French round-abouts or rond-points, which are absolutely ubiquitous in France, are quirky things. In some ways, they define a town. They are often themed to match the area, and they can be whimsical, tacky, or wonderful. I think it's one of the things that attracts me to Beaune: there is a series of rond-points going into the city, each more lushly planted and beautiful than the last. As opposed to Cluny, which has pretty municipal plantings except at the one round-about. After years of bare earth, they finally put up a sad wire horse topiary, planted with flowers which are dried up and dead half the time.
In the center of a round-about in Beaune, an old well.
…And in Cluny, a half-dead horse
One day last year, when we still lived in our little village of 40 people, the Marquage truck showed up, to do some festive road-painting. Inexplicably, they put all sorts of white stripes and curves and borders and what-nots to direct you along roads in which there is only one way to go. And really the only vehicles that pass are the residents and a few odd tractors that make that route twice daily. They even painted a huge crosswalk , for what pedestrians I'm not sure.
And then, they really got a wild hare, and made the world's smallest round-about! We've surely made the record books. First of all, there's no room for cars to get around it. One of the two roads going off of it is a dead end, used by maybe a couple of cars a day. And second, it is just a big white circle in the middle of the village, and it looks like some sort of landing spot for a UFO. Ron watched a driver, baffled by it, trying to inch his way around it unsuccessfully.
The rond-points themselves, I should note, are the best thing Europe ever invented and the US never adopted. You almost never have to stop at a traffic light, you just zip 'round and keep moving. Except of course in our village, where you are going to be considerably slowed down if you try to actually try to go around it, unless you're on a bicycle.
Below, here are some interesting round-abouts in Burgundy and beyond, which add a little interest to your drive. Come round and see us!
Here's one thats très elegante
A hot dog and a doughnut? Must be a story here.
A small one near us, full of charm
This round-about in Salon de Provence, home of the French naval aviation school, looks ready to take off.
A gentleman stands guard
The Tour de France goes round and round…
A sketch of a French round-point in Paris. Enter at your own risk!
GREAT READS VIEWS: No books to recommend today, but let's go to the movies. There's a really fun French movie on Netflix called Blind Date (French title, Un peu, beaucoup, aveuglément), a great romcom with French flair. Another one we enjoyed was called Just to be Sure (Otez-moi d’un doute). Seen any good movies lately, French or otherwise?
15 thoughts on “The Circle Game: French Round-abouts”
Not rond-points, but enamel road signs on our little lane which has only four houses.
Slow down on two of the roads leading out of our hameau, which is a dead-end.
Very fun. Merci for sharing. 👍
I live in Mt.Pleasant just over the Ravenel Bridge from Charleston. The road I live on has 4 round abouts but none as fanciful as those you pictured. They are a great invention, I just wish my fellow Americans would learn how they work! Regarding movies, I have just seen four: Knives Out, Little Women, Bombshell, and Just Mercy. All were excellent in their own way. And I also can recommend Ann Patchett’s new book: The Dutch House. Love your blog; today it came just one day after I Skyped with my dear French friends who live outside of Lunay near Vendome.
There are indeed round abouts in almost every US city or town now. It has indeed been adopted here.
There are more and more roundabouts popping up in Austin (TX US) these days. I figure it must be an attempt to make incoming New Englanders feel at home. 😉
Oh, those French rond-points! Yes, they are wonderful, but when you don’t know where you are going (next town etc) they are awful! Someone is invariably tailing me which of course makes it all that much worse. We have a few new ones around Chapel Hill and they are wonderful. Now that we go to England all the time (daughter lives there) I know, for sure, that I will never, ever attempt to drive there! Instant suicide for all, I am sure….
New England has many more rond-points than California and the rest of the US. And in California, drivers are often baffled. I agree they’re a wonderful invention and would save a lot of congestion in the US. They say a lot about the city/town where they’re located. And when we were in the Southwest (north of Bayonne) for a long stay, I marveled at the care of the plantings in remote areas far from the cities. I miss them when we’re home and always look forward to them when in France.
On the other hand, you might think of doing a piece on what seems like needless and sometimes mystifying complication in routing traffic from from ones destination in an effort to minimize access to any commercial centers.
It’s always a pleasure to receive your posts. Keep them coming, Lynn.
I’m very surprised to hear anyone thinks roundabouts are wonderful. In my experience (on the east coast in the U.S.), they don’t work well because most drivers don’t fully understand how to use them so they slow down or stop or hesitate their way through them, causing extreme frustration to the drivers behind them. I’ve even witnessed fender benders due to this. I’d love to come to France and experience them with drivers who get it. But the one in Paris…enter at your own risk? Maybe I’d become a hesitant driver there myself!
Thanks for posting there. As Barb and I drive around France we have always been fascinated by the variety of the decorations and the creative spirit that brings them to fruition. We are, however, frustrated by the fact that there is rarely a place to park to get a good picture without risking life and limb. The ones you have posted either do not have that problem or were photographed by what what we have come to call the “orbit method.” We circle and circle until Barb gets the shot.
A few communities here in the Northwest are starting to build roundabouts. I do wish they would do more of them. It seems like reverting to a primitive lifestyle when we return from France. Roundabouts make so much sense. Each year when we return to France we find intersections that have been or are in the process of being turned into roundabouts. Vive le rond point!
Libbie is right, the rond-points are wonderful, IF you know where you’re going. The drawback is there are no safe places to pull off to check your Michelin or your Garmin/Tom-Tom, and you have to drive alllll the way to the next one to recoup your loss, if you make the wrong turn! I love them anyway, although, at busy times of the day, traffic can indeed back up and make it slow going (in more populated areas). They still are a more practical, orderly, disciplined way of controlling traffic. We’ve had one for many decades in Metairie, LA, and the only other one in the area until recently, is a pretty, three-way one in Lower Coast Algiers. Fortunately, they are becoming more prevalent!
I honestly am not a big fan of the roundabouts
here–primarily because people aren’t always versed in how to navigate them.Too many times it ends up a swearing,tooting,confrontation,complete with that universal sign made with one’s third finger!!
My goodness,French ronds-points are a delight!!
I have a new and very different book to suggest:
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern.Have heard of her and her other work(s) before,but this is the first–and certainly not the last one–I will enjoy!
A page turner!!
The only round-abouts I am familiar with at all are those in Boston, and my memory is that they caused my sweet, mild-mannered cousin to swear like a sailor. LOL. In Louisville, we have, I believe only one, near the University. I avoid it. However, I LOVE the photos. Leave it to the French to make everything beautiful.
I haven’t seen it yet, but am looking forward to “Little Women.”
I noticed the comment from Marcia regarding roundabouts in Austin. More and more of these wonderful inventions are being constructed in south Austin, however, they are strictly utilitarian as no attempts have been made to beautify them. Any such attempts would more than likely be thwarted by are hot and dry summers.
Napa is finally getting some round-abouts! Half the population is terrified, and the rest are thrilled. One has been partially open for a month already, without a single car accident. So far, so good. Next: beautification? Thanks for sharing some lovely ideas to emulate.
I love the French roundabouts, they are so creative and beautifully maintained. It really brightens up the space and makes you feel welcome. I just wish they would do the same with the roundabouts in England!