16.45 - The Zone, the Bow and the Harvest
Tomas k - Senior News Editor 
Today at a Glance: Your FREE weekly newsletter
Bonjour mes ami(e)s !
It’s wonderful to have you back here with me today. Bienvenue !
In this newsletter, you’ll find these wonderful articles taking you to France beyond the cliché.
And coming later today for PAID subscribers: 16.45.a — It’s not too late to upgrade & to be sure you receive it ←
À bientôt !
Warmly,
Judy
14.11.2026
1. MyFrenchLife™ Magazine new articles
“There are many talented contributors to MyFrenchLife Magazine and I thank all of you for sharing your experiences with us in such an engaging manner.
You take us right across France & deep into many worm-holes. We delight in discovering
and learning more about France beyond the cliché”
Merci
Judy
Our list of valued Contributors →
A reminder that ‘The Writers Room’ now resides here →
a) The often overlooked ‘zoniers’ of Paris
by Jenn Bragg
They lived in squalor but made a major contribution to the city’s economy.
I want to tell you about a group of people who lived on the sidelines in Paris (literally) back in the 19th and early 20th centuries.”
They were known as les zoniers.”
Creating la zone
In the early 1800s, a barrier was built around Paris. It was called l‘enceinte de Thiers, or ‘the Thiers belt’ — named after the man who approved its construction. The objective was to fortify the city by creating a ‘belt’ around it to ward off possible attacks by foreign forces. (The famed Battle of Paris happened in 1814 during the Napoleonic Wars — French leaders didn’t want it repeated.)”
The areas beyond the ‘belt’ were thereafter referred to as la zone.”
Tell your dad, tell your cat, tell your plants about For Love of France!”
By the middle of the 19th century, Napoleon III (not that Napoleon) tipped Georges-Eugène Haussmann…” writes Jenn.
b) Rue Saint-André-des-Arts: The Street Named for Bows, Not Art
by Pierre Guernier
A medieval path through the vineyards of the Clos de Laas, where a vanished church, a misread name and a Revolutionary passage meet
To walk down Rue Saint-André-des-Arts is to be transported back to the history of medieval Paris – in other words, to a world that has vanished.”
In the 13th century, the street was a path linking the Petit-Pont to the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and ran through the vineyards of the Clos de Laas.”
Where does the name come from?
Around 1210, a church was built along the path and took the name of Saint-André-de-Laas. The church and the street were renamed Saint-André-des-Arcs because bows and arrows were sold there.”
Thus, the current name is a corruption of the word ‘arc’ (bow) and therefore has nothing to do with ‘les arts’ (the arts)!”
However, do not go looking for the church…” wrote Pierre.
c) Brasserie des 2 Caps
by Caroline McCormick Clarke
As we journey further into October, Harvesting before the Winter continues in Kent, France and further afield. Whilst, I enjoyed ten days of blue skies and sunshine before Storm Amy at our house in Wissant in the Hauts de France region, the grapes were harvested earlier than usual at Domaine Évremond, Chilham, Kent, after a bumper crop…” wrote Caroline about a year ago.
2. Merci mille fois
“Thank you for subscribing to ‘le Bulletin’, the newsletter of MyFrenchLife™ Magazine.”
Judy MacMahon
Merci mille fois d’être ici, mes ami(e)s. Thanks for being here.
This week I want to say a proper thank you.
To Jenn Bragg, for “The often overlooked ‘zoniers’ of Paris”, and for bringing the people who lived beyond the belt back into view. To Pierre Guernier, for “Rue Saint-André-des-Arts: The Street Named for Bows, Not Art”, and for walking us down a street whose name we all thought we understood. To Caroline McCormick Clarke, for “Brasserie des 2 Caps”, and for the harvest that links Wissant and Kent.
Each of them gives their time, their knowledge and their curiosity to MyFrenchLife™, and they give it generously. I am grateful to every one of them, and to you for reading and sharing their work.
I wonder where our Contributors will take us next week in FRANCE AS IT HAPPENS?
Merci, truly.
À bientôt !
Judy
judy@myfrenchlife.org
Thanks for reading ‘le Bulletin’! This post is public, so feel free to share it.
‘le Bulletin’ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support us, I personally ask you to consider becoming a free or annual subscriber.
Here’s how you can stay in touch & personalise your le Bulletin experience, and deepen your French connection.
? Here you can UNLOCK EXCLUSIVE FRENCH STORIES:
Become an annual member and save! Enjoy exclusive, intimate glimpses into France and French lives delivered straight to your inbox.
⭐ How you can BECOME A CHERISHED MIGHTY SUPPORTER:
If you love le Bulletin, you can help us share more stories of remarkable French women and authentic French experiences. Plus, enjoy special perks!
? Perhaps you’d like to SHARE THE INSPIRATION:
Gift le Bulletin to friends and family who admire the strength and spirit of French women. It’s the perfect way to share your passion for France.
? And don’t forget… you can always EXPLORE THE ARCHIVES:
Discover even more inspiring stories in our complete newsletter archive. Perfect for satisfying your Francophile cravings whenever suits you, wherever you live.
