Louis Renault is a talented engineer. He invented the direct transmission gear box and patented it in 1898. With his invention, he made a fortune and began a series of land acquisitions at Boulogne. Louis Renault bought the Ile Seguin in the late 20s. First it was supposed to be a recreation area for workers, it will eventually build a new plant next to existing ones. In November 1929, the new plant is inaugurated. Work will continue a few more years.

The Seguin Island plant is fully autonomous and ultra modern. The power plant is designed to operate with multiple fuels (coal or oil).

All the production of vehicles is centralized, but the engines are still being built across the Seine. Robert Doisneau tooked pictures of the spinning of asbestos, foundry metallurgical, workshop tire manufacturing, ...

In 1936, the Renault plant is a symbol of working class struggle with its largest concentration of strikers in France. His reputation will not be denied until the plant closure.

During WWII, the plant is working with the Nazis. Louis Renault gone to jail. The plant was nationalized and in 1947 the 4cv is the success of the National Board of the Renault. 10,000 workers employed on the island. 40,000 workers employed on the site.

During the events of 1968, the island is a symbol of unionism. Workers get more social advances.

The last models produced by the plant are the Super 5 and the Express (a commercial vehicle based on the Super 5). On March 31, 1992, the range and stops the plant closes, now too small to produce new models.

Abandoned the island to be destroyed. The yard is huge and companies are fighting for the tender. The main thing is forgotten: The site must be cleared. The power plant is full of asbestos and the entire basement of the island is bathed by many chemicals. While the plant was emptied in a few months, the destruction tooked 13 years.

source: Legag.com(FR)

The construction of the castle Regnéville-sur-Mer dates from the ninth century. The castle was the witness of many battles between French and English during the Hundred Years War. In the 17th century, the fortress was destroyed by order of Cardinal Richelieu. One wall of the castle flew to the bottom of the church. Today, there are only very little of the original castle (there is a tower collapsed at half) but this crypt is still beautifully preserved.

Overview of the site. The central building was designed by architects Raymond Lopez and Marcel Reby and was completed in 1959. It is a unique example of building completely dry mounted by the use of metal structures and features glass curtain walls are totally independent of the metal structure. It was added to the inventory of historical monuments, but the tribunal has overturned this ruling. For what? Selling appartments to freaks?

Hotel-Dieu d'Etampes is a hospital founded in 1195. In recent centuries, the hospital has been enlarged many times. But a new hospital Etampes, much more modern, is going to compete. In 1991 the hospital is closed. The clinical Juine Valley, near, will suffer the same fate ten years later.

Etis May 2001. Instead of allowing everyone the freedom to consult his conscience, in
Evins issues of faith, the Church has always felt the need to hold in trust, and
deprive any initiative even at times brilliant minds at first, but still
slave then, it has engulfed within it. This boldness comes from his claim
it has to possess all the lights of the Holy Spirit ...

The Hotel-Dieu in Lyon is a former hospital now completely empty but the roofs are a wonderful playground This was the first hospital in Lyon, built by the brothers Pontiffs in 1184.

The master dome of the fashion store (Printemps Haussman), built in 1923 by the glassworker master Briere is from the very beginning. The main store was established in 1865. After the good market (bon marché) but before the Samaritaine. This name is now a brand of twenty store in France. The owners are a german bank and a brand of luxury italian stores, also established in 1865.

All but three of the Kings of France are buried in the basilica.

From the lantern tower, where there is many bells. You can make you own bell concert, but not loudy please ;)

This part of the Romanesque cathedral but is used to support the flying buttresses of the Gothic part. The Notre Dame de Coutances has undergone several modifications over the centuries.