05:30I like the idea that next to the houses here, you actually have a working lock, meaning that here, we can clearly see that it is sufficiently modernized to be usable and used.
05:39It was really very interesting.
06:09but I'm still going back to Dunkirk because I want to focus my video on that.
06:14But if I come back to the area and make a second video for you, we'll visit Koudequerque, I promise you.
06:18But in reality, without knowing, I was going to gravitate more around the center.
06:23For a guy like me who lives in the Massif Central, it was still a pretty big change of scenery.
06:27Although life lacked a bit of colour, it did not lack authenticity.
06:30These are for all the foxes who are doubtful.
06:34Whoa, my intuition tells me that this bridge has been there for a while.
06:38I'll try to find something about that.
06:40This bridge is the Batardeau Bridge.
06:42It is not that old, but it is the last vestige of the fortifications that surrounded the city until 1920.
06:47It is one of the 80 bridges erected in the city.
06:49And while browsing the internet, I realized it wasn't just a simple bridge,
06:52but a door.
06:53A door that would close like a road, but a river road.
06:56In other cities, when you see canals, they are often highlighted again for tourism, for strolling or whatever.
07:02Here, I really get the impression that they're just standing there, like, I'm filming a road, actually.
07:07It's really part of the scenery and everyday life of the city.
07:10There seems to be a really big pile of them.
07:12But it is true that Dunkirk and water have a long history.
07:15As the third busiest gateway in France in terms of traffic, the port of Dunkirk occupies a strategic position.
07:20It connects the English Channel to the river network of northern France,
07:23playing a key role in industrial and maritime trade.
07:27Its history dates back to the 12th century.
07:29But it was around 1350 that Dunkirk experienced its first commercial boom.
07:32thanks to its links with England and the United Provinces.
07:35After centuries marked by several conflicts,
07:37Trade resumed with the Peace of Amiens in 1802.
07:41However, Napoleon then favoured the development of the port of Antwerp, which was French at the time.
07:46leaving Dunkirk without major works.
07:48The 19th century marked a decisive turning point.
07:50The arrival of the railway in 1848 doubled the traffic
07:53and several docks, locks and basins are being built to modernize the port.
07:58After the Second World War, Dunkirk reinforced its role as a river hub.
08:02with the creation of the Dunkirk-Esco canal.
08:05This large-gauge road, built between 1950 and 1970,
08:10connects the port to the industrial centers in the eastern part of the region,
08:14particularly steel plants.
08:15Today, thanks to its dual access to the sea and the river network,
08:20Dunkirk remains a pillar of maritime trade.
08:23So you might ask, why do boats love Dunkirk so much?
08:26Simply because they are still rooted in history.
08:28It was really very interesting.
08:31However, a bus just went by.
08:33and there was something written on it, I absolutely have to look at it.
08:36If that's true,
08:38It said 7 days a week, free buses.
08:40An octibus, whatchamacallit, and all that, what does that say?
08:43Is there one?
08:44Ah yeah, getting 100% free cababus is hard on 7.
08:47Stylish, way too stylish.
08:49That's something we don't see very often in France at the moment.
08:52I believe that some cities have started doing this.
08:54And when you see that you have other cities like Lyon,
08:56like we're engraving the resources, which are there with their eco-friendly town hall,
08:58and that in the end they make you pay 2.20 or 2.40 for the ticket,
09:01That's deadly.
09:02That brick church over there isn't the only one I've seen in the area.
09:15It's quite funny because I'd never seen brick churches before.
09:18So I don't know to what extent there are many of them in France.
09:20In any case, the architecture is very reminiscent of the architecture of,
09:24I would say, late 1800s, so late 19th century, very much the industrial revolution.
09:31So I think it was still partially, if not completely, destroyed.
09:34So, was it rebuilt with the same bricks?
09:54Okay, so, there you have it, on the other side of the canal, I don't know, I don't know which canal,
10:15There are so many of them everywhere, so is it the same one I've been seeing all along?
10:18Is it someone else? I have absolutely no idea, but then it's...
10:20So, given that canals are everywhere, rather than following roads,
10:24This time I'm going to follow the channels, here we go.
10:29Well, here are those canals again, laid out like roads.
10:31Anyway, it's funny, here they really blend into the scenery.
10:33People almost don't care, whereas I live in a region where there aren't any.
10:37I thought to myself, wow, it's so cool to be walking around here.
10:39However, what's unfortunate is that there is absolutely no public transport-related maritime traffic.
10:43But it's true that small electric boats, I don't know if that would be practical in Dunkirk.
10:48But these are really ideas that could give the city a real boost and some pep.
10:53So at least one or two waterbus lines.
10:58I mean, it creates big, beautiful structures that, ultimately, aren't used to their full potential.
11:03Which is a bit of a shame.
11:04Okay, so here's another well-marked sign with travel times.
11:07In the end, it doesn't seem that, that big.
11:09So there's Place Jean-Barthes, which I'll go see later.
11:11Yes, because Jean Barthes was born here, in fact, just like Jean-Paul Rouve, for that matter.
11:15And then here, there are the four locks.
