Shift of Seine?

The article “Jewel of the Normandy Coast” (July 18), otherwise fascinating, has two errors:

1. “Overlooking the Seine’s headwaters . . . “ The Seine’s headwaters “arise in the Cote d’Or (southeast of Paris), on the Langres plateau, 471 meters high.” (Reference: Dictionnaire Geographique de la France.)

2. “The Greniers a Sel . . . built in 1670 to store tax revenues . . . which at the time were collected in salt.” The farmers paid a price for the right to sell the salt, and in some areas people were required to buy more than they needed. This was the most detested tax in France and led, in part, to the French Revolution. Honfleur, incidentally, paid one of the lowest prices. (Reference: Dictionnaire des Institutions de la France aux XVIIe et XVIIIe Siecles.)

ADELINE RAMOND VIGELIS

Chula Vista