The Loire Valley and especially Blois
Fougères sur Bièvre lies 20 kilometers south of Blois. Saint Eloi’s, with its three-light mullioned windo,w was built in the early 12th century (nave, vaulted apse and bell-tower) and completely reworked in the 16th century (southern aisle, northern seignorial chapel and southern stained glass window). The northern aisle, reconstruction of the vault and the western …
Continue reading “Church of Fougères sur Bièvre – Eglise de Fougères sur Bièvre”
All the roofs in the photo are slate, including those of Saint Nicolas‘ church on the right. Note the dormer windows which are mainly gable style. Tous les toits dans la photo sont en ardoise, y compris ceux de l’église Saint Nicolas sur la droite. Notez les lucarnes surtout de type jacobine.
Château de la Vicomté in Les Grouets, known in the 15th century, has survived to the present day without the slightest claim to fame, according to La Nouvelle République. That may be so, but I think it gives a certain distinction to the street where we live, Rue Basse des Grouets, and I love to see …
I don’t know why this house in Rue Basse de Grouets has its own bell tower. It also has a very strange roof on the right cut out of the main roof which is made of slate. Je ne sais pas pourquoi cette maison dans la rue Basse des Grouets possède son propre clocher. Elle a un …
The Louis XII fountain was reconstructed in 1511 by the distinguished engineer Pierre de Valence. Up until the 19th century, it was located at the corner of Saint Lubin and Bourgmoyen streets. However, when the houses behind it were destroyed to build the Louis XII square in 1820, it was transferred to the southern corner …
I was not familiar with the term “degré” for “steps” until I came to Blois but the name is used for several staircases. Note the red and white bars under the name of the steps indicating that it is part of the French national hiking trail or “Grande Randonnée” often abbreviated to GR. Je ne …
This recently restored well with its slate roof is at the top of Les Grouets. Ce petit puits récemment restauré avec son toit d’ardoise se trouve en hauts du quartier des Grouets.
A lavoir is a public place for washing clothes, usually fed by a spring or a river. Many, such as this one, have roofs for shelter. The lavoir in Vallières les Grandes has an interesting fountain with 3 heads. Les lavoirs publics étaient alimentés soit par une source soit par une rivière. Ils étaient souvent …