also a celestial circle or orrery that shows the motions of the heavenly bodies. The cathedral was much damaged during the siege and bombardment of the city by the Germans. It is estimated that it was struck by shells and other projectiles nearly 1000 times. All the great windows except two were badly shattered, the organ was struck by a shell and was badly damaged, and some of the statues and carvings upon the exterior were broken. The entire damage to the structure is estimated at two millions of francs. In the Lutheran Church of St Thomas is the interesting and beautiful monument of Marshal Saxe. There is an open tomb, a marble sarcophagus of large dimensions: the lid is raised, as if in preparation for a burial. At one end of the tomb was a skeleton, representing Death, with a robe thrown loosely over him, while he reclines his head upon the sarcophagus, and Hercules, with sorrowful expression, leans upon the other end of the tomb. On the right a bending female figure, personifying France in deep sorrow, raises her hand to prevent the voluntary descent of Marshal Saxe to the grave, and at the same time to arrest the advance of Death; the Marshal stands erect, with a calm demeanour, and with one foot advanced, as if he were about to seek his last resting-place. On his right are allegorical figures representing the nations over whose armies he had been victo rious. Among other notable structures which existed before the war were the Temple Neuf and the Theatre, both burned; Hotel de Ville (badly damaged), Palace of Justice, and the Episcopal Palace. The Public Library rich in Incunabula, and containing over 160,000 volumes, was totally destroyed. The city was invested by the Germans on August 10, 1870. The bombardment began on August 14. After a heroic resistance the place surrendered at 2 A.M. on September 28, 17,500 men and 400 officers laying down their arms. It is ascertained that during the siege 400 houses were burned down, 1700 civilians killed or wounded, and 8000 persons left roofless. Hardly a house in the whole city escaped without some damage. Since it became a part of Germany in 1871 it has recovered from the losses sustained by the war, and is now more than ever prosperous. The University, closed in 1794, was reopened in 1872. The new Library contains 400,000 volumes. The Germans entered Strasburg on the anniversity of its surrender to the French in 1681. It has a great variety of manufactures, comprising watches and clocks, leather, cottons, silks, and cutlery. It also supplies beer and provisions in considerable quantities to all parts of the continent, and is famous for the manufacture of "Pâtés de foie gras.' [An excursion may be conveniently made from Strasburg by railway to Weissembourg, and thence to the battle fields of WOERTH and GRAVELOTTE—passengers by railway between Strasburg and Metz, by way of Haguenau and Bitsch, pass very near them. The battle of Woerth was fought on August 6, 1870, between the army of the Crown Prince of Prussia, 120,000 men, and that of Marshal MacMahon, 47,000 men, in which the latter was defeated with a loss of 20,000 killed and wounded, and 6000 prisoners. The battle of Gravelotte was fought on August 18, 1870, between the German army, 240,000 men, and the French under Bazaine, 210,000 men. The King commanded the German army. The French were defeated after losing 19,000 men. The German loss was estimated at 25,000. The battle of Gravelotte ranks as one of the three greatest battles of the century, the others being Leipsic, 270,000 against 190,000, and Königsgratz, 240,000 Prussians against 220,000 Austrians and Saxons.] The distance from Strasburg to KEHL, where the Rhine is crossed by a magnificent iron bridge, is a little more than four miles. After leaving Kehl the train arrives in one hour at Oos, the Junction for BADEN-BADEN. See Route 151. ROUTE 77. PARIS TO BALE. 323 miles; first class, 63.20 francs; second, 46.80 francs; third 33.95 francs. HORTLY after starting from Paris, we pass, on the left, the junction of the line to Strasburg. Beyond Nogent-surMarne (102 miles), in the church of which place there is a monument to Watteau, the painter, we cross the valley of the Marne over a viaduct upwards of half a mile long. A few miles further, we traverse part of the Forest of Armanvilliers, which is laid out in fine avenues. The first stoppage is at GRETZ (24 miles), from which we proceed to MORMANT (36 miles), and NANGIS (43 miles). The Gothic church of the latter has a beautiful triforium. There are pleasant walks in the neighbourhood, and we observe two towers which are the only remains of the ancient family residence of the Counts of Nangis. Near FLAMBOIN (59 miles) we see, on the right, the ruins of its Castle, and proceed along the valley of the Seine to Nogent-surSeine (68 miles). On the tower of the church is a statue of the martyr St Laurence, whose deathscene is represented in a picture, attributed to Lesueur, over