The Loire Valley and especially Blois
We were taking a walk in Les Grouets when we sighted this boar head on a garage. The sign beneath says “Le Petit Vautrait”. A “vautrait” is a pack of hounds for wild boar hunting. We’re just next door to Sologne, the former hunting ground of François I. C’est en se promenant dans le quartier …
Continue reading “Boar sighting in Blois – Sanglier vu à Blois”
I wonder who the B & N are whose initials have remained on this old door in the historical (and not very renovated) quarter of Blois. Many cars and carriages must have worn down these paving stones over the years. On se demande bien qui sont B & N dont les initiales se trouvent sur …
These balconies are at the top of the main staircase of the François I wing of Blois Castle. They enabled the courtiers to see the king coming up the staircase and to contemplate the festivities organised in the Court of Honour below. As usual, there are several salamanders. Ces balcons couronnent le grand escalier …
Continue reading “Renaissance Balconies – Balcons Renaissance”
In France, the sapeurs-pompiers come to the rescue if someone takes ill in a public place, for example. Call 18 for help.
This unlikely collection was for sale at the monthly second-hand market, with a few autumn leaves thrown in for good measure. Cette collection disparate était à vendre à la brocante mensuelle avec quelques feuilles d’automne en plus pour faire bonne mesure.
Like many French towns, Blois suffered during the Second World War. The Loir-et-Cher Museum of the Resistance, Deportation and LIberation, founded in 1995 at the initiative of former prisoners in concentration camps and Resistance fighters in the Loir-et-Cher, is a forceful reminder of what happened during World War II. This post is part of Theme Thursdayon …
Continue reading “Museum of the Resistance – Musée de la Résistance”
The round Tour du Foix, near the Gaston d’Orléans wing of Blois Castle, is a vestige of the 13th century feudal fortifications and offers a panorama of the city of Blois, the Loire River and the church of Saint Nicolas. In the middle ages, the tower defended the south-west corner of the castle and the …
A few autumn leaves on the floor tiles of the king’s oratory built in 1498,which is at the end of the Louis XII wing of Blois Royal Castle. Quelques feuilles d’automne sur les pavés de l’oratoire du roi construit en 1498 qui se trouve au bout de l’aile Louis XII du château royal de Blois.
Photo taken from Blois Castle late aftrernoon. You can see the Gabriel Bridge. Photo prise depuis le château de Blois en fin d’après-midi. On voit le pont Gabriel.
This little girl is playing teasets with antique cups and saucers from her mother’s stall at the second fair in Blois. Cette petite fille joue à la dînette avec des tasses et soucoupes anciennes que vend sa maman à la brocante de Blois.