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
If you would like to contribute a photo, please contact me at rosemary.kneipp @ gmail.com. I would be happy to publish it under your name.
These three wash houses, all of different types, are within a few kilometers of each other.
I like the curve of its roof.
William Kendall recently posted…The Skating Rink On Parliament Hill
Am I really dense? I see only one wash house.
No, you are not dense, sillygirl! I forgot to add the other two photos (which I have now done). My apologies.
I’m glad I asked! I AM older so my mind could be going at any time – glad it wasn’t me – this time!
Always a worry, isn’t it :).