will perform its classic debut album in its entirety on the spring/summer 2025 European tour 1984 marks the 40th anniversary of the release of W.A.S.P.'s first LP play the entire album from top to bottom at headline shows across Europe will appear at a number of European festivals Tickets will go on sale on Friday, December 13 at 10 a.m. local time at WASPnation.com W.A.S.P. is again offering fans VIP tickets that give fans a chance to meet W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless, get a personal photo with Blackie, autographs and take part in a very personal question-and-answer session with Blackie. VIP tickets can be purchased at waspnation.myshopify.com Headlining shows performing debut album in its entirety: Netherlands - EffenaarJune 12 - Luxembourg Switzerland - Salle de l'AbeilleJuly 30 - Zurich Festival shows performing "greatest hits": June 06 - Mystic Festival - PolandJune 08 - Rock Hard Festival - GermanyJune 14 - Into The Grave - NetherlandsJuly 10 - Area 53 Festival - AustriaJuly 12 - Midalidare Open Air - BulgariaJuly 14 - Rockwave Festival - GreeceJuly 18 - Sun And Thunder Festival - SpainJuly 26 - Steelhouse Festival - WalesAugust 01 - Skogsröjet Festival - SwedenAugust 06 - Leyendas Del Rock Festival- SpainAugust 08 - Alcatraz Festival - Belgium kicked off the North American leg of the "Album ONE Alive" tour on October 26 at Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo Along with bassist Mike Duda and lead guitarist Doug Blair whose tenures in the band are 29 and 26 years respectively is joined by longtime drummer extraordinaire Aquiles Priester The 39-city run is making stops across North America in Vancouver Florida; and more before wrapping up on Saturday December 14 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles Because of the extensive back injuries Lawless suffered during the European leg of W.A.S.P.'s 40th-anniversary tour W.A.S.P.'s massive European leg of the 40th-anniversary world tour wrapped on May 18 tour in 10 years with a sold-out show on December 11 This marked the 18th sold-out shows for the U.S W.A.S.P.'s performances included the return of the band's classic song "Animal (Fuck Like a Beast)" which hadn't been played live in over 15 years W.A.S.P.'s latest release was "ReIdolized (The Soundtrack To The Crimson Idol)" It was a new version of the band's classic 1992 album "The Crimson Idol" which was re-recorded to accompany the movie of the same name to mark the 25th anniversary of the original LP's release The re-recorded version also features four songs missing from the original album W.A.S.P.'s most recent studio album of all-new original material was 2015's "Golgotha" During an appearance on a recent episode of "Talk Is Jericho" the podcast hosted by wrestling superstar and FOZZY frontman Chris Jericho Lawless was asked if he was surprised by the fan response to W.A.S.P.'s first couple of U.S starting with the fall 2022 trek and continuing with the ongoing 40th-anniversary tour And what I mean by that is you make the best records you can make but also when it comes time to do the tour This is not a cheap show that we do out here but this is not a situation where we do fly dates And we hope that the fans recognize that when they see what we do because we literally take a Broadway stage with us when we go if you wanna get technical — but we have two primary set changes you will see between the first half of the show and the second half of the show And it's just like seeing any other Broadway production if you would go to New York or something like that you've gotta spend the money to start with and to try to give people the best bang for the buck I still think that that's the best way to do it." Let's dare to stick our heads up above the crowd and say 'Look at me.' We've made a living doing it." Asked if that was his mindset was from day one back in 1984 when he first started writing the W.A.S.P you're talking about a band now that never had any intention of ever playing live you did not get record deals by playing live; you got record deals by making a great demo tape So what we did is we recorded three different versions of what would eventually become our first record Six weeks went by and we didn't hear anything long enough to know that at the six-week mark we talked amongst ourselves and we thought Why don't we take 'em out and play 'em live and see what kind of reaction we get?' Then we started asking ourselves You wanna stand there and look at your shoe tops and get arrested for loitering?' We had a very dark sense of humor We were going out to flat-out entertain ourselves and we would think up ideas and just start giggling there's a line between something that's outrageous and something that's ridiculous Blackie continued: "When I came up with the idea of the saw blades one of the guys that worked for us in the crew but it was also a woodworking shop — a huge And one day somebody had