The Loire Valley and especially Blois
This magnificent most famous staircase is believed to have been designed for François I by Leonardo da Vinci. It consists of two spirals which cross over each other and lead up to the roof terrace. The double ramp supported by eight square pillars seems to be a single ramp yet the two ramps never cross. …
Continue reading “Double spiral staircase in Chambord – Escalier double révolution à Chambord”
This pretty little buggy passed us on the path parallel to the Loire between Les Grouets and Chouzy that we cycle along in the summer. I felt as though I was in a Victorian novel. Cette belle voiture emprunte le chemin parallèle à la Loire entre les Grouets et Chouzy qui nous sert de piste …
At the end of November, mushrooms are rare: a few boletus aureus, some other boletes, a couple of parasols and some ramaria formosa. A la fin du mois de novembre, il y a presque plus de champignons : quelques têtes de nègres, quelques bolets, des coulemelles et un peu de ramaria formosa.
We were taking a walk in Les Grouets when we sighted this boar head on a garage. The sign beneath says “Le Petit Vautrait”. A “vautrait” is a pack of hounds for wild boar hunting. We’re just next door to Sologne, the former hunting ground of François I. C’est en se promenant dans le quartier …
Continue reading “Boar sighting in Blois – Sanglier vu à Blois”
I wonder who the B & N are whose initials have remained on this old door in the historical (and not very renovated) quarter of Blois. Many cars and carriages must have worn down these paving stones over the years. On se demande bien qui sont B & N dont les initiales se trouvent sur …
These balconies are at the top of the main staircase of the François I wing of Blois Castle. They enabled the courtiers to see the king coming up the staircase and to contemplate the festivities organised in the Court of Honour below. As usual, there are several salamanders. Ces balcons couronnent le grand escalier …
Continue reading “Renaissance Balconies – Balcons Renaissance”
In France, the sapeurs-pompiers come to the rescue if someone takes ill in a public place, for example. Call 18 for help.
This unlikely collection was for sale at the monthly second-hand market, with a few autumn leaves thrown in for good measure. Cette collection disparate était à vendre à la brocante mensuelle avec quelques feuilles d’automne en plus pour faire bonne mesure.
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”
The round Tour du Foix, near the Gaston d’Orléans wing of Blois Castle, is a vestige of the 13th century feudal fortifications and offers a panorama of the city of Blois, the Loire River and the church of Saint Nicolas. In the middle ages, the tower defended the south-west corner of the castle and the …