Just a few days before the tour started, I received the following message.
I found it !!!
I went there on Saturday, after a couple of phone calls at the town hall of
Juvisy and a check in the "Garros" Book on the itinerary of Napoleon.
The old Maison de Poste is now part of the observatoire. I could not enter
because it is closed on weekends. I think the building was destroyed or
merged in the new Maison de Poste, transformed later into the observatoire.
You cannot miss it, you see well the telescope, it is on the N6, the south
main road to Fontainebleau.
August 22nd, 1999. 8:30 AM
As we were finishing up our rolls and coffee, and loading the last of our
luggage in the van, Guillaume Daudin arrived at our hotel. Driving a black
BWM he led us forth from our hotel heading south, to follow the directions
provided above, by Rouy. At 9 AM we arrived at Juvisy. At this place,
eleven miles south of Paris, Napoleon received word of the capitulation of
the capital in 1814, and turned about.
We had no trouble finding the observatory, and parked on the opposite
shoulder of the highway, but there was no sign of the bridge depicted in
the (1st edition) Napoleon at Bay Study folder. We crossed the highway via
pedestrian tunnel. The iron gates of the observatory grounds were locked.
Looking through the there was a garden with dewey roses. After a quick
exploration down the side street we discovered a large wooded park
overlooking the countryside to the east. Exploring further we found the
bridge, which used to cross the River Orge on the main highway. It had been
moved to preserve it. Each side of the bridge has a fountain comprising an
ornamental pedestal with allegorical figures in relief. Beneath a medallion
carrying the portrait of Louis XV it says "Time conquering the demon
discord," surrounded by Love. The inscription beneath explains:
Louis XV, very christian king, transformed this terribly difficult passage,
an impracticable escarpment, into a smooth route, easy and agreeable ...
constructing a bridge for the highway, 1728.
A bridge is a labor The fountain is crowned with the arms of France, where there is another
inscription: "This monument was restored during the reign of Napoleon the
Great in 1813."
The History of Juvisy
Here the Kings of France owned a small domain they used as an overnight
rest on their annual journey from Paris to Fontainebleau. The house was
demolished in 1724 to make way for the new highway, parallel to the old
one. The new direct road was named "Avenue de la Cour de France." In 1738
the local Post Master got permission to install a sign that read "A la Cour
de France." So the town is sometimes known by this title as well as by its
regular name.
Juvisy in the 1814 Campaign
By 16.00 on the 30th of March 1814, the Coalition forces attacking Paris
had driven-in the northern defenses. Desperate to save his capital, the
Emperor raced ahead of his panting infantry accompanied by only a small
escort. When he arrived at Juvisy his escort reported enemy scouts further
up the road, and the party halted. At 23.00 General Belliard arrived with
bad tidings: Marmont had signed the capitulation of Paris. He had given up
the city with his troops.
The Emperor's carriage stood waiting, with a team of four dappled-grey
horses being tended by a groom, on the cobbled bridge opposite one of the
onion-shaped ornamental pedestals. A couple of hussars with their horses
stood to one side. Among a group of three officers stood General Belliard,
Berthier and Napoleon. The frowning Emperor read the dispatch over
carefully, his left arm clenched behind his back. After a long conference
on the bridge, he returned to the carriage and withdrew to Fontainebleau.
From: "ROUY, Didier"
Subject: Juvisy
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