changed one of the saw blades There was a table saw that had a 12-inch saw blade on it And he took it out and he propped it up in the window he just set it in the window so he could get the new blade in place And I'm looking at it in the windowsill and I just started laughing 'This is either gonna be the greatest thing ever or I'm gonna get laughed out of town.' So that's where that line where you don't always know… We look back at it now and say why didn't you recognize that from the beginning?' Because sometimes you don't know until you test it on people and we did that with all those early props We didn't know what was gonna work and what didn't where history and fantastic legends mingle just passionate craftspeople showcasing their skills: historical and fantastic costumes toys made from recycled materials and much more will also welcome visitors to discover their creations Historical re-enactment enthusiasts will also be showcasing period military equipment a perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of knights and medieval battles Admission is free, and on-site catering is available to make the most of this warm and immersive medieval festival. A wonderful opportunity to experience a timeless journey through the heart of Vauréal Refer your establishment, click here Promote your event, click here *All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change The going will pose no problem to St James’s Place also-ran RYEHILL whose two wide-margin hunter chase wins have come on soft Big Interest was beaten over 20 lengths when fourth to the selection at Naas but can still be rated a good prospect in this category based on a fine win at Down Royal Hollow Games looks best of the remainder despite having finished behind Step Up Son at Gowran Handicap debutante MAJESTIC FORCE won on heavy ground over hurdles and has chase form linked to Sunday’s Grade 1 winner Spindleberry She could be progressive and is slightly preferred to Ballybawn Belter who ran well behind La Malmason (now 11lb higher) here in December and suffered interference at Leopardstown later that month Grade 1-winning juvenile hurdler Zenta has begun to get the hang of things over fences and could feature Welsh raider The Boola Boss arrives in good form and Secrecies Of Stone won handsomely at Leopardstown early last month but neither may cope with the ground as effectively as VAUREAL who reverts to handicap company after a satisfactory run in a beginners’ event on stable debut A maiden which may not take much winning and perhaps a good opportunity for KAINSBOURG (nap) whose previous runs have been in stronger maidens Baroness Orczy could improve plenty now upped in trip and Letos is considered on this ground Power Of Words is worth checking in the market on debut and if the track dries out This is a fair step up from winning a lowly Tramore maiden But FAIRYLAND OPERA had been competitive in handicaps over shorter trips before that win so she could be ahead of the handicapper at this longer distance with strong claims also held by Andy Amo and the unexposed Fishery Lane The Story So Far is worth monitoring closely in the market and Blue Mosque is another one to consider on her handicap debut Cian Collins won this race last year and holds a big chance again with Grand Annual winner Jazzy Matty running off a 17lb lower hurdles mark Top weight Joyeuse could be well treated and is greatly respected as is the unexposed handicap debutant Kalix Delabarriere but a chance is taken on SERIENMOND off a nice low weight He won going away on debut for Gavin Cromwell at Leopardstown and could well have more to offer The once-raced Hello Jean has a slight edge over Jo’s Secret on 2m Leopardstown running and holds an obvious chance with improvement likely over this trip A good case can be made for Lau And Shaz and Derryville on the grounds of experience and consistency it could pay to take a chance on debut point winner SOLDIERSTOWN PPB Counterparty Services Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority. For customers in the UK, PPB Counterparty Services Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission Fan-filmed video of former QUEENSRŸCHE frontman Geoff Tate's November 10 performance at Le Forum in Vauréal Joining Tate in his backing band are James Brown on guitar Jack Ross on bass and Danny Laverde on drums In a recent interview with Hall Around Town Radio Tate spoke about his heavy touring schedule at the age of 64 at least — where it's easy for you to keep doing it We try to take one day off to give the crew a rest we head over to Europe and Ireland in particular right after; I think we have three days off or something like that Regarding the high energy level of his live performances I have to sort of give credit to the audience The audience really pushes me over the top I try to kind of maintain a certain performance level but I can really be swayed by the audience because