Spotlight on Le Grand Paris Posted by Tim Hildreth on Mar 30, 2021 in Culture, Environment
I’ve shared bits and pieces about the ongoing travaux taking place in and around Paris to get ready not just for les JO 2024 but for the future in general. This week I found a little video that – in addition to including lots of great vocabulary – puts a spotlight on Le Grand Paris and how it will transform life in Île-de-France1The Île-de-France is the region that includes Paris and the 7 surrounding départements: la petite couronne (little crown) of Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne, and les Hauts-de-Seine; and la grande couronne (big crown) of Val-d’Oise, Seine-et-Marne, Essonne, and Yvelines. Representing just 3% of the total territory of France, almost 20% (~1 in 5) French live there..
[CC0] Photo by Pierre Blaché from Pexels
Spotlight on Le Grand Paris
| Paris, 19e siècle … | Paris, 19th century … | |
| [Un garçon sur le Champs de Mars en face de l’ancienne Trocadéro …] | [A boy on the Champs de Mars across from the old Trocadero … ] | |
| 21e siècle, Paris devient … | 21st century, Paris is becoming … | |
| Le Grand Paris | The Great Paris | |
| Homme : | Je rêve d’une ville qui m’ouvre de nouveaux horizons. | I dream of a city that opens up new horizons for me. |
| Construction de 200km de nouveau Métro | Construction of 200km of new Metro lines | |
| Homme : | D’une ville qui repousse ses limites. | Of a city that pushes the limits. |
| Femme : | Pour moi, une ville de rêve, c’est une ville qui me transporte. | For me, a dream city is one that moves me (lit. that transports me). |
| Femme : | Je rêve d’une ville qui raconte notre histoire… | I dream of a city that tells our history … |
| Femme : | Et qui imagine l’avenir. | And that imagines the future. |
| Homme : | Moi, je rêve d’une ville qui me recentre sur l’essentiel. | Me, I dream of a city that helps me focus on what is essential. |
| Homme : | Une ville où je gagne la course contre le temps. | A city where I win the race against the clock (lit. time). |
| Création de 68 gares | Creation of 68 stations | |
| Homme : | Moi, j’ai besoin d’une ville connectée … | Me, I need a city that is connected… |
| Homme : | Où les espaces sont redéfinies. | Where public spaces are redefined. |
| La Défense2Le quartier de la Défense gets its name from a statue that used to grace the rond-point (round-about/rotary) of Courbevoie commemorating an actual military victory during which French soldiers successfully mounted a defense of Paris, protecting the city and its inhabitants from the invading Prussians during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. : 1er quartier d’affaires européen | La Defense : Number 1 European business district | |
| Homme : | Je rêve d’une métropole qui entreprends… | I dream of an entrepreneurial metropolitan region… |
| A la pointe de l’innovation. | At the forefront of innovation. | |
| La Halle Freyssinet : Le plus grand campus de start up au monde | Freyssinet Hall : The largest startup incubator in the world | |
| Jeune femme : | Je rêve d’une ville pour apprendre. | I dream of a city for learning. |
| Jeune femme : | Je veux avoir accès à la connaissance… | I want to have access to the knowledge… |
| Jeune femme : | A la lumière des plus grands penseurs. | To the light of the greatest thinkers. |
| Le Grand Paris construit les grands pôles universitaires mondiaux | The Great Paris is building the largest university centers in the world | |
| Femme : | Je veux sortir … partager … découvrir … | I want to go out … to share … to discover … |
| Cité de la mode | City of Fashion | |
| Femme : | La ville que j’imagine c’est celle qui se construit chaque jour pour nous. | The city I imagine is one that builds every day for us. |
| Cité musicale Boulogne | City of Music Boulogne | |
| 140 Km2 de nouveaux quartiers ; 70 000 nouveaux logements par an | 140 km2 of new neighborhoods ; 70,000 new residences a year | |
| Femme : | Je rêve d’une ville qui me révèle. | I dream of a city where I can find myself (lit. that reveals me). |
| Femme : | Une ville qui repousse mes limites. | A city that pushes my limits. |
| Femme : | Une ville qui rayonne dans le monde. | A city that shines throughout the world. |
| Femme : | Je rêve d’une ville pour se rencontrer… | I dream of a city of meetings… |
| Homme : | Une ville pour me dépasser. | A city where I can be more / go further. |
| Homme : | Une ville qui me donne ma chance. | A city that gives me my opportunity. |
| Homme et Femme : | Une métropole ou le temps joue dans notre camp. | A metropolitan region where time is on our side. |
| Femme : | Une ville pour transmettre… | A city for sharing (lit. for transmitting)… |
| Femme : | Une ville pour inventer… | A city for invention… |
| Homme : | Une ville pour créer. | A city for creating. |
| Homme et Femme : | Une ville pour être ensemble. | A city for being together. |
| Homme et Femme : | Je rêve d’une ville … une ville … pour grandir. | I dream of a city … of a city … for growing. |
| Jeune femme : | Une ville pour grandir. | A city to grow up. |
| Créons ensemble la Métropole du Grand Paris | Let’s create it together : The Metropolitan Region Le Grand Paris |
I realized that last week was my cinquième anniversaire3fifth anniversary as a blogger here on the Transparent Language French blog! I’ve loved being able to share my love of France, a little bit about my family, some of my favorite songs, and more with you all over the years. I’m looking forward to more!
Pour aller plus loin …
- 1The Île-de-France is the region that includes Paris and the 7 surrounding départements: la petite couronne (little crown) of Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne, and les Hauts-de-Seine; and la grande couronne (big crown) of Val-d’Oise, Seine-et-Marne, Essonne, and Yvelines. Representing just 3% of the total territory of France, almost 20% (~1 in 5) French live there.
- 2Le quartier de la Défense gets its name from a statue that used to grace the rond-point (round-about/rotary) of Courbevoie commemorating an actual military victory during which French soldiers successfully mounted a defense of Paris, protecting the city and its inhabitants from the invading Prussians during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870.
- 3fifth anniversary
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About the Author: Tim Hildreth
Since my first trip to France at 16, I have been a passionate francophile. I love the language, food, music, art, people, and more that make France and la Francophonie in general such an amazing part of our global community. Having lived in France and studied the language and culture for over 35 years, it is my great pleasure to be able to share a little bit of my deep love with you through this blog.