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)

Aquatic center abandoned of Chevry

In 1987, the council is negotiating with Compagnie Generale des Eaux construction of an aquatic center. In 1988, the new aquatic center is opened. The private company obtains a contract of 30 years, with the obligation to provide a public service for city schools.

After four years of operating deficits, the company Aqualand calls for an end of the concession January 31, 1993.

On 1 February 1993, the mayor bought the equipment and Aqualand becomes Aquagif.

Until 1997, the institution's financial health is sound. From 1998, a report from the Audit Office highlights a deterioration brought on by poor weather, increased personnel costs and expenses of heating and hot water (IFR200240 report).

The report also states that the municipality has used various means to hide the difficulties of the institution (Former Mayor Robert Trimbach will defend itself in its response to the use of a policy of long-term. IFO27010301 Report.)

Summer is the period which brings the most money and serves to balance the books. However, in May 2002, just before the summer, the aquatic center closes down.

An auction should take place but the building was battered scrap dealers. Christmas 2003, when the building is almost completely demolished, one can still see all the devices in the gym, ready to be thrown in the trash.

source: report of the Court of Auditors IFR200240(FR) and IFO27010301(FR)

In 1870, France is partly occupied by Prussian armies. Following this defeat, it sets up the Sere de Rivières system that allows for the construction of fortifications to defend Paris. It is in this context that the High Fort Buc was built. Work began in August 1874 and ended in 1880.

The Fort High Buc is part of an ensemble of two forts, Fort Villeras located in Saclay and Fort High Buc, and smaller peripheral structures.

From 1979 to 1995, the arms company Thomson amends hard to build a missile factory. The book is sometimes used by the national police, to conduct trainings in combat.

In 2010, the city has opened a contest for best restoration project site.

This room was called the Grand Rex because of his height and the sloping floor in tiers remembers a famous parisian movie theater. In winter, there are many bats in this quarry, thank you not to disturb them!

In the first series of work, caretaking had significantly increased, following numerous visits from people not covert. They finally opted to remove the tarps. Thus, the guards could easily see people climbing. This photo was taken the day before the parade of July 14, 2006. The lack of cover in no way hampered the ascent to the summit.

On an inflatable mattress in the underground lakes of Triel / Seine. Warning! In this quarry, the oxygen is reduced. Do not go without air analyzer, please.

The limestone quarry of Chanaz is a smaller operating on three levels. The ceiling height is between 5 and 10m. Sometimes, holes in the floor let you see underground levels.

The network size is almost 4km developed. It was exploited from 1860 to the end of the Second World War to make cement. Portions was reused as mushroom farm thereafter (row crops and cultures in bags).

In this photo taken at the highest level, we see the intermediate level, row crop bottom right and even two holes overlooking the lower level. This is the most impressive part of the network with large volumes!

One of the many leaflets Claustrophile long to read.

I feel lonely. Sitting on the edge of a puddle, waiting night after night came from an image, even furtive, which will warm my frozen heart. Boredom is deadly but I am perhaps more myself.
I do not control my movements. It seems I am doomed to remain motionless near the puddle. I can sit there, going to bed at the top in every sense, to slip under the surface. But I can not go away. Several weeks have passed already, maybe more. I lost track of time. I also lost touch and smell.

It all began one evening in July, right here. I rode north through here. I walked into the puddle and I did not immediately understood what was abnormal about it opposed the reaction to my muddy boots. In retracing my steps that I understood, without understanding anything beyond. The water that I had defiled was perfectly clear! I did another test, stirring the surface with my dirty soles. But water does not disturb and do not wash my boot. Worse, it penetrated the boot but no step had resulted. I started to jump in with both feet, there was no splash. I thought mad.
I think when I last had committed error in allowing my curiosity until that train was going to lose. I squatted and I plunged his hand into the water. I could see through transparency, I felt the cold touch and wet. But the water do not wobble. If I was raising in my palm and I let her run, she immediately incorporated the puddle remained perfectly motionless. I was scared.
But after a few minutes I emerged reflects a man who looked at me. I was scared to see it without having heard it, but it was nothing of the horror that awaited me next. Because when I turned around there was nobody behind me. This man existed only in reflection. And only in this puddle. I saw him once. It was already too late.
I was terrified. The stranger in the mirror and spoke agitated, as if trying to tell me something. But he remained silent to my ears. I panicked. I wanted to run but I was so scared I did not notice the sky of the quarry. I myself am hit with unprecedented violence. I think the shock was fatal.
Where I felt back up, I saw myself lying with his head in a puddle of blood flowing to the puddle of water. But when I looked at the puddle that is me that I could not see. I had no reflection.
The body was lying nearby was finally identified but it was not mine wearing my clothing and my backpack.
It was the man I saw in the reflection! He set off again in flesh and blood, for me, leaving me alone and trapped in my fate! I could not even follow him, as if the puddle of water had been magnetized. Since I am still waiting in the darkness, someone realizes that the puddle is still ...

Maybe you than I expected. You who picked up this pamphlet, a little better scans the surface of the water ...

Like many industrial buildings, the warehouses of the ICC (International Chamber of Commerce and Industry) have been constructed to withstand heavy loads. Both buildings have followed the trend of increasing concrete, early twentieth century. In the manner of some cathedrals, the lower floors boast a strong and massive concrete pillars whose diameter decreases gradually with height in stages. This is especially evident when one observes the facade from below.

Originally, these warehouses were used to store grain and flour. In taking possession in 1929, the ICC enjoys a strategic investment (The Ourcq channel, railway) and modernized the building to add elevators, more capable than the old mobile cranes to the variety of Goods transiting.

Note: This building was the setting for the movie Dobermann by Jan Kounen (nightclub on the docks).

In the underground quarry Ouache in Saint-Maximin. A red writing on the wall: Towards sites.