We're having really stormy weather right now. Yesterday morning the winds were hard and gusty. When I went out with the dog, it started pouring rain and we got soaked. This morning a new storm front is moving in, so we can expect more of the same.
Meanwhile, here are a few more photos of the Château du Moulin, near the big town of Romorantin. The village right next to the château is called Lassay-sur-Croisne, and at the church there you can see a wall painting showing what Le Moulin looked like centuries ago, before all the modern modifications were made.
When the last descendant of Philippe du Moulin died in the year 1900, the château was bought by a certain Maurice Compaignon de Marchéville, who he spent a dozen or more years having it modernized. His descendant still occupied the place as recently as 15 years ago, when we caught a glimpse of her on our guided tour, and maybe she still does. She discreetly closed the door to what looked like her upstairs kitchen as we trooped into her bedroom to see all the old furniture, furnishings, and paintings.
One of the most interesting rooms to visit is the old kitchen, which dates back to the Renaissance, I think. It features a cavernous fireplace with a spit for roasting meat, and there's a little round cage that they put a dog in. When the dog ran, the spit turned. As the guide told us when we did the tour, that might have been the invention of the hot dog!
The Château du Moulin web site says that Philippe du Moulin's birthdate remains a mystery to this day. There is one figure in a wall painting in the church at Lassay-sur-Croise who might well be du Moulin. He died in eastern France in 1506 in the town of Langres, of which he had become the governor, and he was buried there — but his heart was removed from his body and brought back to the church in Lassay, according to his wishes.
I'm translating from the Château du Moulin web site. All the photos in these posts are ones I took on June 27, 2004, when CHM and I went and walked around the château.
It's blowin' a right hoolie here at the moment....
ReplyDeleteseems far worse than yesterday!
Vision of any distance is obscured by rain...
I don't think we recorded the correct rainfall yesterday, either....
some of it was absolutely horizontal at one point...
it would have gone straight over the top of the gauge!
Still, we are better off than les Anglais!
A lovely place; far too post... and cavernous... for me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the photos of this beautiful chateau, Ken. My very best wishes are going with you to your Mom.
ReplyDeleteAs to weather, I'm in Sri Lanka now where it's 35C with matching humidity!
Well, those are just wonderful photos! Love the brick!
ReplyDeleteYesterday morning, when I first saw the second photo of your post on the chateau du Moulin, I thought that looked very much like when we were there together. I was tempted to mention it in a comment, but since you've been there several times, I abstained. This morning I read confirmation of my suspicion. As I recall, we walked around the moat to have views of the chateau from every angle. It was really pleasant.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to see that our visit to Le Moulin was so early (2004). I remember returning to see the château (after visits in 2000 and 2003) and I know I went there another time, but I couldn't tell you when. One of the shortcomings of my photo archives is that they are organized by date. If I don't remember the date, I'm out of luck.
DeleteIt was incredible to watch those huge waves ( they said 10 metres high) crashing on the rocks and against the lighthouses along the coast of Brittany on the news last night. Looks like in the UK they are in a worse situation.
ReplyDeleteI missed yesterdays photos, so my eyes are having a feast this morning. What a beautiful chateau! Thinking of MA also and hoping all is well.
ReplyDeleteSafe journey Ken. Sending you and yours good vibes from the Left Coast.
ReplyDeleteThe chateau looks more dramtic from the water angle. A beautiful building.
ReplyDeleteEven with modern hoisters and lifters and such, a construction project like that would be complex and difficult. I'm always amazed at the skill and dedication (and probably sheer numbers of workers) that went into those huge old buildings. And this is a particularly beautiful one.
ReplyDeleteIt amazes me too that such a structure could be built when workers had no power motors, no electricity, no modern conveniences. As you said, sheer numbers of workers must get the credit. I hope they were rewarded for their efforts.
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