The day before yesterday, I posted a photo taken halfway up the Renaissance staircase of Blois Royal Castle. Here you can see the staircase on the right and the Gaston d’Orléans wing, built between 1635 and 1638, in the middle. To quote the castle’s official website, it “is a chef d’oeuvre of French classical architecture …
Category Archives: Architecture
Through a Renaissance Window – Par une fenêtre renaissance
This photo is a follow-up to yesterday’s photo directing visitors to the different parts of Blois Castle. Taken halfway up the Renaissance staircase in the François I wing, it shows the Gaston d’Orléans wing on the right and the path leading to the terrasse overlooking the Loire on the left. Cette photo donne suite à …
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The Royal Hexagon – L'hexagone royal
The Royal Castle of Blois has so many different parts to it that this hexagon and compass rose, in the middle of court of honour is certainly not superfluous. Clockwise from left bottom: TERRACE – Panorama and tower 13th century; GASTON D’ORLEANS 17th century; FRANCOIS I 16th century; STATE ROOM 13th century; LOUIS XII late 15th century; CHAPEL late 15th …
Sun After the Rain – Soleil après la pluie
This is the Louis XII wing of Blois Castle with its gothic forms, built for the king and Anne de Bretagne. You can see Louis XII’s equestrian statut. He reigned from 1498 to 1515. Voici l’aile Louis XII du château de Blois avec ses formes gothiques, construite pour le roi et Anne de Bretagne, On voit le statut …
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A Castle round a bend – Un château à la sortie d'un virage
As we came round a bend not far from Loches we discovered this magnficent château and the tall steeple of the church in Verneuil-sur-Indre. The castle, built in the 15th century was added to and modernised in the 18th century. C’est en sortant d’un virage pas loin de Loches que vous avons découvert ce magnifique …
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A New Château Roof – Un nouveau toit de château
Owning a château is not as simple as it sounds. The roofs need constant maintenant and Château de la Vicomté, our local château in Les Grouets, is no exception. Ce n’est pas rien de posséder un château. Il faut constamment faire de l’entretien des toits et le château de la Vicomté, notre château voisin aux …
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The Scalloped Balcony – Le balcon à coquille
This balcony, with its scallop shell is on the front of Hotel d’Alluye at n° 8 rue Saint Honoré, in Blois, built by Florimond Robertet between 1498 and 1508, treasurer for three kings – Charles VIII, Louis XII and François Ier. The scallop shell symbolises the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.. Ce balcon, avec …
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Postcard from Granada – The Weather Vane
As you know, I love weather vanes. This is one of a twin on a university building in Granada. Comme vous le savez, j’adore les girouettes. Celle-ci fait partie d’une paire sur un bâtiment universitaire à Granade.
Postcard from Grenada – The Alhambra at Night
The Alhambra is justifiably Granada’s most famous monument and the best vantage point is the Mirador San Nicolas. L’Alhambra est le monument le plus connu de Granade et le meilleur point de vue est le Mirador San Nicolas.
Postcard from Grenada – Sierra Nevada
Snow was predicted this morning but we got a bright sky instead with the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada behind the Alhambra. Il devait neigeait ce matin mais nous avons eu un beau soleil à la place avec les cimes enneigées de la Sierra Nevada derrière l’Alhambra.