in Saskatchewan There’s no backspin after release; it just floats up and everybody assumes it’s hell on earth up there and seek out a skinny kid with a pipe-cleaner body the guy who’s writing this story 33 years later That Birch Hills Marauders bench is where I spend my afternoon bouncing up only when there’s a timeout and my hard-breathing teammates plunk down for a strategy session trying to answer this question: “What do we do with Julius?” If Julius and I were to engage in some one-on-one I’d require a year’s worth of trauma counselling in the aftermath But the closest we ever get is the post-game handshake which ends my cameo appearance in this story Julius pours 30 points onto our heads during a 71-63 win and the next day he scores 38 against Maple Creek La Loche wins the provincial basketball title “His shooting range,” my old high school coach guard Vincent Janvier recalls his enduring memory from that 76-44 gold-medal victory: A team manager jumps out of his shoes while leaping up and down on the La Loche bench at game’s end They’re the first all-aboriginal team to win a Saskatchewan hoops title since a residential school from Lebret captured girls gold in 1969 land at their respective homes several hours later His hair — uncut since his high school days — is wild and long as he lovingly fingers a team picture he hasn’t seen since he was a teenager when the room is dark and his eyes are closed He quit school early; spent years awash in alcohol abuse; has always wondered what would have happened if he’d stayed sober Janvier went back to school a few years ago and got his Grade 12 He works as a security guard at the local hospital “You were just grabbing the whole world in your hand “To accomplish something like that … it’s so good a La Loche teenager took a gun and shot a couple of kids in a house Blood had barely stopped flowing when reporters poured into the province sped through the forests and past the lakes into a place that even by Saskatchewan standards is remote works as a janitor at the adjacent elementary school minutes before everything came crashing down “I was in the other building,” says Vincent whose custom-made cellphone case is covered with photos of the victims “I was told there’s a shooting going on at the high school We had all the kids in the classrooms sit on the floor and so was teachers’ assistant Marie Janvier and La Loche was suddenly flashed into every household in the country The town’s troubles turned into an international talking point People linger aimlessly both inside and outside the town’s drinking establishments who moved to the town in 1976 after getting a job offer and looking it up on a map talk about the trouble and the trauma — but don’t forget the other side: There’s much to love about this town is an example of what’s possible in a far-flung community with limited resources and with the exception of Julius Park — who’s a teaching consultant in La Ronge — they’re all still in La Loche he owned a rubber soccer ball and a square milk crate Hatch opened things up for him when he got old enough to play at the school with a collegiate playing stint at Bowling Green in his rear-view mirror The team ran three different types of zone defences; their full-court press was a thing of beauty; their half-court trap deadly Players were drilled to dribble equally well with both hands because they knew most of their opponents couldn’t and they worked under the theory that you had to run as fast with the ball as without knowing fatigue would send them to their homes “It wasn’t all hugs with those guys,” Hatch says He made it clear to his players: If they acted up in the community They’d practise without balls two hours at a crack; they’d run and run “And when we were sick and tired of running and because nobody would come up to La Loche If a player didn’t have enough cash to buy food When he first started coaching in the late 1970s he bought a box of canvas Converse sneakers but the footwear challenge was never an easy one and you have to find decent shoes and clothes,” says Bruce Janvier and those runners you’d use the whole year and that’s how we started to achieve in basketball.” they didn’t have matching uniforms,” Yeaman said a while back when I called him to chat about that La Loche hoops team ‘They don’t even sweat!’ We didn’t take them seriously and he was right: There was no better-conditioned team anywhere in Saskatchewan They took on all comers; played big-city and small-town teams; logged highway mileage that would make an odometer sick That team environment … it’s what we did.” Julius — “the Steph Curry of the early ’80s,” Hatch calls him now — fouled out of a critical playoff game The opposing bench could be seen celebrating his departure Hatch called a timeout; moved Vincent Janvier from point guard to the right wing; shifted Walter Lemaigre to the point; Bruce Janvier was on the left wing “We got hot,” as Vincent Janvier puts it all these years later they heard a common refrain: We thought you had one player netting a crucial 23 against Birch Hills at Hoopla A local administrator with ties to Pennsylvania sent a Julius Park video to Slippery Rock University The world of American college hoops suddenly opened up “It would have been a culture shock for me coming from La Loche to a large city in the States,” he says now Julius’s gold medal from that season is gone; lost in a move He went on to a career in education — teaching in La Loche and now working as a consultant five hours away He specializes in aboriginal education and language and they’ll ask if he knows this old basketball player from there He arrived in La Loche the day after the shootings because there was no other place in the world to be “This is where my heart is: my community,” he said late last month while sitting in the same high school where chaos reigned several weeks earlier The gym that bears Hatch’s name is decorated with banners commemorating La Loche sports teams that won the province There’s some provincial wrestling championships awarded to the 2003 