sometimes I'll just give in to… Like a Sunday-night crowd is oftentimes less energetic than a Saturday-night audience And I'm like everyone —I get kind of lulled in to the Sunday doldrums where you just want to like lay on the sofa and watch TV I've just sort of disciplined myself to do it Tate told Mike Hsu of the 100 FM The Pike radio station that he was "on the second round of writing" his autobiography Geoff celebrated his 64th birthday on January 14 during his concert at Amaturo Theater in Fort Lauderdale After Tate's current six-week tour of the United States he will embark on a European tour playing QUEENSRŸCHE's "Operation: Mindcrime" album in its entirety to celebrate its 35th anniversary in early 2024 for a co-headlining tour with VANDENBERG the band led by former WHITESNAKE guitarist Adrian Vandenberg Tate and QUEENSRŸCHE announced that a settlement had been reached after a nearly two-year legal battle where the singer sued over the rights to the QUEENSRŸCHE name after being fired in 2012 Tate was replaced in QUEENSRŸCHE by former CRIMSON GLORY singer Todd La Torre Tate underwent an aortic valve replacement at the Universitäts-Herzzentrum Freiburg-Bad Krozingen (University Heart Center Freiburg) in Bad Krozingen en concert ce Vendredi 10 Novembre au Forum Posted by Le Forum on Thursday, November 9, 2023 125km of hiking trails and way more deer than human residents Anticosti beckons the outdoor adventurer… as you’ll more likely hear it referred to in Quebec L’Île-d’Anticosti – for they’re enduring memory of the island,and they’ll undoubtedly say deer Despite having a history that spans over 447 million years demonstrated in its impressive fossil-rich coastline and riverbeds that have just gained it a place in UNESCO’s World Heritage List it’s the island’s more recent residents that prove (for non-geologists anyway) the most fascinating over time it has been inhabited by the Mi’kmaq incorporated into Newfoundland (on two occasions) and even eyed up by Nazi Germany as a strategic foot in North America – and that’s not even counting the pirates cannibals and sorcerers who are whispered about in local lore But it’s the era between 1895 and 1926 that has made the biggest impact on the island we see today – at least the one most visible to the untrained eye An abundance of deer live on Anticosti (Shutterstock) Fossils can be found around the island (Phoebe Smith) millionaire chocolatier Henri Menier purchased the island To create the largest private hunting destination in the world – and in a way he succeeded (today hunting is said to bring in excess of $10 million a year) home to a healthy population of black bear along with a small number of other mammals But within a couple of years he’d introduced a veritable menagerie of non-native critters – bison The latter predictably tore through the island eating everything in sight – including key food for the native black bear and many other species Which explains why this ‘bear island’ is now home to exactly zero ursine but 160,000 deer (and counting – the hunt of around 10,000 deer a year makes little more than a dent in the burgeoning population that has no natural predators to control it) – which outnumber the 200 human residents by 800 to one which at 225km long and 56km wide and is 50 percent bigger than the actual province of Prince Edward Island but going slow is mandatory due to the abundance of ungulates that greet you seemingly at every turn from the moment you leave the only settlement of Port Menier (home to a general store One road leads across the entire island east to west with smaller roads branching off to attractions either side Remains of Menier’s old chateau can be found to the west of the town and in Baie-Sainte-Claire there’s remains of two old wooden houses overlooking the river often circled by some of the resident bald eagles (the island is home to the largest concentration of them in Quebec) The island is a picture of beauty (Shutterstock) Further along the ‘Trans-Anticosti’ are the remains of a plane that crashed here in 1967 when it ran out of fuel and used the road as an emergency runway – all five onboard survived Whereas on the beach lies the wreckage of the Wilcox a supply ship that foundered in a storm in 1954 (again all survived which is rare in an area that’s claimed more than 400 vessels and thousands of lives) which was stumbled upon by a hunting guide in 1986; to Chute-Vaureal boasting a 76m drop (Niagara is just 57m) reached by a hike to its base on which you’ll wander amid limestone shelves chocked full of trace fossils of marine organisms from 400 million years ago it’s worth walking part of the Jupiter River – so clear it’s practically invisible and home to leaping salmon – then taking out the binoculars as you make your way along the coast to Chicotte-la-Mer where the resident seal colony can be viewed as well as groups of gannets and other sea birds be sure to check out the