I’m really surprised that this clock on the façade of the 12th century gothic church of Saint Nicolas in Blois has yellow colouring on it in only a restricted area. Je suis très surprise de cette coloration jaune très délimitée sur la façade de l’église gothique de Saint Nicolas à Blois construite au 12ème siècle.
Category Archives: Architecture
Spires of Blois – Flèches de Blois
I’ve posted photos of Saint Nicolas several times before, but this is a new take where you can see the flying buttresses and the outbuildings of Blois Castle to the right with Tour du Foix tower. J’ai déjà publié des photos de l’église Saint Nicolas mais ici on a une nouvelle vue avec les arcs-boutants et les …
Maison Picassiette
On the other end of the spectrum from Chartres Cathedral, just near the cemetary, is a most amazing place called Maison Picassiette. It is the work of Raymond Isidore, born in Chartres on 8th September 1900. When he was 29, Isidore, a cemetary sweeper, built a little house for himself, his wife and her two sons. When it …
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 …
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 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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Postcard from India – the Taj Mahal in the Early Morn
The Taj Mahal did not disappoint. Tears came to my eyes as I stood and looked at this mythical palace of love commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned 1628–1658), to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal who died giving birth to her 14th child. Le Taj Mahal ne nous …
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Postcard from India – Buland Darwaza
This amazing structure is Buland Darwaza or the “Gate of Magnificence” built in 1601 by the great Mughal emperor, Akbar, at Fatehpur Sikri, to commemorate his victory over Gujarat. The Buland Darwaza is the highest gateway in the world (53.63 m high) and an astounding example of Mughal architecture. Ce bâtiment étonnant s’appelle Buland Darwaza ou …
Postcard from India – Jal Mahal, Jaipur
After the chaos of Delhi, the Jal Mahal (“Water Palace”) in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur, the capital of the state of Rajasthan, was totally unexpected. The palace and the lake around it were renovated and enlarged in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber. The palace is now abandoned. …