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Gabin, Jean

(Encyclopedia)Gabin, Jean zhäN gäbăNˈ [key], 1904–76, French film actor, b. Paris; his original name was Alexis Moncourge. Gabin's work as a cabaret entertainer led to a career in films. He was one of France'...

Champaigne, Philippe de

(Encyclopedia)Champaigne or Champagne, Philippe de both: fēlēpˈ də shäNpäˈnyə [key], 1602–74, French painter, b. Brussels, of Flemish parents. In 1621 he went to Paris, where he worked with Poussin on the...

Fond du Lac

(Encyclopedia)Fond du Lac fŏnˈ də lăkˌ, –jə– [key], city (2021 pop. 104,154), seat of Fon...

Canal du Midi

(Encyclopedia)Canal du Midi känälˈ dü mēdēˈ [key], canal, c.150 mi (240 km) long, linking Sète and Toulouse, S France. It was built to carry oceangoing ships between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean...

Bouches-du-Rhône

(Encyclopedia)Bouches-du-Rhône bo͞osh-dü-rōn [key], department, in Provence, SE France. It includes the island of ...

Mancini, Laura, duchesse de Mercœur

(Encyclopedia)Mancini, Laura, duchesse de Mercœur märēˈ än, bo͞oyôN [key], 1649–1714, was famous for her vivacity and wit. She became the center of a literary circle in Paris and was the patroness of La Fo...

Jean

(Encyclopedia)Jean zhäN [key], 1921–2019, grand duke of Luxembourg (1964–2000); son of Charlotte, grand duchess of Luxembourg, and Felix, prince of Bourbon-Parma. He fought with Great Britain's Irish Guards in...

Cirque du Soleil

(Encyclopedia)Cirque du Soleil, [Fr.,=circus of the sun], innovative Canadian circus, est. 1984, with headquarters in Montreal. The best-known exemplar of cirque nouveau, Cirque du Soleil is a mixture of spectacle,...

Îles du Salut

(Encyclopedia)Îles du Salut ēl dü sälüˈ [key] or Safety Islands, small archipelago, off French Guiana in the Caribbean. The best-known of the islands is Devils Island. ...

Bois-le-Duc

(Encyclopedia)Bois-le-Duc, Netherlands: see 's Hertogenbosch. ...