NOTICE TO THIS EDITION. THE Editor of the 'Handbook for Travellers in France' requests that travellers who may, in the use of the Work, detect any faults or omissions which they can correct from personal knowledge, will have the kindness to mark them down on the spot and communicate to him a notice of the same, favouring him at the same time with their names-addressed to the care of Mr. Murray, Albemarle Street. They may be reminded that by such communications they are not merely furnishing the means of improving the Handbook, but are contributing to the benefit, information, and comfort of future travellers in general. No attention can be paid to letters from innkeepers in praise of their own houses. CAUTION TO TRAVELLERS.-By a recent Act of Parliament the introduction into England of foreign pirated Editions of the works of British authors, in which the copyright subsists, is totally prohibited. Travellers will therefore bear in mind that even a single copy is contraband, and is liable to seizure at the English Custom-house. CAUTION TO INNKEEPERS AND OTHERS.-The Editor of the Handbooks has learned from various quarters that a person or persons have of late been extorting money from innkeepers, tradespeople, artists, and others, on the Continent, under pretext of procuring recommendations and favourable notices of them and their establishments in the Handbooks for Travellers. The Editor, therefore, thinks proper to warn all whom it may concern, that recommendations in the Handbooks are not to be obtained by purchase, and that the persons alluded to are not only unauthorized by him, but are totally unknown to him. All those, therefore, who put confidence in such promises may rest assured that they will be defrauded of their money without attaining their object. English travellers are requested to explain this to innkeepers in remote situations, who are liable to become victims to such impositions. Notices to this effect have been inserted by the Editor in the principal English and foreign newspapers.-1847. NORMANDY, BRITTANY; THE RIVERS SEINE, LOIRE, RHÔNE, THEIR RAILWAYS AND ROADS. With Maps and Plans. EIGHTH EDITION, REVISED AND CORRECTED. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 246 1861. #67 The right of Translation is reserved. THE ENGLISH EDITIONS OF MURRAY'S HANDBOOKS MAY BE OBTAINED OF THE FOLLOWING AGENTS : AIX-LA CHAPELLE Germany, Holland, and Belgium. 1. A. MAYER. MULLER.-W. KIR BERGER.VAN BAK- MAX. KORNICKER. BADEN-BADEN D. R. MARX. ANTWERP A. DUNCKER. MUQUARDT. KIESSLING & CO.-FROMENT. A. BIELEFELD. BAEDEKER. A. BAEDEKER.-EISEN. ARNOLD. C. JÜGEL. GRATZ THE HAGUE HAMBURG DAMIAN & SORGE. HEIDELBERG. MOHR. PREFACE. THE Handbook for France, in its origin, plan, and arrangements, does not differ from the other Handbooks for Travellers, inasmuch as it is based on actual travels through the country, and on personal knowledge of the places described. When the Handbook first appeared, although there existed monographs and itineraries of many parts of the country, there did not exist in French or in any other language a complete guide-book to France. The author may claim credit for having opened, not only to his own countrymen, but to the French themselves, many new routes and districts of interest previously little known or visited. The Handbook was published before the construction of Railways in France, and since their commencement travelling has been in a transition state: the changes produced by these useful and gigantic enterprises have caused similar changes-involving much labour and time-in every succeeding Edition of this book. Exertions have been made to bring the information down to the date of the appearance of each Edition, as well as to correct and improve the book in every part, and to render the description of the districts not visited at first more trustworthy, by the testimony and experience of an actual eye-witness. There can be no doubt that many errors and imperfections remain ; and the Editor continues to invite Travellers to enable him to correct these by their own personal observations. The chapters into which the book is divided are arranged according to the ancient Provinces, as being less minute, more |