fossil in the making – a full skeleton of a blue whale just lying on the grass above the waves Shoreline along Anticosti island (Shutterstock) Location: Seemingly adrift in the Gulf of St Lawrence (at the point where the river of the same name lets out), between the Gaspe Peninsula and the Lower North Shore of Quebec, the island is reached either by seasonal ferry (MV Bella Desgagnés) or small plane from Havre-Saint-Pierre or Sept-Îles (takes around 30mins) both of which are a 2.5hour flight from Quebec City or 10 hour drive which on the island need to have special tyres to cope with the gravel and washboard roads as well as bars to protect from potential collisions with the many deer Accommodation:Options ranges from campsites, to cabins and ‘auberges’ (inns). These are all booked throughSepaq(the agency of the Quebec government that manages parks and reserves across the province) which offers 5 night packages including return flights from Mont-Joli Further info:For more about the island, maps and activities go totourismeanticosti.ca Sign up to our newsletter for free with the Wanderlust Club Online Reggae Magazine Cecil "Skelly" Spence and Lascelle "Wiss" Bulgin performed at Le Forum in Vauréal on June 10th First part of the event was the local artist Mary May and his band © 2007-2025 United Reggae. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. Read about copyright Terms of use | About us | Contact us | Authors | Newsletter | A-Z United Reggae is a free and independant magazine promoting reggae music and message since 2007 Former QUEENSRŸCHE and current OPERATION: MINDCRIME singer Geoff Tate was interviewed by Duke TV on March 24 in Vauréal Speaking about the audience's expectations from his music Tate said: "I kind of gave up trying to guess what people like a long time ago I think if you spend so much time trying to figure out what different people like you'll spend no time figuring out what you like you have to kind of follow what's interesting to you; that's what it's about I'm making music for myself and for what I like Tate also talked about how QUEENSRŸCHE embraced technological advancements in the early part of the band's career we were always kind of doing things our own way we never played live until we had a record deal So that was really unheard of; most people didn't do that We were on the cutting edge of a lot of technology development We were the first band ever to participate in an Internet broadcast We had separate management and record-company involvement We had agreements with our record company — they didn't tell us how to make music and we didn't tell 'em how to sell records; that kind of thing And that worked really well for a long time." He added: "I don't really have too many regrets other than perhaps financially I wish I would have invested in Microsoft earlier on [Laughs] It probably would take a little stress off to be financially independent." Tate will celebrate the 30th anniversary of QUEENSRŸCHE's landmark concept album "Operation: Mindcrime" by performing the LP in its entirety on a U.S His band features Kieran Robertson from Scotland on guitar Josh Watts from England on drums and Geoff Tate's daughter Emily She's also in the band TIL DEATH DO US PART RockNLive.org conducted an interview with with guitarist Klaus Eichstadt of reunited hard rockers UGLY KID JOE before the band's November 23 concert at Le Forum in Vauréal which was originally released independently last year plus three bonus acoustic tracks and a special bonus DVD including the 2012 Download festival concert two new video clips and a "making-of" segment "Stairway To Hell" heralds UGLY KID JOE's return containing songs spanning the full repertoire of influences which made the band one of the prime soundtracks for young snowboarders grooving and grinding its hips seductively the melodic power-fueled darkness of "No One Survives" or the irrepressibly memorable chug-and-chorus of "I'm Alright" it's clear that UGLY KID JOE have everything they started with plus fatter chops and a (frankly) superior curve on songwriting we were excited to prove ourselves with our new Sometimes we'd leave 'Cat's In The Cradle' or 'Everything About You' out of the set That was understandable in the sense of wanting to prove ourselves — it was also childish They're part of our dynamic and our history." UGLY KID JOE released three full-length albums and toured extensively throughout the 1990s before disbanding in 1997 TV Rock Live conducted an interview with former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach on June 28 at Le Forum in Vauréal A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET) I don't understand how… I've been playing rock and roll for There are [other] singers that can [also] do that because I feel what is in his crazy ficking mind On his need to be totally into the music that he is performing: Bach: "If I don't believe in the words and the song I can't