Vendôme's Porte St-Georges

Vendôme, a town 30 minutes north of Blois by car, was ringed by fortifications in the Middle Ages. Of the old ramparts, the south gate into the city, called the Porte St-Georges, is one of the few pieces that remain.

The Porte St-Georges at Vendôme

The Porte St-Georges stonework dates back to the 14th century. The Michelin Guide says that the gateway itself was widened in the 19th century so that Napoleon's armies could pass through it.

Vendôme's town council has used a room in the
Porte St-Georges for its meetings since the 16th century.

Looking into town through the gate

The name Vendôme has Celtic origins, and the town was called Vindocinum by the Romans. These days, the population is about 20,000.

Gargoyle

Walt and I first went there in January 2004, on one of the first sunny days we had seen in weeks. It's more than an hour's drive from Saint-Aignan, but it was a place we hadn't visited yet. We put the dog in the car and spent the afternoon enjoying the scenery and good weather.