Browsing
through Bradshaw’s Continental Railway Guide (1913 edition), I am struck once again
by the temporary nature of things. Bradshaw devotes barely two lines to Mont St
Michel and St Tropez whereas Sedan merits 12 lines. Mont St Michel is today part
of UNESCO World Heritage and of course St Tropez attracts the jet set in huge numbers.
Sedan,
by way of contrast, is a shadow of its former self. When Bradshaw wrote his guide, the Battle of Sedan was fresh in everyone’s memory: “A once strongly fortified town,
known for the battle and capitulation of September 1 and 2, 1870. A pleasant place,
with prosperous cloth manufacture…”
Why
do I mention this? Because our daughter has recently been appointed Sub-Prefect
for Sedan! She takes up her post tomorrow.
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