The Loire Valley and especially Blois
These four young people who stopped in front of our house in Les Grouëts today to examine the motto above our mullion window, are doing the groundwork for the neighbourhood walks that will be offered this summer by Blois Castle and the Natural History Museum. We hope to be able to join them. Ces quatre jeunes …
Continue reading “The Four Explorers – Les quatre explorateurs”
This is the staircase that leads from Place Louis XII, on the same level as the Loire, up to Blois Castle. Voici l’escalier qui mène de la Place Louis XII, au même niveau que le Loire, jusqu’au château de Blois.
With all the recent rain, the Loire is almost over the bike path opposite the church of Saint Nicolas and the castle in Blois. Below, a little further along the banks of the river – but without the sun! Avec toute la pluie qu’on a eu récemment, la Loire recouvre presque la piste cyclable en face …
Continue reading “Almost on the bike path – Presque sur la piste cyclable”
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Through a Renaissance Window – Par une fenêtre renaissance”
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Sun After the Rain – Soleil après la pluie”
I know it’s not really a salamander but it looks surprisingly similar and with Blois Castle in the distance, once the home of Françoise I, whose symbol is the salamander, very appropriate! Je sais que ce n’est pas un salamandre mais la ressemblance est frappante d’autant plus qu’on voit le château de Blois en arrière-plan …
I love the courtyard of this tea (and light lunch) room near Blois Castle. It also has a wonderful 15th cellar with local wines. It’s called Les Forges du Château. J’adore la cour de ce salon de thé à côté du château de Blois (où on peut déjeuner également). Il y a également une très …
The bike up the top of the staircase between Place Louis XII and Blois Castle would have had a long winding path up the other side. Le vélo en haut de l’escalier entre la place Louis XII et le château de Blois a dû prendre un chemin long et sinueux de l’autre côté.