Category: Blogging

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Blogging Blois covid Staircases

Covid Confinement Day 17


I have posted photos of the Denis Papin staircase on several occasions but it’s never been this empty! Just two elderly people keeping their distance. Today I discovered we can order vegetable plants from a local nursery – it will be faster than growing them from seed.
No further deaths in our area today and the total number of new deaths in France dropped from 509 to 471.
There is much talk about what will happen with school leaving exams this year as preparation needs to begin now which is impossible during lockdown.
J’ai posté plusieurs photos de l’escalier Denis Papin ici mais jamais avec si peu de monde! Juste deux vieilles personnes qui gardent les distances.
Il n’y a pas eu de nouveaux décès en Loir-et-Cher aujourd’hui et le nombre total de nouveaux décès en France est passé de 509 à 471.
Beaucoup de discussions ont lieu sur le sort du baccalauréat puisque les préparatifs doivent commencer maintenant, chose impossible avec le confinement.

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Architecture Blogging Châteaux de la Loire Chaumont Water

Chaumont Water Tower – Château d’Eau à Chaumont

The reservoir (also known as the “water tower”) was built at the time the estate of Chaumont was acquired by Prince Henri-Amédée de Broglie before the arrival of the landscape architect Henri Duchêne. The architect later turned it to good advantage, surrounding it with a copse of trees and bushes. 
In those days, the water tower’s main purpose was to supply the main vegetable garden nearby via pumps installed in one of the village houses, drawing its water directly from the Loire. As metal tanks are no longer used, a new reservoir (with water still pumped from the Loire) was built underground at the foot of the tower in 1987, located in a clearing created for the purpose.
Le réservoir appelé également “château d’eau” est construit, dès l’acquisition du domaine, et avant l’arrivée de l’architecte paysagiste Henri Duchêne. Par la suite, l’architecte tire parti du réservoir et l’englobe dans un bosquet d’arbres et d’arbustes. 
À cette période, le château d’eau a comme principal objectif d’alimenter en eau le premier potager situé à proximité, et cela à partir de pompes installées dans une maison du bourg, puisant l’eau directement dans la Loire. Les cuves métalliques étant hors d’usage de nos jours, la réserve d’eau toujours pompée dans la Loire est enterrée depuis 1987 au pied du château d’eau dans un espace traité en clairière qui n’existe pas à l’origine.

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Blogging Churches Town Halls

When State Meets Church – Lorsque l’état rencontre l’église


The town hall in the village of Seur looks as though it’s attached to the church from this side but they are actually quite distinct as you can see below.
On dirait que la mairie de Seur est contiguë à l’église de ce côté-ci mais on voit dans la deuxième photo qu’elles sont distinctes.

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Blogging Blois

The Christmas Train – Le train de Noël


I saw this train for the first time in Blois this week. Maybe it’s replacing the usual horse and cart in winter. Time will tell.
J’ai vu ce train à Blois cette semaine pour la première fois. Peut-être qu’il remplace l’attelage habituel pendant l’hiver. On verra bien ….

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Blogging Blois French customs

Lucky Luke

Lucky Luke is a well-known and well-loved comic book character created by the Belgian cartoonist Morris in 1946. He subsequently worked with René Goscinny of Astérix fame until his death in 1977 then with other cartoonist until his own death in 2001. French artist Achdé has been drawing it ever since with the help of other writers. 81 albums have been published with translations into 23 languages.
The name Lucky Luke may appear strange to an English speaker but in French the vowel sounds in both words are the same.
Ce n’est pas la peine de présenter Lucky Luke. Crée par Morris en 1946, il y a désormais 81 albums traduits en 23 langues.

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Blogging

Beware of Falling Trees – Attention aux chutes d’arbres


Today I had lunch in a troglodyte restaurant in Mosnes. When I came out this tree had fallen on the owner’s car. I almost parked in front!
Aujourd’hui j’ai déjeuné dans un restaurant troglodyte à Mosnes. En sortant j’ai vu qu’un arbre est tombé sur la voiture du patron. J’ai failli me garer juste devant!

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Blogging Houses

Bécassine


Bécassine is a French comic strip and the name of its heroine, appearing for the first time in the first issue of La Semaine de Suzette on February 2, 1905. She is considered one of the first female protagonists in the history of French comics. I was very amused to see this village devoted entirely to Bécassine.

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Architecture Blogging Blois Historical buildings

The Covered Walkway – Le passage couvert


This delightful half-timbered walkway joins the two parts of Hotel de Villebresme, built in Blois in the 15th century and thought to have been the home of Denis Papin, inventor of the pressure cooker.
Ce joli petit passage couvert à colombages relie les deux bâtiments de l’Hôtel de Villebresme construit à Blois au 15e siècle et surnommé la Maison de Denis Papin. . Toutefois, il n’est pas certain que l’inventeur de la cocotte minute  y ait véritablement vécu.

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Architecture Blogging Denmark Postcards

Day #16 Postcard from Denmark – The Wave


When I saw this building on a website I knew I had to see it live. Fortunately it was on our way from Copenhagen to central Jutland today. Completed last year after a few hiccups, this waterfront apartment complex in Vejle is the work of Henning Larsen Architects, a Copenhagen-based architecture firm. The building consists of five rounded towers and covers nearly three and a half acres. The complex holds over one hundred luxury apartments, and also features a public pier with the aim of revitalizing the area’s waterfront. Each tower consists of nine identical floors, creating the appearance of a single unified building across all five “waves“.
Lorsque j’ai vu cet immeuble sur un site web je voulais absolument le voir. Heureusement il se trouvait sur notre route entre Copenhague et le centre du Jutland. Terminé l’année dernière après quelques aléas cet immeuble en bord de l’eau a Vejle est l’œuvre de Henning Larsen Architects. Chacune des cinq tours comporte neuf niveaux identiques pour créer l’impression d’un seul bâtiment qui forme cinq vagues. Il y a cent appartements de luxe.

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Architecture Blogging Churches Denmark Postcards

Day #13 Postcard from Denmark – Roskilde Cathedral


Roskilde Cathedral, a Unesco world heritage site, consecrated in the 12th century, is a wonderful combination of Romanesque and Gothic. A total of 37 sovereigns have been crowned here. I particularly liked the 1580 triptych from Antwerp.
La cathédrale de Roskilde, inscrite au patrimoine de l’humanité par l’UNESCO et consacré au XIIe siècle, allie avec bonheur roman et gothique. En tout, 37 têtes couronnées. J’ai particulièrement aimé le retable anversois de 1580.