Alexis Godillot
by JLBG
Though the Eastern part of Hyères does not bear officially the name of Godillot, it was almost entirely built thanks to Alexis Godillot (1816-1893). He was not a rich man in the beginning; He created a company that organized public feasts. Under the Second Empire, he became the official feasts organizer for Napoleon III. He was also an army purveyor, especially for tents, saddles and shoes. He made a huge fortune, especially during the Crimea war (1853). In colloquial French, plain walking shoes are still now called "godillots".
He was the mayor of Saint-Ouen, near Paris, where he began to act as a town planner. He discovered Hyères in 1860 and bought large pieces of land. With Jean-Baptiste Maurel as an architect, he drew the plans of all the western part of the city, around the Avenue that now bears his name and that was once called Avenue Reine Victoria (Queen Victoria). Once the plans were drawn, he gave the land for the streets to the city, sold parts of land for housing estates and built various estates for himself or for renting.
Fountain
by JLBG
This fountain stands avenue des Îles d'Or, in front of La tour Jeanne. It must be another gift from Alexis Godillot to the city, molded in Godillot's foundery. Two baby angels seem to be engaged in a funny business with pipes.
Sun dial les Floralies
by JLBG
At number 26 Place Théodore Lefebvre, bat C (building C), I have spotted this amazing sundial in a 1935 style. I needed some time to read what was carved on top as some letters are half hidden by roses and other flowers. It gives the name of the building: "les Floralies".
Tourist office
by JLBG
The Office de Tourisme de Hyères Les Palmiers stands 3, Avenue Ambroise Thomas. You can get maps of the city and any information about the visits of the various parts of the city. They give excellent maps with the advisable itineraries to visit the various parts of the city.
Is that a "rue"?
by JLBG
When you look at a map of the city of Hyères such as the one you can get at the Tourist office, you will see numerous "rue" in the upper old town. Do not be fooled by these names and do not try to drive them. You should walk and have good walking shoes as you can guess from the photos given here. When the name is translated into Provençal, it is given as "calade", which applies more to a climbing and rocky way than to a standard street!
The first photo shows rue du Château, steep and roughly paved with the middle with stairs!
The second photo is a part of rue Saint Pierre looking more like the dry bed of a torrent than the entrance into the Paradise.
The third photo is another part of rue Saint Pierre where the hard rock itself, roughly flattened, makes the ground!
The last photo shows the crossing of rue Saint Pierre and rue Jean-Marie Ollivier/Calado Jean-Marie Ollivier with a road sign that says "rue barrée (road )! Where is there a road?
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The remains of the Fort
Franciscan Church, Avenue Victor Hugo
Villa with a tower
Art Nouveau style