volleyball team at the conclusion of provincials The first one is that 1983 basketball banner That’s the one that showed La Loche kids how barriers could be crushed their uniforms have the town’s name emblazoned  proudly across the front says Hatch; their sports teams are an outreach “And we play for what’s on the front of that shirt and part of that is about trying to knock down those stereotypes people have of La Loche That 1983 squad was the first to break through Bruce Janvier is happy to tell anybody his story “If I see a few different people playing around the gym glancing down at the gold medal with rumpled ribbon he’s kept all these years This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy from graphic design and editing to marketing strategy all have one thing in common our love and passion for getting the right message out there Over the past 13 years the Platinum Weekly has cultivated a large readership in Rustenburg and the greater North West province resulting in our circulation figures being double that of our closest competitor Our inhouse distribution team makes use of the latest technology including GPS tracking and mapping to ensure our newspapers reach our target audience every week at a place and time convenient to them continuously turning the screws to optimise and reach dependable consistency in our distribution DISTRIBUTION AREAS: Rustenburg • Phokeng • Brits • Hartbeespoort • Mooinooi • Marikana • Kroondal • Koster • Swartruggens • Derby • Boshoek • Sun City • Mogwase • Moruleng   E-mail : news@platinumweekly.co.za | ads@platinumweekly.co.za © 2017 - All Rights with Platinum Weekly French teacher Philippe Connil braves the cold on a wintry Saturday morning to hand out leaflets urging shoppers in this sleepy provincial town to reject the European Union constitution We want a different one," Mr Connil says as he campaigns in Loches "I've come across people from all sorts of backgrounds who don't like the constitution." If Mr Connil is right - and opinion polls suggest he is - President Jacques Chirac faces a major battle to win support for the constitution in a referendum on May 29 and avert what could be a crisis at the heart of the EU Mr Connil and his fellow "No" supporters have been campaigning for months much longer than the conservative government which has only just cranked up its "Yes" campaign "Until now the "No" camp has dominated the scene and we have not seen much of the "Yes" camp," said Pascal Perrineau "There is little knowledge of what is in the constitution but there is big expectation of a debate" Mr Chirac is about to throw himself into the campaign with the aim of providing just that - a debate that explains the treaty agreed by EU leaders last year to make the Union function smoothly following its enlargement from 15 to 25 member states But alarm bells are already ringing across Europe Fears are growing that French voters could torpedo the treaty which needs the approval of all member states to go into force "We have to recognise that on the right and left we've begun the campaign badly," said Jean-Marc Ayrault a top member of the Socialist Party whose leadership also backs the constitution The "No" campaign has no obvious leader but opponents of the charter have been out campaigning for weeks Mr Connil and his left-wing allies in the Loire Valley an area that is home to many former royal castles have been travelling the region to explain why they oppose the constitution Their views feature on a website that appeals for "No" votes (www.appeldes200.net) features news from local groups opposing the constitution and advertises meetings about the treaty Their leaflets list reasons to reject the charter "I'm more worried about the economic consequences of the constitution than the political ones," Stephane Pipart Left-wing opponents say the treaty will not guarantee jobs and will dismantle social programmes that protect workers They fear public services will be dismantled ordinary people will have no say in monetary policy and that there will be less opportunity to improve workers' conditions and rights They also show every sign of being fed up with the way the EU has developed The government says there is no chance of renegotiating the treaty already the result of a compromise that took years to reach and that France will be less able to influence EU decisions if it rejects the charter a phase marked by uncertainty and a bad mood because French people have discovered that the enlargement of Europe has reduced France's influence," Industry Minister Patrick Devedjian said He said the treaty would increase France's voting strength in the EU and help it run smoothly Rejection would mean diplomatic isolation for France be decided in the last three weeks," Mr Devedjian said this week Ministers have now started going to the provinces to discuss the constitution books and booklets have appeared in bookshops and supermarkets and leaders have visited from other European countries to back the campaign decked out in the blue and gold of the EU flag It has a website on Europe (www.europe.gouv.fr) and a telephone hotline to answer questions about the treaty But is it too late to overtake the "No" campaign which opinion polls put from two to 10 percentage points ahead All the signs point in the wrong direction We probably erred by being over optimistic," said Pierre Lellouche a pro-constitution politician who believes the "Yes" camp started campaigning too late The government is trying to persuade people to think only about the merits of the constitution when voting But many voters see the referendum as a chance to let off steam over what they regard as the government's economic policy failures At a recent Paris rally of opponents of the constitution speaker after speaker criticised the government on issues such as education and health care reforms Little was said about what is in the constitution A campaign the government once seemed confident of winning has turned into a major battle please register for free or log in to your account.