I took this photo in rue de l’Hôtel-Pasquier in Les Grouëts as we were walking home from Bread-Baking Day yesterday. The house used to belong to the son of Victor-Auguste Poulain who founded one of France’s oldest chocolate brands, Chocolats Poulain. Albert Poulain built Bellevue in 1910 when the first tram line was inaugurated in Blois so that he could go to work at the chocolate factory by tram. Sadly the house has fallen into ruins although some of the outbulidings are currently being rehabilitated. We’ll see what happens next …
J’ai pris cette photo hier lorsqu’on rentrait à pied de la Fête du pain en passant par la rue de l’Hôtel-Pasquier aux Grouëts . La maison appartenait au fils de Victor-Auguste Poulain, le fondateur de l’une des plus vieilles marques de chocolat français. Albert Poulain fait construit Bellevue en 1910 lorsque que Blois inaugure sa première ligne de tramway pour qu’il puisse aller au travail par le tram. Malheureusement la maison est tombée en ruines. Les dépendances sont en cours de restauration. On verra la suite ...
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5 replies on “The Chocolate Ruin – La Ruine du chocolat”
Ghostly comes to mind with this.
Yes, very ghostly.
Oh that is a sorry sight.
It was once very modern with all sorts of luxury fittings. The present owner has plans of renovating the main house but I doubt if they will eventuate: http://www.lanouvellerepublique.fr/Loir-et-Cher/Loisirs/Patrimoine-tourisme/n/Contenus/Articles/2016/08/13/Aux-Grouets-la-maison-Poulain-va-renaitre-2809057
My grandmother was a Poulain, who moved and married a US soldier. My wife and I would love to come and visit the old chocolate factory, and this house in 2018.