The Loire Valley and especially Blois
The hot days continue but I found a shady spot in Montrichard – not like the cyclist who was under the umbrellas which collect heat. I was at the café opposite which is on the shady side. Les journées chaudes continuent mais j’ai trouvé un endroit à l’ombre à Montrichard, à la différence du cycliste …
Continue reading “Chilling Montrichard – Farniente à Montrichard”
The tufa cliffs you can see on the other side of the Loire are actually troglodyte dwellings, dug directly in the soft stone. The town is called Rochecorbon between Amboise and Tours. Les falaises de tuffeau que l’on voit de l’autre côté de la Loire sont en réalité des maisons troglodytes creusées directement dans la pierre. Il …
Continue reading “Troglodytes along the Loire – Troglodytes au bord de la Loire”
The castle of Cinq-Mars, not far from Langeais, with its 13th century towers, moats and fortifications, is a classical feudal castle. Its most famous character is Henri Ruzze d’Effiat, Marquis of Cinq-Mars, favourite of Louis XIII, who was beheaded for treason at the age of 22. His tragic end inspired Alfred de Vigny’s novel, “Cinq Mars”. …
Continue reading “Cinq-Mars Castle – Le château de Cinq-Mars”
The 300-metre Gallo-Roman aqueduct near Luynes (19 km east of Tours) probably built in the 2nd century was our picnic lunch view today when cycling from Luynes to Langeais. Six out of the nine arches are the original construction. L’aqueduc gallo-romain à côté de Luynes (19 km à l’est de Tours), long de 300 mètres, et qui …