Today we cycled around Varese Lake not far from Lake Maggiore in northern Italy and came across these ice-houses built in the late 1700s and used to store ice from the lake in winter. They were then used in summer to keep fish. Aujourd’hui nous avons fait le tour du lac de Varese qui se …
Category Archives: Houses
Hôtel Saint Pôl
These two striking 16th century buildings are just next the one in yesterday’s post. The wattle and daub Chancellery housed the royal seals. The facade of the Hôtel Saint Pôl on the right and below, is made of stone and brick. It consists of large lozenges formed by enamelled bricks whose particular shade of green …
The Covered Walkway – Le passage couvert
Here is another building of unknown origin and use. It could have been a tobacco dryer but it seems a little decorative. It’s behind the building below so perhaps there’s a connection. Voici une autre construction d’origine et d’utilité inconnues. C’était peut-être un séchoir à tabac mais elle semble un peu trop décorative. Elle se …
The Pointed Roof – Le toit pointu
We regularly cycle past a similar building that has fallen into rack and ruin over the years but we still don’t know its purpose. Nous passons régulièrement devant une construction similaire qui est tombée en ruine au fil des ans, mais nous ne savons toujours pas à quoi elle sert.
A Mediaeval Gallery – Une galérie médiévale
This house at no 1 rue du Puits Châtel in Blois dates back to the Middle Ages (vaulted cellars from the end of the 13th century). It was remodeled in the 16th century, and in the 17th century it was owned by Hercules de Meules, a local bourgeois.In the courtyard can be seen a superb …
Continue reading “A Mediaeval Gallery – Une galérie médiévale”
Houses in Mennetou – Maisons de Mennetou
This was one of the first houses we saw in the mediaeval town of Mennetou-sur-Cher. The painting shows the old grain market and castle. The following photos are of typical 15th and 16th century houses. Voici l’une des premières maisons que nous avons vues dans la cité médiévale de Mennetou-sur-Cher. Le tableau représente la halle …
Left to Ruin – Laissée à l’abandon
I always think it’s a pity to see houses left to ruin while new unimaginative houses are springing up everywhere. I thought we would go back into lockdown in February but instead the status quo has been maintained while closing all non- European borders as well as non-essential shopping centers over 20,000 square meters. The …
Next Door to Mick – Les voisins de Mick
This is Mick Jagger’s next door neighbour in Pocé-sur-Cisse. His château is set so far back from the road that my iPhone could only just see it. This house is more in the style of an early 20th century holiday home in France than a main residence but the troglodyte cellars are obviously from an …
Steps to Nowhere – L’escalier sans débouché
It’s not surprising that they blocked up the door. It’s doesn’t look like the safest set of stairs! Ce n’est pas étonnant qu’on a condamné la porte. Ce n’est pas un escalier très sûr …
Troglodytes at Pocé-sur-Cisse
A troglodyte is a cave dweller and there are several areas in the Loire Valley where the homes and cellars dug out of the limestone cliffs are still used. This is an interesting example as it includes several different types whereas the photo below shows a set of wine cellars. Les troglodytes habitent des grottes …