The brick kilm from the old Laleu tilery in Cour-Cheverny, located at 12 rue Denet, Carroir, is one of the rare vestiges of one of the Loir et Cher’s flourishing traditional industries. In the early 20th century, every town or village in Sologne had between one and four brick kilns that produced the tiles and …
Category Archives: Historical buildings
The Hatching Tank – Le Bassin d'éclosion
The sign says that it’s a fish breeding tank but in fact, it’s a hatching tank. Marquis Paul de Vibraye, who owned Château de Cheverny at the time, invented an ingenious device to oxygenate the water from a nearby spring when it came into contact with the air. Built in the mid-19th century to breed …
First Saturday Market of the Year – Premier marché de samedi de l'année
Not many stalls at the first market of the year, but a bright blue sky. You can see the Robert Houdin House of Magic behind. Note the colour of the coats – black, brown beige and red! Peu de stands au premier marché de l’année, mais un beau ciel bleu. On voit la Maison de …
Continue reading “First Saturday Market of the Year – Premier marché de samedi de l'année”
Mer Town Hall – Mairie de Mer
The well-restored town hall in the town of Mer which, despite its name, is not on the sea. In fact, “mer” is derived from “mera” or “marais” meaning marsh. The Loire is 2 kilometers from the southern tip of the town with its population of about 6,000 people, 25 kilometers from north-east of Blois, on …
Museum of the Resistance – Musée de la Résistance
Like many French towns, Blois suffered during the Second World War. The Loir-et-Cher Museum of the Resistance, Deportation and LIberation, founded in 1995 at the initiative of former prisoners in concentration camps and Resistance fighters in the Loir-et-Cher, is a forceful reminder of what happened during World War II. This post is part of Theme Thursdayon …
Continue reading “Museum of the Resistance – Musée de la Résistance”
Beauvoir Tower – Tour Beauvoir
The 12th century Beauvoir Tower belonged to a vassal of the Count of Blois before it was purchased to form part of the town ramparts which date from the 13th century. In the 15th century, the keep was reduced in height by one third. Rebuilt in 1970, the oldest prison in France (14th century) is …
Salamander Fireplace – Cheminée salamandre
Here is another magnificent Renaissance fireplace from Blois Royal Castle restored in the 19th century with a painted decor created by the architect Félix Duban. Like the main fireplace, the mantel carries François I’s emblematic salamander. You may remember that another fireplace represents Henri II and Catherine de Medicis. Voici une autre cheminée dans le …
Continue reading “Salamander Fireplace – Cheminée salamandre”
Cathedral and bridge late afternoon – Cathédral et pont fin d'après-midi
We were coming back from the industrial park on the Vineuil side of the Loire when I took this slightly fuzzy photo from the car. It’s my favourite view of Blois. On revenait de la zone industrielle côté Vineuil lorsque j’ai pris cette photo un peu floue depuis la voiture. C’est ma vue préférée de …
Continue reading “Cathedral and bridge late afternoon – Cathédral et pont fin d'après-midi”
Château Poulain
Up until 1992, the Poulain chocolate factory, built at the end of the 19th century by Auguste Poulain, was firmly established in the heart of Blois. Bought by Cadbury in 1991, the factory moved to the north of Blois, next to the A10 motorway. Today, it is owned by Kraft Foods. The remains of the …
Château de Menars in autumn – Château de Menars en automne
Château de Menars built in the 17th and 18th centuries seen from the bike path between Blois and Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire Le château de Menars construit aux XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles vu de la piste cyclable entre Blois et Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire