Like Rouen, Tours suffered terrible destruction from bombings during the Second World War,
especially the neighborhoods on the banks of the Loire river. But just a few hundred meters from the river,
many old half-timbered houses remain. There are a good number of them around the picturesque Place Plumereau,
known in Tours as the Place Plum' (sounds like plume) and dating back to the 15th century.
especially the neighborhoods on the banks of the Loire river. But just a few hundred meters from the river,
many old half-timbered houses remain. There are a good number of them around the picturesque Place Plumereau,
known in Tours as the Place Plum' (sounds like plume) and dating back to the 15th century.
The area around the Place Plum' is a car-free pedestrian zone that's full of restaurants and shops.
Here's what the house on the left above looks like today. My photo is from 2006.
On warm sunny days tourists and students (Tours is a university town) gather in the area, creating a festive atmosphere.
I wonder if those old houses are protected in some way by classées monuments historiques?
ReplyDeleteIn house #2, the beams where protected by slate. This beautiful house needs serious restoration!
DeleteIt seems to be the same thing for house #5. It s really unusual to have the beams and the wood in general covered with slate.
DeleteI also wonder what would happen to these houses à pans de bois if they where attacked by the fungus which is no fun la mérule ou lèpre des maisons.
DeleteClick the link in the text blurb under the first two photos to see what the Tabac-Journaux house looks like now, more than 15 years later.
DeleteNo, the link shows photo #1, not #2.
DeleteNo it doesn't. It's number 2. Do you see the street marker on the house in #2? Place du Grand Marché. the same sign in on the house in the Google Maps page I linked to. The house in #1 is on the Place Plum'.
DeleteYou might be interested in this site. And this page in particular.
Sorry, what I just wrote about #1 is not true. That house is on the rue du Change.
DeleteThanks for the two links. Glad to know that some of these houses are classées. The house in the second link seems to be covered with slate.
DeleteI clicked the link, which took me to Google Earth and "walked" around Tours a bit. It's a great town, feels like the Marais section of Paris.
DeleteIt is a little like the Marais, now that you make me think about it.
DeleteOh, I wondered what that was on the wood... slate, eh? I also didn't know the French term for half timbered, so thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteHi Judy, le mot le plus courant, c’est colombages.
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