I loved going under this archway when we cycle between Blois and Saint Dyé sur Loire. It used to be connected to a bridge before, of course. J’adore passer sous cette arche lorsqu’on fait du vélo entre Blois et Saint Dyé sur Loire. Autrefois, bien sûr, elle était reliée à un pont.
Category Archives: Architecture
The Brick Tower – La tour en brique
This is a different view of the courtyard of the Lion d’or restaurant and hotel in Romorantin that you can see in my post entitled Courtyard Lunch. It was built in the 16th century and has been a hotel since 1774. C’est une autre vue de la cour du restaurant et hôtel Le Lion d’or …
Face à face
Two washhouses face to face with a sluice gate inbetween at Valaires. Deux lavoirs face à face avec une vanne entre les deux à Valaires.
The Broken iPhone – L'iPhone cassé
Now I bet you’re thinking that the title is a mistake. Well, it isnt. We were taking a stroll in the twilight and saw this beautifully restored pigeon house behind a wrought-iron gate. To get a better photo, I slid my iPhone behind the bars and – you guessed it – it somehow slipped out …
La Marquise
This typical French glass and wrought iron canopy is called a marquise though I don’t know why. I love the little topknot! Je ne sais pas d’où vient le nom marquise. J”adore le petit mitre!
Love Scallop – Coquille Saint Jacques d'amour
I was intrigued to see a scallop shell on the façade of the 14th century Palazzo Bembo on the Grand Canal as it usually symbolises St Jacques de Compostelle (Santiago de Compostela in France. Further research reveals that it is the convex scallop shell that represents St Jacques while the concave shell symbolises Venus, much …
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Royal Squares – Carrés royaux
These sculpted stone squares, in the lapidary section of Blois Castle, are both symbolic of François Ier, King of France from 1515 to 1547. The first shows his initial, F, surrounded by a monk’s cord with three knots forming an 8, which was the emblem of his mother, Louise de Savvoie. The second is the …
Salamander and Ermine – Salamandre et ermine
This is another of the magnificent painted fireplaces in Blois Castle in the King’s Room, with François I’s salamander on the left and the ermine of his wife, Claude de France, on the right. Voici une autre cheminées peinte magnifique qui se trouve au château de Blois dans la Salle du roi avec le salamandre …
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Doubtful Sculpture – Sculpture dubitative
Looking rather doubtful on the façade of Hôtel d’Alluye in Blois. Belle expression dubitative sculptée sur la façade de l’hôtel d’Alluye à Blois.
Royal Renaissance Frieze – Frise renaissance royale
This royal frieze with its scallop shells finish off the façade of the François I wing of Blois castle. Cette frise royale termine la façade de l’aile François 1er du château de Blois.