Les Grouets where we live in Blois has its own pâtisserie called a Grouëtine invented by pâtissier Stéphane Ribéro who used to have a shop in Rue Basse des Grouets. Now he is at 2 rue des Lions in Villebarou across the river. It is as delicious as it looks! La Grouëtine a été inventée …
Monthly Archives: September 2013
A rainy day in Les Grouets – Un jour pluvieux aux Grouets
After an extraordinary summer, a rainy autumn has begun with 40 millimeters of rain in a single day. Après un très bel été, c’est un automne pluvieux qui démarre avec 40 millimètres de précipitation en une seule journée.
Night return – Retour de nuit
A well-lit road with lots of vegetation to go home after a lovely dinner with our neighbours. Une route végétale bien éclairée pour rentrer chez nous après un repas délicieux chez nos voisins
Our gamay grapes – Nos raisins gamay
There are several varieties of grape in the Loire Valley: cot, chenin blanc, cabernet franc, sauvignon blanc, romorantin and gamay. We have a not very successful gamay vine in front of our house. Il y a plusieurs cépages dans la vallée de la Loire: cot, chenin blanc, cabernet franc, sauvignon blanc, romorantin et gamay. Nous …
An amusing roof – Un toit amusant
This amusing roof above the front gate is in the little village of Vallières les Grandes that we visited when cycling. Ce toit amusant au dessus du portail du n° 5 se trouve dans le petit village de Vallières les Grandes que nous avons visité en vélo. If you enjoyed reading this, don’t forget to …
A beach on the Cher – Une plage sur le Cher
There are still rivers where you and swim and the Cher is one of them. The only sand beach where swimming is allowed is at Montrichard which is a half an hour’s drive from Blois. Il y a encore des rivières où on se baigne et le Cher en fait partie. La seule plage de …
Continue reading “A beach on the Cher – Une plage sur le Cher”
Long and Narrow – Longue et étroite
There are still several streets like this in Blois. I’d love to know what’s behind the red curtains. Il reste encore plusieurs rues de ce type à Blois. J’amerais bien savoir ce qu’il y a derrière les rideaux rouges. If you enjoyed reading this, don’t forget to subscribe to new posts – that way you’ll …
Fireplace at Chambord – Cheminée à Chambord
Château de Chambord, designed as a hunting lodge by François I in 1519, has more than 300 fireplaces which are much less decorative than those of Blois Castle. Despite their dimensions, they were hard put to heat the enormous rooms Le château de Chambord, conçu comme résidence de chasse par François I à partir de …
Continue reading “Fireplace at Chambord – Cheminée à Chambord”
The main fireplace in Blois Castle – La cheminée du salon d'honneur au château de Blois
One of the magnificent fireplaces in Blois Royal Castle whose wonderfully preserved decor, sculpted between1515 and 1520 is strikingly highlighted by the painted decor created by the architect Félix Duban in the 19th century, totally in keeping with the spirit of the Renaissance. In the middle of the mantel, you can see François I’s emblematic salamander. Une …
Renaissance staircase at Blois castle – Escalier renaissance au château de Blois
This beautiful stone monumental staircase, of the octogonal turret type, with its finely sculpted newel, embrasures and capitals, graces the François I wing of the Royal Castle of Blois. Ce bel escalier monumental en pierre de type vis hors-oeuvre, octogonal, avec son fût central, embrasures et chapiteaux finement sculptés se trouve dans l’aile François I du …
Continue reading “Renaissance staircase at Blois castle – Escalier renaissance au château de Blois”