This old mill house and its race are in the village of Chouzy sur Cisse, a few kilometres from Blois. In 1809, there were 5 flour mills over the Cisse at Chouzy. Ce vieux moulin et son bief se trouvent au village de Chouzy sur Cisse, à quelques kilomètres de Blois. En 18O9, on comptait 5 …
Category Archives: Architecture
Two Renaissance Windows – Deux fenêtres renaissance
These two Renaissance windows with their elegant ogee arches are on the Petits Degrés Saint Louis steps leading up to the Cathedral. Ces deux fenêtres Renaissance aux élégantes accolades se trouvent sur les Petits Degrés Saint Louis qui conduisent à la Cathédrale.
Saint Etienne – Cheverny
The lovely little 12th century church of Saint Etienne is just opposite the entrance to Château de Cheverny. It’s surrounded by a timber gallery forming a porch where you can see the coat of arms of the Hurault family who owns the château. La jolie petite église de Saint-Étienne se trouve en face de l’entrée du …
The Cadran solaire de l'évêché – The Bishop's Sundial
This analemmatic sundial is on the wall of the former bishop’s palace, now the town hall. It is painted on two right-angled walls and has a large disc with a centre hole. There are two mottos. On the right: DUM TEMPUS HABEMUS OPEREMUR BONUM – While we have the time, let us do good; and on the …
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Renaissance staircase at Blois castle – Escalier renaissance au château de Blois
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 …
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Church of Fougères sur Bièvre – Eglise de Fougères sur Bièvre
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 …
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Slate Roofs – Toits en ardoise
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.
The bell tower – Le clocher
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 …
Louis XII fountain – Fontaine Louis XII
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 …
Saint Laumer Steps – Degrés Saint Laumer
I was not familiar with the term “degré” for “steps” until I came to Blois but the name is used for several staircases. Note the red and white bars under the name of the steps indicating that it is part of the French national hiking trail or “Grande Randonnée” often abbreviated to GR. Je ne …