tertres

20:22 Jan 8, 2013 

Thanks Gilla you don't need to explain yourself! I think your answer works very well, thanks.

15:49 Jan 8, 2013 

Sorry I didn't give any references in my answer. I am familiar with what are referred to in Chartres as "tertres". There are I think five of them, each named after a saint, and were steps built into the hillsides to link parts of the city in medieval times. The word means hill or mound, but in Chartres refers to the steps on that hill.

15:21 Jan 8, 2013 

No they're not middens--see Phillipas' reference in discussion. Thanks!

15:17 Jan 8, 2013 

Thanks, Karen. I think "medieval steps (tertres)" would work in this sentence. It tells the tourist what they are and what they are called without going into too much cumbersome explanation.

15:08 Jan 8, 2013 

Vous vous promènerez dans les ruelles de ville pour admirer maisons à colombages, tertres, lavoirs et vieux ponts.

15:05 Jan 8, 2013 

history lesson for us all, thanks cc!

15:02 Jan 8, 2013 

The GDT gives "midden" or "periglacial mound" – but I don't suggest either of them because I had to look 'em up myself.
http://www.gdt.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/ficheOqlf.aspx?Id_Fiche=17494...
http://www.gdt.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/ficheOqlf.aspx?Id_Fiche=84588...

15:00 Jan 8, 2013 

I agree with Miranda. This site:
http://www.monnuage.fr/point-d-interet/tertres-a100442
shows photos of the different Chartres tertres and a concise explanation of what they are:
"Il existe plusieurs tertres à Chartres. celui de Saint-Eman, Saint-André, Saint François, St Nicolas, de la Poissonnerie, ou encore le Tertre du "pied plat" !
Leur nom vient du Moyen Age, ils permettaient aux habitants d'atteindre la Haute ville depuis la Basse Ville.
Leur taille varie, de quelques marches pour le plus petit "du pied plat" à 150 env. pour le tertre St Nicolas.
Ces tertres sont ainsi une marque du passé. "
It being an historical term, I'd say keep the French and add a few words in brackets to explain (not sure about "vennels" as they can be flat alleyways etc. whereas these "tertres" are all going upwards).

15:00 Jan 8, 2013 

tertre comes from terminus au sens de borne. It depends whether you want to translate what they look like or what they were known as: vennels or limits.
I take the point about vennels being between walls.

14:59 Jan 8, 2013 

I'm inclined to agree with you. Vennels are between two buildings as well, whereas some 'tertres' seem to be more in open spaces (but not all the time). Thanks Miranda.

14:54 Jan 8, 2013 

I must admit that I would be inclined to leave the French, since Google images shows that there are wall plates showing their names. However, nothing is to prevent you from adding vennels or just plain steps to upper city in brackets.

14:36 Jan 8, 2013 

Les tertres de Chartres--the steps leading to the upper city