the high altar. Two other pictures merit attention--"The Triumph of the Virgin" and the "Flight into Egypt." About four miles distant, in the valley of Ardusson, is the vault formerly containing the remains of Heloise and Abelard, marking the site of the ancient Abbaye du Paraclet, founded by the latter in 1123. After passing some unimportant places, we reach TROYES (103 miles). (Hotels: des Couriers, de France.) The Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul is a beautiful and imposing structure, in the flamboyant Gothic style. It has undergone restoration to a considerable extent of late years. It retains many of its original stained windows, which are exquisitely designed, and of brilliant colours. The baptismal chapel is adorned with panels, painted to represent various scenes in the life of Christ. The treasury contains some choice enamels, and two coffers of carved ivory taken at the sacking of Constantinople in 1204. The church of St Urban is a chef-d'œuvre of Gothic architecture of the thirteenth century. Several of the other churches are worth a visit. Of the remaining objects of interest we may mention the Hôtel de Ville, the Hotel Dieu, Hôtel de Vauluisant (containing a large gallery adorned with paintings of mythological subjects), the Museum, and the Public Library. Troy-weight" is so called because it follows the standard formerly preserved here. The church of St Pierre at Vendeuvre (123 miles) has a beautiful doorway, in the style of the Renaissance, and also several fine paintings; amongst others, a Representation of the martyrdom of St Ursula and the 11,000 virgins. Crossing the Aube we reach Barsur-Aube (137 miles), Maranville (148 miles), and Chaumont (162 miles), the last named being noted only as the scene of the Treaty of Chaumont, entered into between the Allied-Powers in 1814, to readjust the boundaries of France to their limits before the Revolution. Langres (1842 miles) is celebrated for its superior cutlery. Its Cathedral is an elegant structure of the twelfth century. Soon after passing Campagney (2651 miles), we go through a long tunnel, and enter the valley of the Savoureuse, from which we get a view of the Jura mountains on the right; we then reach the strongly fortified town of Belfort (274 miles). The citadel and the other defences were constructed by Vauban. It was surrendered to the Germans in February 1871. The railway now follows the canal extending from the Rhone to the Rhine, and then crosses it over a viaduct, from which we can see the Black Forest. We pass Altkirch (294 miles), and arrive at MULHOUSE (304 miles). (Hotel: Romaine.) This is one of the most important towns of France, especially as regards cottonprinting, and the manufacture of muslins. It contains several industrial and benevolent societies, a Museum of Industry, a handsome Hotel de Ville, &c. The canal here forms an extensive basin. St Louis was, before 1871, the frontier station on the French side. BALE (323 miles). (Hotel des Trois Rois.) (For description of Bale, see Route 97.) ROUTE 78. PARIS TO LAUSANNE BY PONTARLIER, by Dole sanne. HE shortest route from Paris to Switzerland is by the Lyons Railway to Dijon, and thence and Pontarlier to Lau By this route Lausanne is reached in 13 hours, by express train. Distance 330 miles. Fare, first class, 65.20; second, 47·10 francs. (For the route as far as Dijon, see Route 81.) A railway was opened in 1875 from Pontarlier to Lausanne, direct. By this new route the former time between Paris and Lausanne is shortened two hours. Crossing the Ouche, and leaving, on the right, the Dijon line, we proceed for some distance between the Canal de Bourgogne and the Ouche. In fine weather we can see the range of the Jura, and occasionally the summit of Mont Blanc. We presently reach : DOLE (226 miles). (Hotel de Geneve. The town is prettily situated on the Doubs. It was formerly the capital of Burgundy. Soon after passing Dole we enter the immense forest of Chaux, and emerging from it near Chateloy, we obtain a beautiful view of the surrounding country. At Arc-et-Senans there are considerable salt works. Several other stations are passed, but no place worth mentioning until we arrive at PONTARLIER (283 miles), (Hotel: National). This is the frontier town of France. Proceeding through a picturesque country, we pass Verrieres, celebrated for its extensive clock manufactures, and several other places, and finally, after obtaining a fine view of the range of the Alps, reach Lausanne. It is 45 miles from Pontarlier to LAUSANNE, for description of which place see Route 112. ROUTE 79. PARIS TO GENEVA, BY 375 miles; 1st class, 78.05 francs; 2nd, 57 85 francs. (For that part of the route from Paris to Macon, see Route 81.) Time by best train 11 hours. FTER passing Macon, the first place of note is BOURG (298 miles), (Hotel de l'Europe). This town formerly belonged to the House of Savoy. Francis I. took it in 1538, but it was not till 1600 