Perzië, Chaldea en Susiane

A French engineering couple embarks on a fourteen‑month expedition across Persia, Chaldea and the little‑known region of Susiane, tasked with documenting the grand monuments of the Sassanian era. Their journey, recorded in a detailed diary and illustrated with early photographs, offers a rare glimpse into a landscape that had yet to be visited by French missions. From the moment they arrive in Erivan, the contrast between the white‑plastered homes, blooming orchards and the domed mosques against the austere Russian church creates a vivid tapestry of cultures.

The narrative follows their encounters with locals—soldiers, merchants and a strikingly curious Armenian boy left behind by a caravan—who guide them through bustling streets and modest inns. Their observations blend scientific curiosity with the everyday challenges of travel, from language barriers to simple comforts like a thin mattress and a samovar. The account invites listeners to share the wonder of a 19th‑century explorer’s eye, capturing the colors, sounds and personalities that shape this forgotten corner of the world.