h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Briançon, France - A941258
Author: sprout - underguide anyone? - U192568

One of my favourite places.

Sprout

After a very brief look...

Nice entry

Only one thing I'm a little suspect about... where you say its the highest town in the EU at 1200 metres?. Are you sure about that? It could be right, but depending on your definition of a town quite a few of the alpine ski resorts are higher than that.

this looks great,

Thanks guys

re the highest town in the EU - well it's all over their promotional material so that means it must be true

Seriously, it all depends on how you define town. Briancon is a living, functioning community in winter and in summer and has been for 1,000 years, so to that extent it is quite different from a ski resort or a mountain village.

It's impossible to *prove* one way or another so I'm inclined to take their word for it - otherwise I could put "claims to be the highest" I guess?

Sprout

"Claims to be" does sort of cover all bases, doesn't it

Looks like you've done your research so I'll let you make the call one way or the other

It's one of my favourite places, too - we have lots of lovely photos, like on the link you provide.

Please include a line on how to pronounce the name. Anyone who doesn't know French, or understand the significance of the cedille, might make an embarrassing mistake.

Very true - I shall put a little bit in on pronunciation.

interesting entry, but I don't think it's quite polished enough yet for the EG.

Hi Sprout, well it seemed quiet polished to me, the only comment is that "us page on briancon" link didn't work for me, it said that my server was denied access.

I'm not an expert on French swearing, but I thought that 'con' meant something more offensive than idiot.

Don't ask what i'm doing up or indeed looking at h2 at this time, but yes, 'con' is not a very nice thing to say about anybody... i didn't spot it in the text, but i'll have another look t'morrow

Thanks all

Jodan - any specific instances of where it could be more polished?

Z - I'll check the link - maybe it was just having a temporary problem?

Gnomon + Spiff - definition of 'con'. For me it depends on the sense it which you use it - my better half occasionally applys the word to me in an affectionate way!

Here I'm just trying to explain how to pronounce Briançon and why one shouldn't get it wrong, in response to Trillian's point.

Sprout

I think the Pont d'Asfeld deserves a mention. It is one of the most spectacular views in Europe.

http://216.194.69.141/alpinewhitewaterfrancaise/gallery_7/025-Pont-D'Asfeld-in-Briancon.htm

OK - I'll put it in under the section on fortifications.

Thanks

Sprout

yep con is in certain situations...

it can also kinda be affectionate or/and in response to a joke/prank...

depends how it's used really... tho' i would avoid using it all together if i was talking to someone i don't really know...



loup

OK

I've removed the link with historical info in English as it doesn't seem to be stable and I can't find a substitute, and in its place I put a section on the Pont D'Asfeld with Gnomon's link. Thanks Gnomon.

I slightly adjusted the bit on why not to say bree-an-kon when pronouncing Briançon.

Sprout

Can you provide a translation of Grand Gargouille. I presume it means "Big Sewer" or something like that, but you should explain.

Done. It would seem that 'the big gurgle' is the best translation!

(I had forgotten that Gargouille is also the French for gargoyle - it would seem that both the open drain in question and the stone monsters come from the French Gargouiller - to gurgle.)

Sprout

I once went to Briançon when I was about 6, and promptly forgot it. Then last year we had to write about a French town a school. I happened to randomly choose Briançon from a list of about 50.

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