Postcard from Germany: Denis Papin in Hann Münden

I’ve been looking for connections between Blois and Germany since we arrived here three weeks ago on our cycling holiday. Imagine my delight when I discovered, quite by accident, that Blois’ very own Denis Papin, the inventor, built a steam-pump powered paddlewheel boat, probably pedal-driven in 1704, and as a demonstration, used his steam paddlewheeler …

Postcard from Germany: Sandbanks in the Rhine – Bancs de sable dans le Rhin

Like the Loire, the Rhine in Germany near Koblenz has a few sandbanks but although they narrow the navigating channel they don’t prevent vessels from passing. Tout comme la Loire, le Rhin en Allemagne près de Coblence a quelques rares bancs de sable mais bien qu’ils rendent le chenal plus étroit ils n’empêche pas le …

On the Water at Chenonceau – Sur l'eau à Chenonceau

Chenonceau is a ladies’ castle, built in 1513 by Katherine Briçonnet, decorated by Diane de Poitiers, extended by Catherine de Médicis, saved by Louise Dupin during the French Revolution and improved by Marguerite Wilson Pelouze in the 19th century! The water looks so inviting. Chenonceau est un château de dames par excellence : construit en 1513 …

Cycling across the water – Traversée en vélo

We have a book called (in French) Freewheeling from the Atlantic to the Black Sea  with photos of the Eurovelo 6 bike route that goes from Nantes on the Atlantic Coast of France to the Black Sea.  One of the bike paths really took my eye. In the photo, you could see this couple, with their bikes, …