As my blog is part wholly of my life, let me tell you about a place I worked for a couple of years and still with good friends in touch even coming for visits to me in my new Morbihan. I like to tell you about Suresnes, Hauts de Seine dept 92 in the Île de France region of my belle France. And of course from Suresnes why not drive into the Bois de Boulogne! I found me new pictures in my vault and prompt me to do another post on this fine city by the Seine river ! All nice memories flashing as I write, never to be forgotten.
The Pont de Suresnes is over the Seine river. It connects the Bois de Boulogne (Paris 75) to the city of Suresnes (Hauts-de-Seine 92). Four bridges have existed here before, the suspension bridge (1842-1870), the boat bridge (1870-1874), the metal bridge (1874-1950) and the current bridge since the latter date. Historically, the only way to cross the Seine at Suresnes was by ferry. The oldest mention of this type of flat-bottomed boat in Suresnes dates back to 1590. On the Suresnes side, the bridge outlet is now directly with the current Boulevard Henri-Sellier (old Versailles), a much more important communication route. It also overlooks the platforms which are perpendicular to it, access ramps being fitted out to connect the tracks together. The new bridge was erected upstream of the old bridge. It was inaugurated on February 22, 1951. At this point, the Seine is bordered on the Bois de Boulogne side by the Allée du Bord-de-l’Eau, and on the Suresnes side by Quai Gallieni and Quai Léon-Blum. The bridge extends the bd Henri-Sellier, at the exit of which side lanes provide access to the quays. On the side of the Bois de Boulogne, the bridge, which follows the route of the old national road 185 now departamental D 985, is in the axis of the road to Suresnes.
The barrage-écluse de Suresnes or dam-lock of Suresnes is a river building located on the Seine at Suresnes (Hauts-de-Seine 92 ), along the Quai Gallieni. It is made up of three locks and two dams, the latter being separated by the island of Puteaux. On December 6, 1861, the prefect (Baron) Haussmann signed an investigation to create a dam in Suresnes; the construction of a lock and a fixed weir, the work of which was completed around 1869. On April 6, 1878, a law was passed to carry out major works improving navigation between Paris and Rouen. The Suresnes lock must therefore be modified, the Suresnes dam is rebuilt and that of Neuilly is replaced by another on the right arm of Suresnes. To do this, on the Suresnes side, you have to encroach on the towpath, move the lock keeper’s house and expropriate land from residents. The work, carried out from 1880 to 1885, led to the extension of the old lock by 57 meters and the construction of a second one 180 meters long.
A spillway 66 meters wide and divided into two passes of 30.5 meters, separated by a stack of five meters, was thus built from 1930 to 1933, A new section was built in 1972 along the first locks and through the dam, This lock is 185 meters long, 18 meters wide and 5 meters deep. Nowadays, the dams and the lock are fully automated. It is the only river gateway to Paris. The Suresnes dam-lock has a command post controlling the 17 km of the Seine which separates it from that of Maisons-Alfort (Val-de-Marne 94). it is also responsible for protecting Paris from flooding during floods.
The city of Suresnes on its heritage : https://www.suresnes.fr/ma-ville/decouvrir/patrimoine/
The Suresnes tourist office on its heritage : https://en.suresnes-tourisme.com/heritage-suresnes.html
The Suresnes magazine on historical facts I like : https://suresnes-mag.fr/categorie-decouvrir/histoires-suresnoises/
There you go folks, hope you stop by ; this is a very nice area of Suresnes, in the off the beaten path of my belle France. The best part was coming back and seeing the familiar places still open! Luck will have it will come back when possible.
And remember, happy travels, good health and many cheers to all!!!
Leave a Reply