The Loire Valley and especially Blois
These two windows are astonishly on the first place of the bishop’s house I mentioned a couple of days ago. They look like art nouveau but there appear to be crosses in the upper panes. Ces deux fenêtres se trouvent, de façon inattendue, au premier étage de l’évêché dont j’ai parlé il y a deux ou …
Continue reading “Art Nouveau Windows – Fenêtre art nouveau ?”
I have never seen a window like the one in the middle of this photo, that is, a mullion window (with a cross-piece) above a door. From the surrounding stone, it looks like it is an original feature. Taken in Vienne in Blois. Je n’ai jamais vu une fenêtre comme celle qui se trouve au milieu de cette …
Continue reading “A Very Strange Window – Une fenêtre très étrange”
This photo is in response to Stuart’s photo on Amboise Daily Photo today (our towns are 30 km apart on the Loire River). His photo shows a stone and brick window that is more recent and better crafted than mine which is probably about 400 years old. The combination of brick and stone is typical of …
Here is my only view since Saturday afternoon. I am in the grips of a bout of flu that I would wish upon no one (but unfortunately I have given it to at least two people). Voilà ma seule vue depuis samedi après-midi. Je suis terrée par une grippe que je ne souhaiterais à personne …
Continue reading “In the Grips of Flu – Terrassée par la grippe”
Yesterday through the archway, you could see some of these roofs and windows but this photo shows all the different sized roofs and windows to perfection as well as weathervane and clock. Hier on apercevait quelques toits et fenêtres à travers l’arche mais ici on voit clairement toutes les différentes tailles de toits et de …
Continue reading “Roofs & Windows of Fougères – Toits et fenêtres de Fougères”
I had never seen windows like the ones in the shape of a 3-leaf clover on the first floor of this manor house. Je n’avais jamais vu de fenêtres comme celles-ci en forme d’un trèfle à trois feuilles au premier étage de ce manoir.
You may remember a post about mullion windows recently in which I explained that, for tax reasons, people removed the mullions and transoms from the windows to pay less tax. This window on Hôtel de Villebresme in Blois would seem to be an excellent example. Vous vous rappelez peut-être d’un post concernant les fenêtres à meneaux dans …
I’ve actually overstepped the first anniversary of Blois Daily Photo which was 25th July. I can’t say I’ve never missed a day – in fact I’ve missed about ten – but it’s been a challenge finding a daily photo when I don’t live in Blois permanently and I try to respect the seasons. It started …
Continue reading “First anniversary: Royal Stripes – Premier anniversaire: Rayures royales”
Mullion windows (the ones at the top divided into four by a stone cross) appeared well before the 10th century and are typically seen in Renaissance buildings. I’ve just discovered that many French property owners destroyed their mullion windows after a new door and window tax was instigated in 1798 which was based on the number of …
A well-earned rest in the narthex of the little church of Saint Pierre in Parnay near Saumur looking out over the saumur-champigny vineyards. Du repos mérité dans le narthex de la petite église de Saint Pierre de Parnay à côté de Saumur avec vue sur le vignoble du saumur-champigny.