The Vendée-Mobile takes us back to Les Sables through the heart of Vendée's capital, La Roche-sur-Yon. As you know by now, Vendée was a major problem for France in the Revolution. Not the least of Napoleon's conquest was the one that started at home. In the earliest days of his reign the Emperor worked to pacify Vendée, first among his tasks. His strategy was based on building a modern "capital city", and he did it first here. The Place Napoléon in La Roche was based on the principle of a city not with cramped downtown streets but with open plazas and boulevards. This was in part to encourage commerce and open air. It was also to allow easy access to troops who may be brought to force in case of resistance.
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This page last updated on 6/17/2003 12:11:33 PM.