Flowers and a Bridge – Des fleurs et un pont

Another town (Blois v. Orléans), another bridge (Gabriel v. George-V), same river (Loire), same century (18th) same time of day (dusk). Une autre ville (Blois v. Orléans), un autre pont (Gabriel v. George-V), même fleuve (la Loire), même siècle (18ème), même heure de la journée (crépuscule).

Briare Canal Aqueduct – Pont-canal de Briare

This is the entrance to the canal aqueduct in Briare on the eastern end of the Loire Valley. The 662-metre long aqueduct, built by Gustave Eiffel in 1896, takes the canal over the Loire River. You can also walk or cycle across. The photo below was taken halfway across the aqueduct. Voici l’entrée du pont-canal à Briare dans la …

The Two Arched Bridges – Les deux ponts voûtés

Although we have often cycled along this path with the Loire on our right, I had never noticed this little bridge across a small stream on the left with the old railway bridge in the distance. Nous avons souvent faire du vélo sur cette piste avec la Loire sur notre droite mais je n’avais jamais …

Calm before the fire – Calme avant le feu

A peaceful photo of the riverbank in Blois near Gabriel Bridge. Today, a fire broke out in the parking area closer to the bridge around 4 pm. The photo of the six burnt cars below  is courtesy of Jon Scorse who had moved his car from the area just one hour earlier! The origin of …

Chambord Grand Canal

We discovered a new view of Château de Chambord today while we were cycling. Wewere delighted when we found this view from the bridge at the end of the Grand Canal. Nous avons découvert une nouvelle vue du Château de Chambord aujourd’hui en faisant du vélo. Nous étions ravis de trouver cette vue depuis le pont …

Vienne at Sunset – Vienne au coucher de soleil

The light at we drove from Les Gouets towards the centre of the Blois today at sunset was most unusual. This photo, with Gabiel Bridge on the right and Vienne across the other side of the Loire, was taken from the esplanade. The photo below shows the flat-bottomed boats on the left of the photo …

Cherry blossoms on the Loire – Cerisiers en fleurs au bord de la Loire

This photo was taken from Vienne. You can see the cathedral on the right, Blois Castle in the middle, Gabriel Bridge and Saint Nicolas behind. Cette photo est prise depuis Vienne. On voit la cathédrale à droite, le château de Blois au milieu, le pont Gabriel et Saint Nicolas derrière.

Blois Spared from Flooding – Blois épargnée lors de la crue

This stained glass window in Saint Saturnin in Blois is an invocation to the Virgin Mary when the Loire oerflowed its banks on 29th September 1866. It was thanks to the levee that Blois was spared. But the breach in Conneuil (near Montlouis-sur-Loire) flooded the entire valley between the northern slope of the Loire and …