Castel Macé – Le Castel de Macé

This original piece of architecture in the village of Macé has an interesting history. Pierre Hague bought the property in 1874 and made significant alterations. He added a belvedere formed by a dome made from 4 curvel panels, topped by a skylight surrounded by a circular balcony and covered with a copper roof in the shape …

The Lone Swan – Le cygne solitaire

I can never resist taking photos of swans. They glide along so elegantly. The spires are Saint Nicolas, with the Blois Royal Castle and Foix Tower on their right. Je ne résiste jamais à l’occasion de photographier un cygne. Ils glissent sur l’eau si élégamment. Les flèches sont celles de l’église Saint Nicolas, avec le château …

Flea Market in the Mist – Brocante dans la brume

There is a flea market in Blois on the second Sunday of the month. I thought this stall looked very attractive with the mist over the Loire in the background. It (the mist) didn’t let up all day. I found a silver toast rack and a DVD of Edith Piaf. Il y a une brocante …

Joan of Arc Illuminated – Jeanne d'Arc illuminée

We finally went to the sound & light show at Blois Castle. We were a little disappointed overall but I particularly liked this sequence concerning Joan of Arc departing for Orléans after being made a warlord. Nous sommes enfin allés voir le son et lumière au château de Blois. Nous étions un peu déçus dans …

CDP Theme Day – My City's Skyline – La vue d'horizon de ma ville

This is my favourite view of Blois and until a couple of days ago, I used it as my header. The spires on the left are the church of Saint Nicolas, with Blois Royal Castle and Tour du Foix in the middle of the photo and the Loire in the foreground. For other contributions to …

Shades of Grey – Camaïeu de gris

The weather is not very stable at the moment – one day sunny, one day rainy. Louis XII is well-sheltered up there on his horse on the façade of Blois Royal Castle. Le temps n’est pas très stable en ce moment : un jour soleil, un jour pluie. Louis XII a l’air de bien à l’abri là-haut sur son …

The Mask – Le masque

This impressive mask is a plastic cast of a sculpture on the ceiling of the classical Gaston d’Orléans wing of Blois castle, built in 1635-1638. It’s part of an itinerary for the blind. Can you spot it on the ceiling below? Ce masque imposant est un moulage d’un masque sculpté sur le plafond de l‘aile classique Gaston d’Orléans du château …

Italy in Blois – L'Italie à Blois

You may remember the photo of the statue of Diane of the Chase taken in the royal park behind Blois Castle when the weather wasn’t the best. We went back on a sunny day and I was able to take this photo if the Renaissance façade of the castle with its beautiful Italianate galleries. Vous vous rappelez …