ARROMANCHES, a small town on the Normandy coast, not far from Caen. It
is about six miles from Bonneville, the scene of La Joie de Vivre.
ARTAUD (LES), a small village a few miles from Plassans (q.v.). Abbe
Mouret was its priest during the events related in La Faute de l’Abbe
Mouret.
ASSOMMOIR (Pere Colombe’s) was situated at the corner of Rue des
Poissonniers and Boulevard de Rochechouart, which is a continuation of
Boulevard de Clichy, in the northern district of Paris. L’Assommoir.
AUGUSTIN (RUE NEUVE SAINT), a street which joins the Avenue de l’Opera
a short distance from the Opera House. It is intersected by Rue
Michodiere, at the corner of which is situated Octave Mouret’s great
drapery establishment, known as “Au Bonheur des Dames.” Au Bonheur des
Dames.
BARENTIN, a small town on the Western Railway of France, about twelve
miles from Rouen. It was at a point between Barentin and the previous
station, Malaunay, that President Grandmorin was murdered by Roubaud. La
Bete Humaine.
BAZEILLES, a village about three miles south-east of Sedan (q.v.). It
was the scene of some of the most important events in La Debacle.
BEAUCE (LA), a fertile agricultural plain stretching between Chartres
and Orleans, and intersected by the road from the latter town to
Chateaudun. The district is the scene of La Terre.
BEAUMONT, a town of about 3000 inhabitants, picturesquely situated on
a height on the left bank of the Oise about twenty-five miles north of
Paris. Its church, the scene of some of the principal events in Le Reve,
is an interesting building, dating from the thirteenth century. Le Reve.
BONCOEUR (HOTEL) was situated in the Boulevard de la Chapelle (q.v.).
L’Assommoir.
BONNEVILLE, a village on the Normandy coast, about six miles from
Arromanches. It is in an extremely exposed position, and many houses
have been destroyed by the inroads of the sea. To prevent further
damage, Lazare Chanteau constructed a breakwater, which was, however,
washed away by the first storm. The inhabitants of the village were
mostly engaged in fishing. La Joie de Vivre.
BORDERIE (LA), a farm on the plain of La Beauce, which belonged to
Alexandre Hourdequin, whose father bought it after the Revolution. La
Terre.
CAEN, a town of about 40,000 inhabitants, situated on the River Orne,
about nine miles from the Normandy coast. Chanteau pere carried on
business there before he retired and went to live at Bonneville, and his
son Lazare received his education at its college. La Joie de Vivre.
CHALONS, a town of about 24,000 inhabitants, is situated on the Marne
107 miles east of Paris. It is the head-quarters of the Sixth Army
Corps, and was occupied by the Prussians in August, 1870. La Debacle.
CHAPELLE (BOULEVARD DE LA) is a continuation of the Boulevard de Clichy,
in the Montmartre district of Paris. In it was situated the Hotel
Boncoeur, where Lantier and Gervaise Macquart found lodgings when they
first came to Paris. L’Assommoir.
CHARLEVILLE, a town of about 17,000 inhabitants, situated about ten
miles north-west of Sedan. It is close to Mezieres, of which it really
forms the commercial and industrial portion. La Debacle.
CHARTRES, an important and interesting town, situated on the left bank
of the Eure, fifty-five miles south-west of Paris. It is the principal
town in the grain-producing district of La Beauce, and reference is
frequently made to it in La Terre. In it M. and Madame Charles Badeuil
carried on business for a number of years with considerable success. La
Terre.
CHATEAUDUN, a town of 7000 inhabitants, situated on the left bank of
the Loire, about eighty-four miles south-west of Paris. It is in the
district of La Beauce, and is frequently referred to in La Terre.
CHOISEUL (RUE DE), a street which connects the Boulevard des Italiens,
and Rue Neuve Saint-Augustin. It is parallel to Avenue de l’Opera and
Rue Michodiere, being slightly to the east of the latter. Pot-Bouille.
CLOYES, a market-town in the district of La Beauce, about seven
miles from Chateaudun and ninety-one miles south-west of Paris. It is
frequently referred to in La Terre.
CROIX DE MAUFRAS (LE), a level crossing on the Western Railway of
France, between Malaunay and Barentin, about nine miles west of Rouen.
The crossing, which was looked after by Misard and his daughter Flore,
was the scene of a terrible railway accident, and it was in the same
vicinity that President Grandmorin was murdered by Roubaud. La Bete
Humaine.
EAUX (PASSAGE DES), a steep lane which runs from Rue Raynouard at Passy
down to the Seine. In an old house which abutted on the passage lived
Mere Fetu, and in the same building was the room where Helene Grandjean
went to meet Doctor Deberle. Une Pate d’Amour.
GOUTTE D’OR (RUE DE LA), a street in the Montmartre district of Paris.
It enters from Rue des Poissonniers and runs parallel to and behind
Boulevard de la Chapelle, which is a continuation of Boulevard de
Clichy. The Coupeaus and the Lorilleux lived in Rue de la Goutte d’Or.
L’Assommoir.
