Statue of grape pickers in La Place de la Barre in Mâcon (71), Saône-et-Loire (71)

This sculpture, Les Porteurs de Bennes, in the Place de la Barre since 1923, was done by Pierre-Alexandre Morlon (1878-1951), sculptor, engraver and humanist from Mâcon. It doesn't seem known who the 'P.H.' who wrote the poem was.

Monument à la Résistance et à la Déportation in Mâcon (71), Saône-et-Loire (71)

This sculpture dates from 1975 and was executed in Lanhélin granite by the autodidact Maxime Descombin. It represents the anonymity of the crowd and each of the forty-five granite blocks are identical.

'ESPACE LUCIE AUBRAC

HÉROINE de la RÉSISTANCE

29 juin 1912 - 14 Mars 2007'

Bas-relief Stone Mason in Mâcon (71), Saône-et-Loire (71)

I don't think anyone knows the history of this bas-relief, which obviously represents a stone mason, and is at the corner of La Grande Rue de Veyle and Rue Saint Antoine in Mâcon. The whole block is derelict, so obviously there are plans for it: surely not demolition, as these are obviously very old buildings. I hope that at least this anonymous modest sculpture will be saved as it's an important part of the history of the town.

Ferdinand Fillod in Gueugnon (71), Saône-et-Loire (71)

I'd seen and admired the work of Ferdinand Fillod online, and wanted to see it personally, but this proved hard work, and in spite of having pored over maps, using the smartphone when we reached the area, etc, there seemed to be no way we could find the famous five prefabricated metal pavilions. However, I asked a guy who was gardening nearby and although he'd not heard of the structures about a kilometer from his house, nor La Rue de la Paix on which they stand, he knew the Rue de Bruxelles which they're (almost) on the corner of, we had a brilliant lead.

Fillod is seen as a pioneer in the prefabricated building field, and these in Gueugnon were built in the 1930s and have served several purposes. They were a response to a temporary housing crisis among forge workers, they served as a prison for German soldiers, they have been used for sports and general cultural use, and these five are now monuments historiques.

There are also other Fillod structures in Gueugnon, such as this on Rue des Marnays.

And this is on Rue de la scierie.

A bright advertisement for the local cheese in Poligny (39), Jura (39)

Poligny is full of shops with the local cheese, and this model is an example of a vache Montbéliarde. Unfortunately, there's no mention of the fate of the cows.

François-Félix Chevalier in Poligny (39), Jura (39)

François-Félix Chevalier (1705-1801) is a highly noted historian from Poligny, where as this plaque says he lived in this house in the town for ninety-five years.

Boîte à lire, Saint-Sorlin-en-Bugey (01), Ain (01)

It's odd that we've only come across two boîtes à lire after more than two weeks in France, but then that's how it sometimes is I suppose. We first deposited a bag of read and no longer wanted French books in Épernay near the Mairie, didn't find anything of interest there, nor here in Saint-Sorlin, and I wonder if Covid-19 is in some part responsible for the lack of books. It would be a pity if it were: these are vital sites for the transmisson of culture.

La Maison de Saint Christophe Fresco, Saint-Sorlin-en-Bugey (01), Ain (01)

The Fresque de Saint Christophe on what is now known as La Maison de Saint Christophe in Saint-Sorlin-en-Bugey dates from the beginning of the sixteenth century and was discovered in about 1910. It has been a 'monument historique' since 1922. It is in three parts: on the left Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travellers; in the centre is the coat of arms of Savoie, of which Saint Sorlin was once a part; and the third section over the door is a representation of the virgin Mary and the baptism of Christ.

It's difficult to imagine anyone not driving at walking speed along these cobbled, narrow streets, but appreciated that any cat would find that speed safe.

Ferdinand Fillod in Saint-Amour (39), Jura (39)

Ferdinand Fillod (1891-1956) was an archiect and designer born in Saint-Amour, where he returned after the war to continue his business as a boiler maker. By the end of 1928, though, he had make a request for a patent on prefabricated steel houses. This is not the place to talk about all his successes, but they are numerous.

 

One tribute to Fillod is the local lycée, with its surrounding fence of metal. Here, the initials FF of course stand for Ferdinand Fillod.

The Maison Fillod on 23 Rue d'Allonal was the foreman's four-roomed house, although for a monument historique it seems in a rather poor state.

The Fresque des visitandines shows, among other things, actor Firmin Gémier (1869-1933) who had a holiday home here, the local world-renowned flutist Marcel Moyse (1889-1984), the weekly market, the open air swimming pool, and the annual film festival.

Also shown is Fillod's factory.

Mural of Writers, Saint-Amour (39), Jura (39)

This fresco in the centre of Saint-Amour celebrates notable writers associated with the town. At the top is Guillaume de Saint-Amour (1202-72), who was a theologian who was born and who died in the town. More prominently placed on the bottom left is Lucien Febvre (1878-19), a historian and literary critic who founded L'École des Annales with Marc Bloch: he is buried in the local cemetery. Léon Werth is well-known for fleeing Paris in the June 1940 exodus, which he wrote about in 33 Jours (1992), although he's more famous for the staunchly anti-military novel Clavel Soldat (1919), which is represented in the mural. The significance of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's Le Petit Prince is that Saint-Exup was Werth's friend, and he dedicated the book to him.

Marie-Joseph Bonnat in Grièges (01), Ain (01)

 Marie-Joseph Bonnat (1844-1881) was an exploror born in Grièges and who died in Tarkwa, Ghana. From a very modest family, he became cook onboard the Joseph-Léon in 1866 under the charge of Charles Girard. When Girard died in the Niger delta Bonnat chose to disembark on the Gold Coast, where he established a business until he was captured by the Ashantis and held prisoner. Bonnat survived the encounter and became the friend of and advisor to the king. He was nevertheless a prisoner for five years, during which he learned the language and the culture of the Aschantis and their neighbours.

He was freed by British forces in 1874, when he returned to France and vainly tried to find a sponsor or partner for his African business. But he left for the Gold Coast again thanks to a British company, and with the support of the Société de Géographie he explored many unmapped towns no European had ventured before.

In 1877 he became the director of a Franco-English mining company and with Edmond Musy successfully exploited gold mines in Ancobra. Returning to France rich in 1880, he married but died the following year as a result of an illness contracted in Africa. He was buried in Pont-de-vaux, although no one seems to have located his grave.

Bonnat's bust in Grièges.

And opposite the bust is a street named after him, where he used to live as a child.

Roger Mercier in Damerey (71), Saône-et-Loire (71)

Roger Mercier (1926-2018) died at the age of 92. His Château Bresse et Castille in Damerey, as the work of an untaught artist (created in his retirement between 1984 and 2000, a plaque announces) is a classic work of Art Brut and the building since 2017 is now a 'Monument historique'. A number of animals, including birds, can be seen on the facade. The influences here, as the name of the 'castle' suggests, are essentially Burgundian and Castilian. For some years this place has been neglected, although there are plans afoot to restore the artwork and turn the building into gîtes.