Ecogia, Versoix, Switzerland, place of the ISDC

Ecogia source

Installed in 1824 and renewed in 1982. At this place can also be seen remains of a Roman aqueduc of the 1st century A.C., that started from Ecogia and provided water to Roman sites located near lake Geneva.

 

The chapel Of neogothic style, the chapel was built in 1862 under the request of Baroness Emilie Girod de l'Ain, in memoriam of her two children (her son died at age 30, see below, and her daughter died a little later). The choir contains nice stained glass windows built using the XIXth century method of enamel painting. Stained glasses, from left to right: St Peter and St Paul, Pope Leo, Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, St François de Sales, Archangel Gabriel. Above the entrance of the nef, a memorial plate made of black marble reads (translated from french): "To the memory of baroness Emilie Girod de l'Ain, born Mégard, whose devout generosity bequeathed the domain of Ecogia to a Charity. Her ashes and the ones of her family lay under this chapel. R-I-P".

Gravestones Two gravestones lay on the left of the chapel's main entrance: Marie François Sophie Gabriel GIROD DE L'AIN, Lieutenant de Vaisseau de la Marine Royale Chevalier de St Louis et de la Légion d'Honneur Born March 9th, 1784 Deceased March 7th, 1846. (He was the husband of Baroness Emilie Girod de l'Ain). Baron Léon Girod Natus in Ecogia Die XXX AP. AN. MDCCCXXIV OBIIT ROMAE Die VI Maii AN. MDCCCLIV. (He was the son of Baroness Girod de l'Ain and died in Rome at age 30).

Crucifix In the park, east of the castle, along the pedestrian walk, one can see a stone bank and a crucifix. On the front plate are written prayers exerpts (the 2 first are from Vexilla Regis and Te Deum): O CRUX AVE SPES UNICA MISERERE NOSTRI, DOMINE, MISERERE NOSTRI PATER AVE 40 jours d'indulgence One particular thought in remembrance of Antonetta, who passed away in a cold December 2008, she lived an important part of her life in Ecogia with her family, I still have the vision of her at this very special place near the crucifix and the bank.

The Barn (first excerpt from S. Shaw, ISDC newsletter #12) Previously a toolshed with a stamped earth floor, low wooden ceiling and no windows, the Barn at the ISDC now has a quite different use. The building was renovated and converted in 1999 to provide a hardware room and office space as part of the infrastructure improvements at Ecogia for the INTEGRAL satellite mission. The Barn is now the Operations Room at the ISDC, where the INTEGRAL telemetry is received via the frame relay link with the Mission Operation Centre (MOC). And the barn happens to be the place where I work as a technical operator, member of the shift team for the mission INTEGRAL.