October 15, 2014

1299 FRANCE (New Aquitaine) - Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux


Lying along the Garonne River, 24km above its junction with the Dordogne and 96 km from its spilling into the Atlantic, in a plain east of the wine-growing district of Médoc, Bordeaux became a prosper city because it was the place from which the famous wines went to other horizons. The city is built on a bend of the river, and is divided into two parts: the right bank to the east and left bank in the west. Historically the left bank is more developed because when flowing outside the bend, the water makes a furrow of the required depth to allow the passing of merchant ships, which used to offload on this side of the river. On this bank is its historic center, Port of the Moon, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But Bordeaux isn't only a city of the past, but also one of the present.

The most impressive construction in Bordeaux in decades is the Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas, or pont Bacalan-Bastide, the longest vertical-lift bridge in Europe, designed by Egis-JMI, Lavigne & Chevron architects and Hardesty & Hanover. The main contractor was Vinci Construction. Inaugurated in 2013, the bridge is located between Pont de pierre (the Stone Bridge) and the Pont d'Aquitaine, being an extension of the street Lucien-Faure and connecting the dock Bacalan with the dock Brazza, north of La Bastide. Vertical lift bridges are an uncommon solution (they have a lifting centre section) to spanning a river used by large, or tall ships. Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas is 45m wide and 433m long. It has a 117m central lift span weighing 3,500 tonnes that moves along four 80m high pylons. It takes 11 minutes to fully lift or lower into place, but can remain closed to traffic for up to 90 minutes in order to let larger vessels pass through. 

About the stamps


Stamps Passion is a national exhibition under the patronage of the French Federation of Philatelic Associations and using ADPhile that takes place every two years in a city of France. In 2014 the host city was Poitiers, and with this occasion was issued, on May 1st, a se-tenant stamp designed by Elsa Catelin and depicting Palace of Poitiers and Eleanor of Aquitaine.



The second stamp, depicting the French forces cheering after their victory in Battle of Valmy (1792), is part of the series History of France, designed by Albert Decaris. 
1966.11.05
Vercingetorix (0.40)
Clovis (0.40)
Charlemagne (0.60) - It's on the postcard 2561
1967.11.10
Hugh Capet elected King of France (0.40)
Philip II - Battle of Bouvines 1214 (0.40)
Saint Louis (0.60) - It's on the postcard 2800
1968.11.18
Philip the Fair, Estates General of 1302 (0.40)
Death of Du Guesclin (0.40)
Joan of Arc, Departure from Vaucouleurs (1429) (0.60) - It's on the postcard 2762
1969.11.10
Louis XI and Charles the Bold (0.80)
Bayard, Siege of Brescia 1512 (0.80)
The Edict of Nantes - 1598, Henry IV (1553-1610) (0.80)
1970.10.19
Richelieu, Siege of La Rochelle (0.45)  
Louis XIV (0.45) - It's on the postcard 3089
Battle of Fontenoy 1745 (0.45)
1971.05.10
Opening of the Estates General, 5 May 1789 (0.45)
1971.07.12
Taking the Bastille July 14, 1789 (0.65)
1971.09.20
Battle of Valmy September 20, 1792 (0.45) - It's on the postcard 1299 
1972.10.09
Incredible and Marvelous by Carle Vernet (0.45)
1972.11.13
Bonaparte at the Pont d'Arcole by Antoine Gros (0.60) - It's on the postcard 2762
Expedition of Egypt (0.65)
1973.11.05
Preparation of the Civil Code 1800-1804 (0.45) 
1973.11.12
The Coronation of Napoleon 1804 (1.00)
1973.11.26
Encouragement to industry 1806 (0.60) - It's on the postcard 2837
1977.06.27
Bataille de Nancy 1477 - 1977 (1.10)
1980.07.15
Rochambeau - Arrival in Newport 1780-1980 (2.50)
1982.12.20
Robert de La Salle, Discovery of Louisiana - 1682 (3.25) 

The last stamp is part of the definitive series Sabine, designed and engraved by famous Pierre Gandon (1899-1990) and inspired by Jacques-Louis David's The Intervention of the Sabine Women. Although officially is not a Marianne, she is normally included in the Marianne category.

References
Pont Jacques-Chaban-Delmas - Wikipedia
Engineering Genius: Pont Jacque Chaban-Delmas - Construction Week Online

Sender: Sébastien C. (direct swap)
Sent from Cadillac (Aquitaine / France), on 16.07.2014

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