First steps in quarry until his last run, each cataphile notes an improvement in his behavior in the undergrounds. The route passes through several phases where his attitude toward the place, other individuals and especially in relation to itself will evolve.

Step 1: The disease of quarries.

It starts with a proposed descent. Through a friend or media, the neophyte becomes aware of the existence of a city under the city. Torn between the desire for exoticism and fear of the unknown, he went to the rendez-vous. In front of a bar or in front a subway, a diverse group waiting for him. They have all worn and dirty uniforms, each carrying packs of beer in hand, the other monstrous sacks on their shoulders. During the walk to the quarry, the main game is to scare again, both by sadism but also to test it and avoid it falters once inside.

Because everyone knows the strange disease that threatens the neophyte: The disease of quarries. As one who fears seasick when he sets foot on a boat, the apprentice will distressed by the entrance of the cave. Only after twenty meters underground to think he tons of rocks that overlook and threaten. Add to that the narrowness of the galleries, the disorientation and the inability to find the exit in this hellish labyrinth and you get a malaise that will fade with the times. At the exit, greatly relieved to be whole, the beginner will be happy to have survived such an adventure. Most will never return and not deviate from the quarry. Some however will want to repeat the experience and come away with the attack of subterranean depths.

Step 2: Thirst discovery.

Finally, the long-awaited map is formally placed in the hands trembling with emotion of the beginners. The first explorations where the latter takes the responsibility for guiding difficult: The errors and half-turns are frequent. Few were self-taught in this area, learning to move in an underground quarry is not obvious. But the excitement of discovering a new world is huge: There are so many things to see that often runs beyond the required time. At this stage, the cataphile often integrates a group of friends who will evolve. This is the beginning for some the desire to be recognized by his peers.

The tunnel entrance of the small ring in the Parc Montsouris.

The creation of a railway track near Paris was decided in 1851. Very quickly, the main stations of Paris are linked, including that of Bercy. In 1867, the loop is completed.

Following the increase in passenger traffic on the subway, going to the inner ring decreases. In 1934, there is more train traveler. Only freight trains. In 1993, the entire line is abandoned, with the exception of the line that runs along the banks of the Seine, used by commuter trains.

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)

The Degond factory is one of the oldest factories of Longueville. She moved strategically close to the station after the track railway completed. It will employ up to 800 people in the village of Longueville and surrounding areas in manufacturing seamless tubes by stretching, before closing in 2003.

The decontamination and demolition of the site would cost more than 5 million euros. The company had already been convicted in the 1990s due to pollution of the river near the village: The Voulzie. Concentrations of hydrocarbons and chlorinated compounds detected in 2007 are still worrisome.

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).

The sky train, the train on air cushion. Bertin The company developed several prototypes of this type of train. The test tracks were built in 1965. The smallest to the Gometz Chatel and the largest near Orleans, over 20 kilometers long.

The concrete track is shaped like an inverted T. The world record speed for a vehicle air-cushion was established March 5, 1974. The record speed is 430 km / h. In June 1974, the company Bertin sign a contract for the construction of a high-speed line between the town of Cergy and business district "La Défense". A few months later, the French government reversed its decision and abandon the project.

The failure of the project has several assumptions:
- The oil crisis of 1973.
- Lobbying by the company National Railways (SNCF) and the metallurgic industry.

The engineer Jean Bertin died December 21, 1975. In 1978, the permanent cessation of testing. The prototypes are still 14 years in the hangar. Then the hangar is the victim of arson. The test track Gometz le Châtel no longer exists. It has been replaced by a tunnel bypass to relieve the downtown traffic jams.

Orleans-Saran line still dominates the fields of the campaign. That would be too expensive to demolish it, especially since it nobody.

source: Wikipedia

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.

A plaque engraved in underground quarries of Paris.

Railway extended Sceaux in Paris.
The consolidation of existing quarries in the way
railway was begun February 25, 1892
under the direction of Mr. O. KELLER
Chief Engineer of Mines Inspector General of Quarries.
by G. HUMBERT mining engineer
and completed on 1 May 1893

Quarry of Roussillon. Located in the middle of Provence, ocher quarries of Roussillon have a unique landscape in France. They are called the Colorado Provencal. Ochre of Roussillon is 90% sand and 10% clay and pigments of goethite. Formerly used by humans 15,000 years ago, the ochres are still used in the art world.

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)