The Loire Valley and especially Blois
There are still rivers where you and swim and the Cher is one of them. The only sand beach where swimming is allowed is at Montrichard which is a half an hour’s drive from Blois. Il y a encore des rivières où on se baigne et le Cher en fait partie. La seule plage de …
Continue reading “A beach on the Cher – Une plage sur le Cher”
There are still several streets like this in Blois. I’d love to know what’s behind the red curtains. Il reste encore plusieurs rues de ce type à Blois. J’amerais bien savoir ce qu’il y a derrière les rideaux rouges. If you enjoyed reading this, don’t forget to subscribe to new posts – that way you’ll …
Château de Chambord, designed as a hunting lodge by François I in 1519, has more than 300 fireplaces which are much less decorative than those of Blois Castle. Despite their dimensions, they were hard put to heat the enormous rooms Le château de Chambord, conçu comme résidence de chasse par François I à partir de …
Continue reading “Fireplace at Chambord – Cheminée à Chambord”
One of the magnificent fireplaces in Blois Royal Castle whose wonderfully preserved decor, sculpted between1515 and 1520 is strikingly highlighted by the painted decor created by the architect Félix Duban in the 19th century, totally in keeping with the spirit of the Renaissance. In the middle of the mantel, you can see François I’s emblematic salamander. Une …
This beautiful stone monumental staircase, of the octogonal turret type, with its finely sculpted newel, embrasures and capitals, graces the François I wing of the Royal Castle of Blois. Ce bel escalier monumental en pierre de type vis hors-oeuvre, octogonal, avec son fût central, embrasures et chapiteaux finement sculptés se trouve dans l’aile François I du …
Continue reading “Renaissance staircase at Blois castle – Escalier renaissance au château de Blois”
Fougères sur Bièvre lies 20 kilometers south of Blois. Saint Eloi’s, with its three-light mullioned windo,w was built in the early 12th century (nave, vaulted apse and bell-tower) and completely reworked in the 16th century (southern aisle, northern seignorial chapel and southern stained glass window). The northern aisle, reconstruction of the vault and the western …
Continue reading “Church of Fougères sur Bièvre – Eglise de Fougères sur Bièvre”
All the roofs in the photo are slate, including those of Saint Nicolas‘ church on the right. Note the dormer windows which are mainly gable style. Tous les toits dans la photo sont en ardoise, y compris ceux de l’église Saint Nicolas sur la droite. Notez les lucarnes surtout de type jacobine.
Château de la Vicomté in Les Grouets, known in the 15th century, has survived to the present day without the slightest claim to fame, according to La Nouvelle République. That may be so, but I think it gives a certain distinction to the street where we live, Rue Basse des Grouets, and I love to see …
I don’t know why this house in Rue Basse de Grouets has its own bell tower. It also has a very strange roof on the right cut out of the main roof which is made of slate. Je ne sais pas pourquoi cette maison dans la rue Basse des Grouets possède son propre clocher. Elle a un …
The Louis XII fountain was reconstructed in 1511 by the distinguished engineer Pierre de Valence. Up until the 19th century, it was located at the corner of Saint Lubin and Bourgmoyen streets. However, when the houses behind it were destroyed to build the Louis XII square in 1820, it was transferred to the southern corner …