A handshake between two men. You might think there is nothing unusual about this simple gesture, but 30 years ago Englishman Graham Fagg and Frenchman Philippe Cozette greeted each other deep under the English Channel as their two tunnels finally met after years of blood, sweat and tears
This historic breakthrough of the Channel Tunnel, 22.3km from the UK and 15.6km from France, took place at exactly 12.12pm on 1 December 1990 and at a cost of £4.65 billion (equivalent to £12 billion today). Fours years later it was officially opened by the Queen and President Mitterrand who hurtled through the longest undersea portion of any tunnel in the world as they connected their respective countries.
Today, the 50-kilometre tunnel is used to carry highspeed Eurostar passengers and the Eurotunnel Shuttle for road vehicles. Each day an average of 60,000 passengers, along with 4,600 trucks, 140 coaches and 7,300 cars ping back and forth between the two coastlines.
This story is from the February 2020 edition of France.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2020 edition of France.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Paindemic In Paris
For American actor and writer Alexander Burnett, a shortage of bread at his local boulangerie was one of the biggest challenges of lockdown in his adopted home city
VEULES-LES-ROSES
Between the white cliffs of the Côte d’Albâtre and the bucolic landscapes of the Pays de Caux, discover a village that combines coast and country,
Taking the BISCUIT
France is known for its exquisite pâtisserie and extravagant gâteaux but the not-so-humble biscuit deserves recognition too
PICTURE PERFECT PISTE
After a decade away from the slopes Janet Brice finds her ski legs in val d'arly, a hidden gem in the shadow of Mount Blanc
Let there BE LIGHT
Lyon’s annual Fête des Lumières brightens up the darkest of December nights in spectacular fashion, finds David Atkinson on a winter visit to the Rhône capital
Shop ‘til YOU DROP
In the first of our new Insight guides, Helen Parkinson delights in the French shopping experience
Floating YOUR BOAT
Spending a day on the River Seine in Paris, Heidi Fuller-love samples some of the city’s top entertainment that can be enjoyed afloat
Creamy Dijon Chicken With Bacon And Spinach
Enjoy this hearty dish from Bisous & Brioche, a cookbook shot on location in Burgundy
A Moveable Feast
Philip Sweeney embarks on a voyage gourmand along the Vallée de la Gastronomie travelling from Dijon to Marseille
BOND RETOUR 7
To celebrate the return of everyone’s favourite globe-trotting British intelligence officer in No Time to Die, Helen Parkinson rounds up five of James Bond’s top cross-Channel escapades
