Today, we went walking at La Chaussée Saint Victor, a town to the north-east of Blois. We really like these roofs seen from above. The following photo shows the front of the manor house which belongs to the municipality. However, I was not able to find out any more about it. Aujourd’hui on s’est promenés à …
Author Archives: avril
First Narcisses – Premières narcisses
There they are – near the tree at the top of the steps. There are also daffodils but they are still a bit small. Now we know that spring is really coming! Les voilà : à côté de l’arbre en haut des marches. Il y a également des jonquilles mais elles n’ont pas encore bien …
Our Winter Jasmin – Notre jasmin d'hiver
These photos of our winter jasmin were taken three years apart. The top one is the more recent. the plant had got so unmanageable, no doubt due to our lack of pruning skills, that we cut it right back two years ago. Originally from China, it comes into bloom in January, adding a welcome spot of …
Postcard from Angoulême – President Sadi Carnot
Marie François Sadi Carnot was born on 11th August 1837 in Limoges and died on 25th June 1894. He was president of France from 3rd December 1887 until he was assassinated on 25th June 1894. This impressive statue overlooks the lower part of Angoulême. You can see the bell-tower and dome of the cathedral on …
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Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe
On the way back from our city break in Angoulême today we visited the Abbey Church of Saint Savin with its stunning frescoes and painted pillars. It was rebuilt in the 11th century and restored numerous times. It has been on the Unesco World Heritage list since 1983. Below are somoe of the frescoes in …
Postcard from Angoulême – La Cathédrale
The Romanesque cathedral of Saint Peter in Angoulême has a complicated past. It has been renovated several times and it is difficult to know today what it really looked like in the past. It dates from the 12th century but was partly destroyed by the Calvinists in 1562, then rebuilt in 1634. Paul Abadie, a friend of …
Choose your Wine – Choisissez votre vin
The sign inside this traditional French restaurant in Rochecorbon near Vouvray called L’Embarcadère says “Choose your bottle in the cellar and enjoy!” What a great way to present a large selection of local Loire Valley wines! J’aime bien l’idée d’aller choisir sa bouteille à la cave dans ce restaurant traditionnel à Rochecorbon à côté de …
Ateliers Créations Minatures
You may remember a photo I took of a stall at the Blois Christmas market that I said I’d go back to. I was very taken with the handmade miniature garden birds. I did go back and we bought five little birds that we know well – the coaltit, crested tit, goldfinch and nuthatch love the fat balls and …
The Old Post House – La vieille poste
We have often seen the old post house at Chouzy sur Cisse from the highway along the Loire when driving from Amboise to Blois, but have never been able to get a closer look because it’s on a sharp turn on the road. Today we were walking along the path between the road and the …
The Red Brolly – Le parapluie rouge
A spot of colour on a grey day! Locally made umbrellas! The shop at the side of the castle in Blois. Une tache de couleur pour éclairer la grisaille ! Des parapluies de fabrication artisanale.! Le magasin se trouve en bas du château de Blois.