Henry Darcy's Legacy in Dijon and Paris:
Public Fountains and the Railroad

27 August–2 September 2006
Paris and Dijon, France

Henry Darcy (1803-1856) is best known for his law on groundwater movement through porous media published in 1856 in Les Fontaines publiques de la ville de Dijon (The Public Fountains of the City of Dijon).

Henry Darcy was born in Dijon and spent most of his life there working as an engineer in the elite Corps of Bridges and Roads. While in Dijon, he made significant contributions to public health and the economy. He conceived and built the water supply system of Dijon in the 1830s and 1840s. During the 1840s, he proposed constructing a 4.1 km tunnel to connect the Seine and Rhone river basins to route the Paris-Lyons railroad through Dijon, and vigorously promoted and defended his proposal in the legislature in Paris. After his plan was selected, he supervised construction of the tunnel in 1845-1846.

Aside from Darcy’s Law, Darcy made other significant contributions to civil and hydraulic engineering. During his assignment to Paris as Director of Municipal Services in the 1850s, he conducted research on water flow through pipes and determined the effects of different pipe materials, diameters and internal roughness. The open channel research he conducted with Henry Bazin on the Burgundy Canal is acknowledged in the Darcy-Weisbach equation. The open channel research and the Darcy’s Law experiments were conducted after Darcy had retired to Dijon on disability in 1855.

 ITINERARY

DAY 1: Sunday, 27 August: ARRIVAL IN PARIS

• Accommodation at The Relais Saint Jacques (4 stars):
  The Relais Saint-Jacques is situated near the heart of the Latin Quarter, a few steps away from the Luxembourg gardens, the Pantheon and the Royal Chapel of Val de Grâce. The hotel is completely air-conditioned with full amenities in the rooms.
  The Relais Saint Jacques also offers:
  > An American buffet breakfast
  > A Continental breakfast served in your room.
  > Money exchange, Reservations.
  > Weather forecast in rooms
  > Business centre open 24 hours
  > Room service 24/24 hours
  > A 1925 style bar with famous red wines, cocktails.
  > High speed internet wireless access (WI-FI network) in all rooms and at the Louis XV lounge.
  > Laundry service
  > Airport shuttle available at extra cost
• Dinner on your own
• Overnight in Paris

DAY 2: Monday, 28 August: PARIS

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Morning PARIS sightseeing with a coach available until 11.30 am. Transfer from the hotel to the Chaillot Palace for a walking tour of Darcy sites.
• Then, proceed to the Sewers Museum, located near Pont de l’Alma, at 93, Quai d’Orsay. Admission to the Museum is included.
• Lunch on your own
• Afternoon sightseeing in Paris with a free transportation pass for the RATP network in Paris (Bus, Underground, RER)
• Return to your hotel on your own
• 8:00 p.m.: Dinner at Brasserie LE LUCO (1min walking distance)
  > Situated in the historical area of the Luxembourg garden, on the Louis Marin place, the brasserie “Le Luco” welcomes you every day (except Sunday) for breakfast, lunch or dinner, in a warm atmosphere.
  > The chef will prepare authentic « brasserie » dishes, along with others that are more « canaille » or original. But whatever your selection, be assured that we bring the greatest care to our selection of products and to our cooking methods.
• Remainder of evening free for an attractive walk in Quartier Latin area
• Overnight in your hotel

DAY 3: Tuesday, 29 August: PARIS / DIJON

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Transfer to Gare de Lyon station by private coach then departure for DIJON at 10.34 am on a TGV train in Second class.
• Arrival in Dijon station at 12.11 pm
• Transfer to Hotel du Nord (3 stars) located on Darcy Square! Located in downtown Dijon, in the heart of historical City, this charming hotel provides traditional Burgundy « art de vivre ». 27 rooms with air-conditioning, mini-bar, direct telephone and Satellite TV.
• Lunch in the restaurant and cellar « la Porte Guillaume » located in the hotel.
• Then a walking tour of the city tour focused on Darcy’s life and accomplishments:
  > Darcy Square and the Darcy Garden: Darcy Square was named after Henry Darcy after his death in 1858. It lies atop the Porte Guillaume Reservoir, the end point of the aqueduct that brought the Rosoir Spring water from the Val Suzon. The monument in the square bears a bust of Darcy and provides access to the reservoir, which is no longer used. We will request a tour of the reservoir, but due to anti-terrorism measures, it may not be possible. The Darcy Garden, its fountain and pool were built in 1880.
  > Water Supply System: We will use Darcy’s 1840 map of Dijon to walk along the pipe network of his water system. Along the way we will see the houses Darcy lived in.
• Then, you will take the public transportation Divia (5 minutes)
  > DIJON hospital : Here is where Darcy conducted the sand filtration experiments that led to the formulation of Darcy’s law
  > Montmusard Reservoir, the second reservoir Darcy built as part of the water system. The Montmusard Reservoir is about 1 km from the Porte Guillaume Reservoir. It is still used by the City of Dijon.
  > Darcy’s grave: Located in the Les Péjoces Cemetery, not far from the Montmusard Reservoir.
• Return to your hotel by public transportation.
• Time at your leisure for relaxation.
• Dinner in the old town, in the Antiquary area.
  With a 10-min walk from your hotel, the restaurant is located in a XVth Century building, with a national monument classification. Built in 1483 by the merchant Guillaume Millière, « la maison Millière » has kept its Middle Ages look. This house was the place where « Cyrano de Bergerac » (1990 with Gérard Depardieu) was filmed.
• Return to your hotel on foot after dinner.

