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Legends & heroes

Disaster in Deauville; the 1936 Grand Prix

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First published March 2016. After bankrupting the motor company he started, André Citroën could no longer afford to spend summers in Deauville.  For years he had rented one of the largest villas, the Villa Abeilles 'villa bees' for the season, gambling away small fortunes at the casino with the Aga Khan

The rampant ambition of Blanchard the balloonist, from Petit Andelys

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Le-Petit-Andelys-postcard

First published October 2017 Jean Pierre François Blanchard was born in Petit Andelys, the second son of an odd-job man, on July 4, 1753.  Perhaps the vast remains of Chateau Gaillard that tower above the town inspired him to the possibilities of human endeavour.  Whatever the cause, Jean Pierre was destined

Matilda’s gift, from Barfleur

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This post was first published in October 2017 In 1066 Matilda, wife of William, Duke of Normandy, commissioned a ship for a king. Her husband was still a Duke but she knew he would conquer that muddy country to the north. The ship was built in Barfleur and named Mora. Ship building

The fairy legend of Château de Gratot

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First published November 2016 There are many potential problems to think about when taking a fairy (or fée in French) for your wife.  The Lord of Argouges ignored them all that fine summer day when he spotted a young lady about to take a swim in a refreshing forest pool. She was

Genêts and the man who saved a million lives in WW1

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First published April 2017 A walk through Genêts took us to an old church and a very unusual memorial.  The memorial is for General Louis Auguste Adrian.  An understated man who probably saved more lives in WW1 than anyone else. A brilliant man with a modest background Louis was not a famous general, he could

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