The Loire Valley and especially Blois
This unusual barn in Châillon-sur-Loire, has become the symbol of the area known as the Berry, between Sologne and Sancerrois. Originally covered with thatch, these wattle and daub constructions usually date from the 15th century. They were used to house cattle and store grain. I took the photo when we were cycling along the Eurovelo bike route ten …
Continue reading “The Pyramidal Barn – La grange pyramidale”
It’s the tradition in France to give lily-of-the-valley on May 1st for good luck, especially to your loved ones. And if you find a sprig with 13 little bells, you’ll have extra luck. You can find it on practically every street corner, mainly sold by charities and similar associations. And because it’s Labour Day, it’s …
So what revolution could that be? Take a look at the instruments on the right side of our illustrious townsman, Denis Papin, who invented the pressure cooker in 1679 under the name of digesteur, which most certainly caused a revolution in French cuisine a couple of centuries later! To find out how other bloggers interpreted the …
Continue reading “CDP Theme Day – Revolution in French Cuisine”
At the moment, the garden is filled with wisteria, pansies and other lavendar flowers and the cuckoos seem to be saying singing all day! Perfect for lunch in the garden. There is a saying in France that when you hear cuckoo, you have to have money in your pocket. It will bring you riches throughout the …
Continue reading “Lavendar Flowers and Cuckoos – Fleurs mauves et coucous”
It never occurred to me that holly might have flowers, but otherwise, of course, there wouldn’t be those little red berries! Je n’avais jamais pensé que le houx puisse avoir des fleurs mais sans elles il n’y aurait pas de petites baies rouges !
At the market on Saturday in Blois, we were delighted to see that Damien, our favourite biscuit maker – his Sablés des Grouets are very moorish – has a new biscuit tin. And not just any tin.The Citroën H Van, Type H, H-Type or HY is a light truck (or delivery van) produced by Citroën between 1948 …
This Carolingian oratory, located in the little village of Germigny-des-Prés on the Loire River, dates back to 806,. It is one of the oldest churches in France. It was built by Bishop Theodulf, one of Charlemagne’s advisors, to serve as a place of worship in his palace complex. In order to turn it into a parish church, the …
Continue reading “A Carolingien Oratory on the Loire – Un oratoire carolingien sur la Loire”
From 1838 to 1896, boats travelling from the south of France to Paris crossed the Loire at Châtillon-sur-Loire via the Mantelot lock. Those who arrived via the Canal latéral à la Loire sailed up the old Canal to the Mantelot water station. Sometimes they had to wait several days or even several weeks for the right navigation conditions. …
Continue reading “A Lock to Cross the Loire – Une écluse pour traverser la Loire”
We had just finished cyclling for the day when we were lucky enough to see this very large barge on the Canal latéral à la Loire between Châtillon-sur-Loire.and Briare with its famous canal aqueduct built by Gustave Eiffel. You can hear the birds chirping in the video. The passengers had to duck their heads to go under the bridge! …
Continue reading “A Barge on a Canal – Une péniche sur un canal”
This is the entrance to the canal aqueduct in Briare on the eastern end of the Loire Valley. The 662-metre long aqueduct, built by Gustave Eiffel in 1896, takes the canal over the Loire River. You can also walk or cycle across. The photo below was taken halfway across the aqueduct. Voici l’entrée du pont-canal à Briare dans la …
Continue reading “Briare Canal Aqueduct – Pont-canal de Briare”