sing it… If I don't believe a hundred percent and we were working on a song that I didn't like Try to be part of the team.' So then I walk up to the mic I'm sorry.' [Laughs] I didn't get into a rock band to sing music that I don't like." Bach: "Part of my personality is that I'm either all or nothing I either totally love something or… I just said that in my last question… it's either all of nothing And I love [my fiancée] Minnie [Gupta]; I really love her And she tells me sometimes that I love her so much that I push her away You're like an avalanche.' She uses that word as a verb to me 'You're avalanching me.' [Laughs] And I was Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Thiruvalluvar statue is a "beautiful testament to our shared cultural bonds" was inaugurated in the French town of Cergy on Sunday Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the statue is a “beautiful testament to our shared cultural bonds” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the inauguration of the statue “implements” an assurance given by the prime minister during his visit to Paris for Bastille Day in July “The inauguration of Thiruvalluvar statue in Cergy France today implements PM @narendramodi’s assurance given during his visit for the Bastille day,” he said on X “The statue will be guide to many to follow Thiruvalluvar’s noble thoughts and is yet another symbol of our long-standing cultural links a key pillar of India-French friendship,” Jaishankar said The inauguration of Thiruvalluvar statue in Cergy, France today implements PM @narendramodi’s assurance given during his visit for the Bastille day The statue will be guide to many to follow Thiruvalluvar’s noble thoughts and is yet another symbol of our long-standing cultural… https://t.co/tPyF1jrRPo — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 10, 2023 India’s envoy to France Jawed Ashraf also mentioned the inauguration of the statue in a post on X Fulfilling an assurance given by PM @narendramodi in Paris on July 13 Inaugurated Thiruvalluvar statue in Cergy near Paris, gifted by Tamil Cultural Association France, with Mayor @Jp_jeandon, Minister K Laxminarayan from Puducherry, Governor of Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. pic.twitter.com/EQvs6VRiUJ — Jawed Ashraf (@JawedAshraf5) December 10, 2023 “Fulfilling an assurance given by PM @narendramodi in Paris on July 13 Inaugurated Thiruvalluvar statue in Cergy near Paris gifted by Tamil Cultural Association France Governor of Eastern Province of Sri Lanka,” he said Jean-Paul Jeandon shared some pictures of the statue on X — Jean-Paul Jeandon (@Jp_Jeandon) December 9, 2023 France is a beautiful testament to our shared cultural bonds Thiruvalluvar stands tall as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge His writings motivate millions across the world.” Thiruvalluvar statue in Cergy, France is a beautiful testament to our shared cultural bonds. Thiruvalluvar stands tall as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge. His writings motivate millions across the world. https://t.co/yaDbtXpOzb pic.twitter.com/UJiX5k5myW — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 10, 2023 and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed Published ${response.data.published_date} ⚊ Updated ${response.data.updated_date} This article was published more than 3 years ago Keep up to date with the weekly Sightseer newsletter. Sign up today The hamlet of Port-Menier is the only settlement on Anticosti Island.Carole Jobin/Supplied initially departing by plane from Montreal with a stop in Quebec City to pick up more passengers reminded me that we were heading to an isolated part of the province the island’s only populated hamlet with just more than 200 residents as mostly only hunters and fishers know this place as French chocolatier Henri Menier introduced the animal including the patio of Auberge Port-Menier Deer were introduced to Port-Menier by a French chocolatier which is 1½ times the size of Prince Edward Island Hiking along Sentier des Télégraphes trail a massive bay of turquoise water flanked by huge cliffs The best way to see the massive natural wonders here is by vehicle has guides who will take you on hikes to various falls and surrounding canyons in day-long excursions Should you want to explore the island on your own and all the areas you’ll need to see are close to Port-Menier Within the town site are the remains of the Château Menier where Henri Menier built an impressive manor to amuse and house his wealthy guests at the turn of the 19th century the charred foundations that remain are part of a public campground And much of the island’s past can be observed within bike range Visitors can see abandoned Acadian villages remains of shipwrecks and fossilized cliffs You’ll want to make time to see the fossils up close especially along the cliffs between Anse-aux-Fraises and Cap de la Vache-Qui-Pisse there is