that it finally passed into the hands of the French. About half a mile from Bourg is the church of Notre Dame de Brou, a remarkable Gothic structure, built in 1505-36 by Margaret of Austria, daughter of the Emperor Maximilian, and aunt of Charles V. The interior is decorated with sculptures, including the beautiful mausoleums of Margaret of Bourbon, Margaret of Austria, and Philibert le Beau, fine wood carvings and painted windows. Shortly after passing AMBERIEUX (317 miles), where we join the line from Lyons to Geneva, we proceed along the bank of the river Alberine, up a narrow valley through the Jura mountains, the sides of which, up to their very summits, are covered with vines. At CULOZ (334 miles) there is a branch line to Chambéry and Mont Cenis. Here the train to Italy by the Mont Cenis Tunnel goes off to the south. Some miles further on we reach Bellegarde (Hotel: Poste), the frontier town of France. A short distance from the station is the Perte du Rhone, a narrow rocky channel, where the river, when low, disappears for a distance of about 120 yards. Blasting operations, carried on with the object of facilitating the navigation of the river, have greatly spoilt the curious effect of this formation. Beyond Bellegrade a viaduct of eleven arches crosses the bed of the Valserine, and enters the Tunnel of the Credo, nearly 2 miles in length. The cost of making it was seven and a half million francs, and it took three and a half years to complete it. The work was under the direction of Mr Goodfellow, an English engineer. From Bellegarde to Collonges, six miles distant, the Rhone flows through a narrow gorge, between Mont Vonache and Mont Credo, described by Cæsar as "A narrow and difficult way between Mont Jura and the river Rhone, by which carriages could scarcely be drawn, one by one; moreover, a very lofty mountain overhung it, so that a very few could easily prevent a passage." Near the further extremity of the gorge is the Fort de l'Ecluse, standing on a high and steep rock commanding the pass. We next go through two short tunnels cut through the roch, and reach Collonges, the last station in France. As we proceed, we begin, by degrees, to observe the chain of heights which are crowned by. Mont Blanc, and, shortly before reaching Meyrin, we obtain a view of Mont Blanc itself. On the left are the Alps of the cantons of Vaud and Valais, on the right, Credo and the Fort de l'Ecluse, behind us the Jura mountains, and in front les Salèves, overtopped by Mont Blanc. We next reach GENEVA (375 miles). (For description of Geneva, see Route 112.) ROUTE 80. PARIS TO TURIN, BY MT. CENIS. 505 miles; 1st class, 100 20 francs; 2nd, 74 65 francs. (For that part of the Route from Paris to Macon, see Route 81; and from Macon to Culoz, see Route 80.) EAVING Culoz we cross the Rhone, having on our right the Canal of Savières, which connects the lake of Bourget with the Rhone. The railway skirts for a long distance the shore of the lake, the views over which are very fine. On the left is the Chateau de Chatillon, where Pope Celestin IV. was born. Across the lake is the range of hills called the "Dent du Chat," at the base of which is the Monastery of Haute Combe, in the Gothic chapel of which the Princes of Savoy are buried. The original convent was pillaged during the French revolution, and so badly injured as to require to be rebuilt, which was done in 1824 by Charles Felix, King of Sardinia. It is now occupied by Cistercian monks. Lamartine has made this lake the scene of some of the most touching incidents related in his "Raphael." After skirting the shore for a considerable distance, the line branches off to the town of AIX LES BAINS, (363 miles). (Hotels: see "HOTEL LIST"). This agreeable wateringplace is at a short distance from the lake of Bourget. It is celebrated for its hot aluminous and sulphurous springs, the temperature of which ranges from 100o to 117° Fahr. The waters under the name of Aqua Gratiance, were in repute with the ancients, and there still remain some ruins of a triumphal arch and of a temple of Diana, also the vestiges of some Roman baths. The scenery in the neighbourhood is picturesque, and many pleasant excursions may be made in various directions. The favourite excursion is on the Lake of Bourget to Haute Combe, above described. [A branch line goes off to the left to ANNECY, a curious old town on the Lake of Annecy. with two interesting churches. It was once the home of J. J. Rousseau. There is excellent fishing in the lake. Fares from Aix, 450 francs.] Leaving Aix, and skirting for a time the shore of the lake, we reach CHAMBÉRY (373 miles). (Hotels: see "HOTEL LIST"). This was formerly the capital of Savoy; it is beautifully situated in a rich vine-clad valley, between two ridges of hills. It is a dull and uninteresting town, but the scenery of the neighbourhood is exceedingly fine. It contains the ruins of an old castle, seven convents, a royal college, several |