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Architecture River views Vendôme

Water Gate – Vendôme – Porte d'eau

photo_53_porte_du_jour
The mediaeval town of Vendôme lies at the foot of a hill  flanked by the Loir River, 35 km from Blois. This gate, fortified in the 13th to 15th centuries, is also called the Big Meadow Arch after the surrounding countryside. In the Middle Ages, the amount of water from the Loir River was regulated to supply the town’s watermills. A stone dam was built by the monks from the Trinity Abbey nearby to ensure that their mill Mouln Perrin – would receive the requisite amount of water.
D’origine ancienne, Vendôme (« Vindocinum », la Montagne Blanche) offre un riche patrimoine médiéval au pied d’un coteau baigné par le Loir  à 35 km de Blois. Cette porte, fortifiée au cours de la fin du XIIIe et au XVe siècles, est aussi appelée arche des Grands Prés, du nom des terrains qui l’environnent. Dès le Moyen Âge, la quantité d’eau du Loir est contrôlée pour alimenter les moulins de la ville. Ainsi, un barrage a été maçonné par les moines de la Trinité pour assurer le débit nécessaire à leur moulin dénommé “moulin Perrin”.

2 replies on “Water Gate – Vendôme – Porte d'eau”

OK, you show this to an American and the first thing he’s going to say is “where is the scandal?”. Putting that aside (thankfully), it’s a very nicely composed shot. And thanks for the history.

Ha, ha, that didn’t even occur to me! This is one of Jean Michel’s first contributions – he doesn’t usually have time.

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