no shortage of fossils – the area is the best place in the world to see the results of the first extinction of life on earth and a UNESCO World Heritage site bid for the island is now being considered Tourists are allowed to pocket up to five small fossils that have fallen to the base of the cliffs and their atmosphere is often other worldly consider adding the following to your list remains of shipwrecks and fossilized cliffs on the islands.Carole Jobin/Supplied The organization did not review or approve this story Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Non-subscribers can read and sort comments but will not be able to engage with them in any way. Click here to subscribe If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff We aim to create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate If you do not see your comment posted immediately it is being reviewed by the moderation team and may appear shortly We aim to have all comments reviewed in a timely manner Comments that violate our community guidelines will not be posted UPDATED: Read our community guidelines here We have closed comments on this story for legal reasons or for abuse. For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions RockNLive.org conducted an interview with California rockers Y&T when the band performed at Le Forum in in Vauréal was released in November 2012 via Frontiers Records Following original bassist Phil Kennemore's untimely passing from lung cancer in early 2011 the band carried on the legacy that is Y&T Y&T prove their continued strength with "Live At The Mystic" a double live CD recorded at the legendary Mystic Theatre in Petaluma one of the most popular venues that Y&T play every year The two-CD set includes 22 songs recorded over two nights in November 2011 including many tracks never before released on any other live Y&T CD The amazing heat to the tracks showcases the power of the band as it currently sounds playing songs from "Facemelter" as well as all the hits and fan favorites with its extended solo section of John Nymann and myself tearing into a nearly three-minute back-and-forth solo was especially a great performance," said guitarist/vocalist Dave Meniketti many of the classic tunes like 'Black Tiger' 'Don't Wanna Lose' and 'Mean Streak' were very well played and show some of the best live performances of these songs we've ever recorded But I also feel strongly about our more mastered performances from our latest 'Facemelter' CD The energy and much more refined versions of these songs now that we've really had some time to hone in the vibe of these tunes make it that much more special of a live recording." an occasional roundup of the best Heavy Metal News features and pictures curated by our global MetalTalk team MetalTalk is Europe's leading independent Heavy Metal news publication For more details, contact Steve Ritchie at Editor@MetalTalk.Net is owned and managed by MetalTalk and must not be used elsewhere without written permission The Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days) take place this weekend, September 21 and 22, 2024! These special days, celebrated all over France, open the door to the rich history of our heritage, revealing the hidden treasures of our towns and villages. And Sarcelles is no exception with a whole host of visits and events to mark the occasion Sarcelles, located in the Val-d'Oise département Its history dates back to Merovingian times and over the centuries Sarcelles has transformed itself From its ancient Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul church to the remnants of its rural past the town offers a striking panorama of urban and cultural evolution le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles This page may contain AI-assisted elements, more information here For the Journées du Patrimoine 2024, the Observatoire de Paris An exceptional heritage and unique observation facilities await you to discover alongside the astronomers A prestigious and historic site dedicated to astronomy and scientific research the Paris Observatory was founded in 1667 and is one of the oldest observatories in the world It houses majestic buildings and ancient astronomical instruments offering the curious a fantastic plunge into the history of astronomy astronomical clocks and celestial globes are just some of the period scientific instruments that visitors can admire the Observatoire de Paris also continues to be a center for research and training in astronomy and astrophysics Scientists of international renown carry out advanced research here contributing to our understanding of the universe and its mysteries the meridian and equatorial telescopes in the gardens the Grande Galerie and its antique instruments the monumental Meridian room known as the"Cassini room" the panoramic terrace with its breathtaking view over Paris the Arago dome and its large astronomical telescope dating from 1855