11:16So, as I said, I was going to at least follow the channels,
11:18We're going to go and see what the four locks say.
11:20It's 6 minutes, let's go.
11:23So, what are they telling us?
11:24An awareness of the value of water.
11:26Ah yeah, you can see it clearly, it's a real mess.
11:29While following the Urban Canals loop,
11:31You will discover the history, role and challenges related to canals in the city.
11:35In the municipality of Dunkirk,
11:36The eight canals that cross the city represent nearly 20 kilometers.
11:40that is 40 kilometres of riverbanks which could eventually represent as many kilometres of pedestrian and cycle paths in the city.
11:46Approximately 3 hours of cycling and 10 hours of walking.
11:49And there you have it, whenever you want.
11:51You already have nothing with revolutionary ideas, but in fact, everything has already been thought out.
11:55Ah, actually, it's the main canal.
11:57It's the main canal that's really in the middle.
11:59The shoreline of the polder, the Watringues,
12:02I imagine that's how you say it,
12:03extends for about sixty kilometers in Bray-Dune and Sangatte.
12:10Damn!
12:12I didn't understand anything.
12:15If I don't fall flat on my face, that's where the four locks are.
12:18But then, I don't quite understand what this has to do with polder,
12:20because actually, I have a channel over there and a channel over there.
12:22And I have the impression that...
12:24I'll find it, won't I?
12:25I found it, patience.
12:26Oh yes, no, it's just an island there.
12:27Indeed, both channels are going there.
12:28And then it goes back up.
12:30I find the four locks and we go to the polder.
12:32But actually, I was already there.
12:34I'm going to see what the four locks correspond to.
12:36But it's pretty crazy.
12:36Do you see what I'm telling you about the structures?
12:38That's way too stylish.
12:40It took me a little while to understand what it was.
12:41But in fact, it's a garbage collector.
12:43Basically, it's a bit like a carouage, but for locks.
12:45Okay, I'll spare you the reading, okay?
12:46But you can come here and read.
12:48If you're interested, look it up on the internet.
12:49I think you can find the information.
12:51But here's the thing.
12:51The site of the four locks, in fact, is the convergence point.
12:54You see, I'm going to show you the images anyway.
12:56The convergence point of the major canals of Dunkirk.
12:59And in fact, they find themselves here.
13:01It looks something like this, aerial view, blah blah.
13:03And in fact, there are four locks that distribute the water
13:05at different locations.
13:06It was really very interesting.
13:19Okay, here I am, finally arriving in the center of Rosendal.
13:21So, it's really big, isn't it?
13:22It took me almost half an hour from the polder.
13:24to get here on foot.
13:26It's absolutely huge.
13:27But it's crazy because it's almost bigger
13:29that Dunkirk itself has to cross
13:31in terms of area.
13:32So, I don't know in terms of population,
13:33But in any case, it's really impressive.
13:35It really reminds me a bit of Villeurbanne, of Lyon
13:37or even in Quebec, in Canada, you see.
13:40And so, here I am with these pretty flower pots.
13:42But actually, I'm at the foot of that building.
13:44There you go!
13:46And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a cold bay.
13:47So, if I'm not mistaken, cold berries
13:50These are buildings that were placed on top of administrative buildings.
13:53to compete, in fact, with religious buildings.
13:55Because here, on the coast, we see quite a few of them.
13:58And the one in Calais is incredibly beautiful.
14:00I might even make a video about Calais.
14:01One day, if I have the opportunity, or if you give me the opportunity.
14:04To do that, you need to share the video.
14:05Or at least give it a little like.
14:06And perhaps those buildings were precisely
14:09to have a monopoly on altitude over cities.
14:12Well, so, this neighborhood here is of somewhat limited interest.
14:14in the sense that, in fact, Zendhal is very residential.
14:17The asides, it's indeed this very, very pretty cold bay.
14:20There's another building too, but I don't want to go touring.
14:21because it's a bit far away, which is the old Dunkirk hospital.
14:25The rest is still quite limited.
14:26And I'm going to head back up a little bit towards the north,
14:29So, head towards the sea, and go see the extra-centre.
14:31Because, obviously, after Malo, the baths, etc.,
14:34are a little more independent.
14:36If I understand correctly, I might be talking nonsense,
14:37If you're from Dunkirk and I've said something stupid,
14:39Please feel free to correct me.
14:41That way, everyone will know.
14:42The comments section is there for that purpose.
14:44In memory of the soldiers who died for France,
14:46victims of the wars of 1939-1945, Indochina and Algeria.
14:50So, yes, but at the same time,
14:51also to those in Indochina, those in Algeria
14:54and those who were enemies of the 1939-1945 war.
14:57We must not forget that war only causes death.
15:00There are no winners in a war.
15:02Oh my God, people who speak French,
15:05They have so much charisma.
15:07The cook brake.
15:09There are some real characters around here, frankly.
15:12But most importantly, we're already 15 minutes into the video.
15:14So it will have to wait for the next episode.
15:16Okay, kisses to the rest areas.
15:17And remember to subscribe if you want to follow the rest.
15:20Ciao!
15:21And sorry for the slight disappointment.
Commentaires