The great market (bon marché) is emblematic of all famous stores in Paris. Established in 1838, it wont last to be the first big store, a new commercial concept where the selling volume prevail over gross margin. The LVMH consortium bought the great market in 1984 and started to make agressive ads, coupled to a new commercial target: High luxury.

When the same consortium bought the Samaritaine, the intention wasn't the same...

note: Emile Zola, a famous french writer inspired from this universe to write "Au bonheur des dames".

The origin of the silver-lead mines Trémusson is Roman. It was already long pieces of Roman origin in the galleries. An excavation site has confirmed the original site, by the discovery of tiles to hook on both sides of the creek.

In the late 17th century, the English are precursors in the mining of nonferrous metals. They buy logging concessions in Britain. However, the site is still not exploited Trémuson. The concession is then awarded on 1 April 1732 to a Breton of Morlaix Guillotou of Kerver. Speculation around the precious metal is growing, which does not prevent the owner from going bankrupt due to a bad investment.

In 1740 the Mining Company of Lower Britain bought the concession. It will take 40 years to industrialize the mines. In 1782, more than 500 people work at the mine site. The size of the concession is over 90,000 hectares. It will never be fully exploited. At the end of the 19th century, the exploitation fall. The owners regularly change without success.

It was not until 1922 that the operation resumes. A laundry room is built on a hillside in 1924. She can wash the ore and the sort because the deposit is less rich than in ancient times. A year later, a foundry was built. The operation is successful for ten years, then the company suffers Dufourg the general crisis. In 1931, the mine was permanently closed. It will never be exploited.

Today, the mines are protected refuges for bats but the many miles of tunnels continue to drain the lead in the village by water infiltration. The villagers can not eat vegetables from their gardens or drink water polluted groundwater. There are remains of the laundry and the foundry behind the village.

source: patrimoine.region-bretagne.fr(FR)

Paper mills are based Landes November 8, 1927. At the time, the paper needs are important and France imports a lot of paper. The plant produces between 12 and 15 tons of paper. In 1934, the plant is in bankruptcy. Another company bought the paper industrial plant (pine cellulose). The mill changed its name to the company of stationers Roquefort.

At maximum activity, the factory employed 500 people in the manufacture of paper and kraft paper. In 1975, the company produces 125 tons of paper per day.

On June 28, 1978, the company ceases all activities and selling buildings. Other buildings are leased to small businesses. 20 years later, there were still huge abandoned buildings. Nobody made the decision to destroy them because it cost too much.

source: Website of Yves Roumazeilles(FR/EN)

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)

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 ...

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)