The Loire and city of Blois
The Loire River is the longest river in France, covering more than 1,000 km from its source in the Massif Central to its mouth in the Bay of Biscay in the Atlantic Ocean. The main towns are Nevers, Orleans, Blois, Tours and Nantes. It is famous for its châteaux, particularly Chenonceau, Chambord, Chaumont and Cheverny, and its vineyards. The Loire Valley, a World Heritage Site, spanning about 300 km, is located in the middle stretch, 2 to 3 hours south of Paris.
Blois, where I live, is a town of 50,000 people ideally located for visiting the area. Although much was destroyed during the war, it still has some lovely old streets winding up the steep banks of the Loire. It was once the centre of the French Renaissance with a prestigious castle. Louis XII, king of France in 1498, was born there in 1462. One of its citizens, Denis Papin, invented the steam engine in 1647 and the illusionist Louis-Eugène Roubert-Houdin, born in 1805, is celebrated in the “House of Magic” just opposite the castle.
Guest photos
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All these delightful little sculptures are above one of the mullion windows of Hôtel d’Effliat in Montrichard built in the 16th and 17th century. The second photo shows the other side of the building.
How fortunate to wander through this beautiful village without the crowds – I would love to stay there.
Helen recently posted…Christmas Down Under
Not in Hotel d’Effiat I think Helen. It’s a nursing home 🙂
What a marvelous building!
William Kendall recently posted…City Hall And Confederation Park
@Helen – If you are up before the rest of the population (i.e. before 9) even in the summer, you can beat the crowds.
@Susan – Maybe she meant the village not the Hôtel d’Effiat. I didn’t realise it was a nursing home – there was no one around understandably 🙂
@William – Isn’t it just?
I think it’s a nursing home, or something like that. It certainly used to be.