HALLES CENTRALES (LES), the great provision markets of Paris, are
situated on the right bank of the river, and are directly north of the
Pont Neuf, from which they are not far distant. Le Ventre de Paris.
HAUSSMANN (BOULEVARD) runs from east to west a short distance behind the
Opera House. Its eastern end connects with the Boulevard des Italiens.
Nana.
HAVRE (LE), an important seaport, which forms the terminus of the
Western Railway of France, the line upon which Jacques Lantier was
employed as an engine-driver. The Roubauds lived at Le Havre, and many
of the principal scenes in La Bete Humaine were enacted there. La Bete
Humaine.
LAZARE (RUE SAINT-), is in the neighbourhood of the railway station of
the same name. In it was situated the Orviedo mansion, in which Aristide
Saccard started the Universal Bank. L’Argent.
LILLE, an important manufacturing town in the north of France, near
the Belgian frontier. Etienne Lantier was at one time employed in the
railway workshop there. Germinal.
MALAUNAY, a station on the Western Railway of France, six miles from
Rouen, and about midway between that town and Barentin. It is referred
to in La Bete Humaine.
MARBEUF (RUE), a street which connects the Avenue des Champs Elysees and
the Avenue de l’Alma. Eugene Rougon lived there. Son Excellence Eugene
Rougon.
MARCHIENNES, a town in the mining district of the north of France,
about thirty miles south-east of Lille. It is frequently referred to in
Germinal.
METZ, a town of 55,000 inhabitants, is situated on the Moselle, about
263 miles east of Paris and about eighty miles south-east of Sedan. It
was surrendered to the Prussians on 27th October, 1870, and is now the
capital of German Lorraine. La Debacle.
MEZIERES, a small town of 7000 inhabitants, situated on a peninsula
formed by the Meuse about ten miles north-west of Sedan. Its situation
has prevented its extension, and the closely adjoining town of
Charleville has become its commercial and industrial quarter. Mezieres
was three times invested during the Franco-Prussian War, and surrendered
on 2nd January, 1871, after a bombardment of three days. La Debacle.
MICHODIERE (RUE), a street which connects the Boulevard des Capucines
and the Rue Neuve Saint-Augustin. At the corner where it joins the
latter street was situated Octave Mouret’s great drapery establishment,
known as “Au Bonheur des Dames,” and in it also Baudu carried on
business. The street is almost parallel to the Avenue de l’Opera. Au
Bonheur des Dames.
MOINES (RUE DES) was situated at Batignolles, in the extreme north-west
of Paris. Madame Lerat lived there. L’Assommoir.
MONCEAU (RUE), a street which runs northward from Rue du Faubourg St.
Honore. It is a short distance to the north-east of the Arc de Triomphe,
and in it was situated Aristide Saccard’s magnificent mansion. La Curee.
MONTSOU, a mining village in the north of France, about ten kilometres
from Marchiennes (q.v.). It is the scene of many of the chief events in
Germinal.
ORLEANS, an important town situated on the Loire, seventy-five miles
south of Paris. It is referred to in La Terre and Nana.
PARADOU, the name of a neglected demesne near Plassans (q.v.). It was
the scene of a large part of La Faute de l’Abbe Mouret.
PLASSANS, the name under which Zola disguised his native town of Aix. It
is a place of about 30,000 inhabitants, and is situated eighteen miles
north of Marseilles. Aix was at one time the capital of Provence, is the
seat of an archbishop, and contains a university and an Ecole des Art et
Metiers.
In the Rougon-Macquart novels Zola made Plassans the cradle of an
imaginary family, and throughout the whole series of books the town is
constantly referred to. La Fortune des Rougon, etc.
RAUCOURT, a small town about six miles south of Sedan. It is frequently
referred to in La Debacle.
REIMS, an important town of 98,000 inhabitants, situated about 100 miles
to the north-east of Paris. In 1870-71 it was occupied by the Prussians,
who laid heavy requisitions upon it. The town is frequently referred to
in La Debacle.
REMILLY, a village about five miles south of Sedan. Old Fouchard’s farm
was situated in its vicinity. La Debacle.
ROUEN, an important town of over 100,000 inhabitants, situated on the
Seine, about eighty-seven miles from Paris and fifty-seven miles from Le
Havre. It was the scene of the judicial inquiry regarding the murder of
President Grandmorin. La Bete Humaine.
SEDAN, a town of 20,000 inhabitants, situated on the Meuse, about 170
miles north-east of Paris. It was the scene of one of the chief battles
of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, and capitulated to the Prussian
forces on 2nd September of that year. The town is frequently referred to
in La Debacle.
VALOGNES, a small town in Normandy, not far from Cherbourg. It was the
birthplace of Denise Baudu and her brothers. Au Bonheur des Dames.
VINEUSE (RUE DE), a street in the Passy district of Paris, at the
extreme west end of the city. It is near the Trocadero Palace. Madame
Helene Grandjean and Doctor Deberle both lived in this street. Une Page
d’Amour.
VOREUX, the name of a large coal-pit, situated about two kilometres
from Montsou, on the road between that village and Marchiennes (q.v.).
Germinal.