DAY 4: Wednesday, 30 August: DIJON

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Departure in private coach for a day trip to BLAISY LE HAUT then to the VAL SUZON.
• Darcy conceived & designed the Blaisy Tunnel and supervised its construction during 1845-46. At the Blaisy Tunnel visit, you will see the shaft system. The shafts were used to remove debris from the tunnel during its construction and are today used to ventilate the tunnel. The Paris / Dijon / Lyon railway was built between 1844 and 1846.
• Then a 15km transfer to VAL SUZON.
  In Val Suzon, you will find the Rosoir, Sainte Foy and du Chat Springs. Darcy diverted the Rosoir Spring and built a 12 km aqueduct to carry the water to Dijon. Along the way, the aqueduct crosses the Suzon three times by way of aqueduct-bridges.
• Lunch at “l’auberge de Sainte Foy
  Lunch will be served on the terrace, if weather permits, and if you like, you can enjoy farm-raised trout .
• After lunch, departure to Saint Germain Source Seine, located 30km from Sainte Foy.
• Visit of the Source of the Seine.
• Return to your hotel in Dijon in late afternoon.
• Private dinner in the hotel’s cellar restaurant.
• Overnight in Hotel du Nord

DAY 5: Thursday, 31 August: DIJON

• Breakfast.
• Departure via your private coach to visit the BURGUNDY Canal.
  A small excursion in the watershed boundary between the Seine and Rhone basins. A short cruise, the « Vault Circuit », on the Billebeaude, an electro-solar promenade boat. This is a trip of 2h30 hours including the Pouilly tunnel and a lock.
• Then, proceed to Bourbilly and stop for lunch in a superb medieval village, Semur en Auxois.
• Lunch in the restaurant La Tour Margot
  Located in Semur en Auxois, this restaurant offers a medieval gourmet menu and a warm welcome!
  > ALTERNATIVE Possibility: Lunch at l’Hostellerie du Château in Châteauneuf en Auxois
  Chateauneuf en Auxois is classified in one of the most beautiful villages in France. Located in the heart of the old village, l'Hostellerie du Château will propose a traditional menu depending on the season with service on the terrace if weather permits.
• After your lunch, visit of the Bourbilly Castle
  Completed in 1379 by Marguerite de Beaujeu, it is set in beautiful grounds laid about by Alphand in the small hidden valley of the Serain that was much admired by Lamartine. It achieved a new reputation of great "elegance" during the Romantic period. The Rabutin family, Saint Chantal and her granddaughter, Madame de Sévigné lived here.
  At five o’clock you will be served in the Marquise de Sévigné dining room. You will taste the famous Epoisses cheese with a good Chablis wine.
• Return to Dijon in late afternoon.
• Private dinner in the hotel’s cellar restaurant
• Overnight in Dijon

DAY 6: Friday, 1 September: DIJON

• Breakfast.
• Morning at leisure in Dijon for shopping or personal visit.
• Lunch at your hotel.
• Road for the Côte de Nuits on the way to Nuits Saint Georges.
• Visit of Brochon Castle, a vineyard once owned by Darcy’s in laws.
• Then, departure for DUFOULEUR property.
  Vine-growers and wine-merchants from father to son for over 400 years in Nuits-Saint-Georges, DUFOULEUR Père & Fils, together with its name, experience, know-how and constant search for quality is a recognised winemaker in Burgundy. You will taste 3 different wines with cheese & bread.
• Dinner at restaurant LE CASTEL TRES GIRARD
  In the heart of the famous wine road, this beautiful Burgundian inn, open on the vineyard will propose a superb local cuisine, gourmet and creative
• Road to Dijon and overnight at Hotel du Nord in late evening.

DAY 7: Saturday, 2 September: DIJON / PARIS ROISSY CDG

• Breakfast.
• Coach transfer to the Dijon station.
• Departure for Paris Gare de Lyon or Roissy TGV Station in the morning. You can choose your TGV according to the fact the guests have a return flight to USA or will stay in Paris!

- TGV for Paris at 09.32 am / 11.11 or 07.51 am / 09.31 am
- TGV for Roissy CDG at 07.45 / 09.36 am

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