The Loire Valley and especially Blois
The Rottenbuch Abbey in Bavaria (above) is one of the best examples of German baroque while Wies is one of its finest examples of rococo.. Rococo or “Late Baroque”, developed in the early 18th century in Paris as a reaction against the grandeur, symmetry, and strict rules of the Baroque, especially of the Palace of Versailles. The style of rococo …
Continue reading “Postcard from Germany – Baroque and Rococo”
TSanta Maria della Croce is a basilica on the outskirts of Crema in Lombardy built in the Lombard Renaissance style where an apparition of the Virgin Mary is said to have helped Caterina degli Uberti, a woman from Crema fatally wounded by her husband on 3 April 1490 (he cut off her hand and part of her arm …
Continue reading “Postcard from Italy – Santa Maria della Croce”
I took this shot from the car as we drove past the little church in our street, Rue Basse des Grouëts. The wedding was over and the bridge was waiting to be taken to the reception at Château de la Vicomté further down the street. J’ai pris cette photo depuis la voiture lorsque nous sommes passés …
After publishing the photos of Ussé, I received an email from Margaret Smith Springwood, an Australian reader, with these two photos: “I was in the little chapel [Chapel of the Immaculate Conception], turned to face the doorway and was startled to see this quite eerie face looking down at me from on high. I’ve not …
I’m really surprised that this clock on the façade of the 12th century gothic church of Saint Nicolas in Blois has yellow colouring on it in only a restricted area. Je suis très surprise de cette coloration jaune très délimitée sur la façade de l’église gothique de Saint Nicolas à Blois construite au 12ème siècle.
This view is taken from the same level as Blois Castle overlooking the market street below and Blois Cathedral in the distance. Cette vue est prise du même niveau du château de Blois surplombant la rue du marché et la cathédrale de Blois en arrière plan.
Yesterday, I posted a photo of the clock on the outside of Chartres Cathedral. This one is Inside and was built at least a century earlier. The dial of this so-called astrolabe clock is one metre in diameter and was restored in 2006 while the mechanism, damaged during the French Revolution, was restored a few …
Continue reading “The Astrolab Clock – L'horloge astrolabique”
The clock outside Chartres Cathedral is housed in a little Renaissance style pavilion. The current clock was installed in 1887 by the clockmaker Alb. Renouf, behind the dial where the hour hand give the time. The clock had a 1000 kg driving weight that required 2 men to raise the weight 25 metres every ten …
Continue reading “The Cathedral Clock – L'horloge de la cathédrale”
When we visited Chartres Cathedral many years ago, it was impossible to take a decent photo because of the very tall spires but a new square has been built in front which now means you can stand back far enough to avoid too much distortion. Notre Dame de Chartres, built in the 13th century (the …
This fthick carpet of daisies is in front of the 15th to 16th century church of Saint Martin in Chailles whose façade you can see below. Cet épais tapis de marguerites se trouve devant l’église Saint Martin à Chailles construite au XVe et XVe siècles et dont vous pouvez voir la façade ci-dessous.