The sign on the ground says Help us to restore the paintings in Tours Railway Station. To quote Susan Walter from Days on the Claise, “The station at Tours has a series of 18 painted ceramic panels decorating the walls since 1898. Their purpose is to beautify the station concourse and entice travellers to the …
Category Archives: Art
The Hanging Bike – Le vélo suspendu
This bike, which has good saddle suspension despite its lack of gears is inside L’Embacadère, a very friendly lunch stop in Vouvray. The sign says “don’t forget to turn your mobile back on again as you leave”. Ce vélo a un bon amortisseur de selle même s’il n’a pas de vitesses; Il se trouve à …
Rouge Pistachio – Pistachio Red
I think Red Pistachio is a great name for this artists’ studio and workshop in the old market quarter of Tours. J’aime bien le nom de pistache rouge pour cet atelier d’artistes dans le vieux quartier du Grand Marché in Tours.
The Lady and the Door – La Dame et la porte
I have no idea who is the author of this painting in Château de Chenonceau but I think the sobriety of the woman’s watchful eyes, slight smile, white ruff and black surround juxtaposed with the sumptuous wallpaper and gilded door is very effective. Je n’ai aucune idée de l’auteur de cette toile au château de Chenonceau …
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Postcard from Lisbon – Caravel
You may remember another caravel in Saint Dyé sur Loire. This one is in front of the statue of Marques do Pombal, both emblematic of Lisbon. Vous vous souvenez peut-être d’une autre caravelle à Saint Dyé sur Loire. Celle-ci se trouve devant la statue du Marquis de Pombal, toutes deux emblématiques de Lisbonne.
Saint Laurent's Wall – Le mur de saint Laurent
I’m not exactly sure what this wall in Saint Laurent Nouan represents but it appears to have the arms of different towns called Saint Laurent. Je ne suis pas sūre à quoi correspond ce mur à Saint Laurent Nouan mais il semble porter les écussons de différentes villes qui s’appellent Saint Laurent.
Weather Vane Boat – Girouette gabarre
A very appropriate weather vane in Cour sur Loire – a flat-bottomed boat! Une girouette très appropriéé à Cour sur Loire – une gabarre !
… open the doors and here's all the people
Well, not exactly all the people, but we did see a number of murals. When it was built in the late 11th century, the Church of Saint Martin de Crouy originally included a nave, a narrow chancel and an apse which was made into a sacristy n the 17th century. During the 16th century, the chapel was elevated …
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Triple arches
I love the effect typical of Sologne of brick on stone. And the ironwork is a piece of art on its own! J’adore l’effet typique de la Sologne de la brique sur de la pierre. Et le fer forgé est une oeuvre d’art à lui tout seul.
Garden Shower – Douche de jardin
I can’t work out what the nymph is using to take her shower in Diane de Poitier’s garden at Château de Chenonceau. Je n’arrive pas à voir ce qu’utilise cette nymphe pour prendre sa douche dans le jardin de Diane de Poitier au château de Chenonceau.