Today was the annual garage sale in our neighbourhood of Les Grouëts in Blois. The low temperatures and threatened rain somewhat reduced the population unlike last year when we were too hot! Aujourd’hui c’était le vide grenier annuel dans notre quartier des Grouets à Blois. La température très basse et la menace de pluie a réduit quelque …
Author Archives: avril
The Astrolab Clock – L'horloge astrolabique
Yesterday, I posted a photo of the clock on the outside of Chartres Cathedral. This one is Inside and was built at least a century earlier. The dial of this so-called astrolabe clock is one metre in diameter and was restored in 2006 while the mechanism, damaged during the French Revolution, was restored a few …
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The Cathedral Clock – L'horloge de la cathédrale
The clock outside Chartres Cathedral is housed in a little Renaissance style pavilion. The current clock was installed in 1887 by the clockmaker Alb. Renouf, behind the dial where the hour hand give the time. The clock had a 1000 kg driving weight that required 2 men to raise the weight 25 metres every ten …
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Notre Dame de Chartres
When we visited Chartres Cathedral many years ago, it was impossible to take a decent photo because of the very tall spires but a new square has been built in front which now means you can stand back far enough to avoid too much distortion. Notre Dame de Chartres, built in the 13th century (the …
Water Under the Bridge – Sous le pont Gabriel
With the melting of the snow in the Massif Central where the Loire River begins, the water level Under Gabriel Bridge is much higher. Avec la fonte des neiges dans le Massif Central où la Loire trouve sa source, le niveau d’eau sous le pont Gabriel est beaucoup plus haut.
A Carpet of Daisies – Un tapis de marguerites
This fthick carpet of daisies is in front of the 15th to 16th century church of Saint Martin in Chailles whose façade you can see below. Cet épais tapis de marguerites se trouve devant l’église Saint Martin à Chailles construite au XVe et XVe siècles et dont vous pouvez voir la façade ci-dessous.
A Mix of Styles – Mélange de styles
We saw this strange architectural mix today in Chailles, the village across the Loire from where we live. Wonder what the half-timbered addition contains? Nous avons vu cet étrange mélange architectural aujourd’hui à Chailles, le village de l’autre côté de la Loire. Je me demande ce que le rajout à colombages contient ?
The Little Mullion Window – La petite fenêtre à meneaux
This cute little window is in the old part of Vienne, the neighbourhood of Blois that is on the opposite site of the Loire River from the castle. Cette jolie petite fenêtre est dans la vieille partie de Vienne, le quartier de Blois qui se trouve de l’autre côte de la Loire en face du …
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The Curious Tulips- Les tulipes curieuses
I don’t know what thèses tulips were looking at but they certainly weren’t turned in that direction a couple of days ago! Je ne sais pas ce que regardent ses tulipes mais elles n’étaient pas du tout tournées comme ça il y a quelques jours.
The Five Staircases at Chanteloup – Les cinq escaliers de Chanteloup
You may remember the six-storey Chanteloup Pagoda from a few days ago. Well, this is the Inside, showing the five flights of stairs leading up to the top. As you can see, each set of windows is different and the space keeps getting narrower! I am a little afraid of heights so was relieved to finally …
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