X-Nico

unusual facts about Claude Chappe


Fort de Valros

The small square tower nestled in the south west corner of the fortress (number 7 on the plan above) is a remnant of the aerial telegraphy invented at the end of the 18th century by the engineer Claude Chappe (1763-1805), using semaphore signals.


Château de Montlhéry

Thanks to its position, the keep was notably connected with the scientific experiments of Pierre Gassendi (measurement of the speed of sound), Claude Chappe (experiments with optical telegraphy in 1794) and Alfred Cornu (measurement of the speed of light in 1874).


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