The historic center of Blois is on the right (north) bank of the Loire river, halfway between the bigger cities of Orléans and Tours. It was originally made up of two settlements or villages that had grown up on high ground on either side of a small tributary of the Loire. Today the cathedral, dedicated to Saint-Louis, is on the east side of the valley that the stream ran through, and the château de Blois is on the west side. The neighborhoods located around the cathedral weren't heavily bombarded during World War II, so there are numerous historic houses and buildings up there. The neighborhoods near the cathedral suffered greater war damage. Recent archeological digs indicate that a town existed here Gallo-Roman times and even earlier.
The house above is where the woman who invited us to lunch back in March 2006 had her apartment. From its windows there were spectacular views out over the Loire and the old pont Jacques-Gabriel.
The streets that run from the bridge and the centre-ville up to the cathedral are steep and narrow.
This is a close-up view of architectural details of the cathedral.
Great pictures. If you ever move to Blois, I suppose walking up those steep streets would keep you heart-healthy!
ReplyDeleteLovely little square with a lone giant Bonsai.
ReplyDeletePourtour saint Louis, quésaco? Could it be what looks like a gallery above the sign? I can see several gates barring passage. Strange!
Je pense que le pourtour Saint-Louis à Blois est un itinéraire de promenade autour de la cathédrale, mais je ne trouve pas grand chose pour le confirmer. I don't see the gates you mention.
DeleteI have a 10X magnifying glass and I can see the “grilles”.
DeleteNow that I took a fresh look a those square “windows”, I now think the “grilles” are not perpendicular but in the same plane as these openings so as to prevent people from falling out. You can see them clearly if you enlarge the photo.
DeleteOoh, that house where your friend's apartment was, is great looking.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it?
DeleteThose cement and wood park benches are nice. I would want to live in a flatter place for walking now that I'm old.
ReplyDeleteMe too. There are neighborhoods in Blois that don't require climbing up steep hills, I think.
DeleteGreat looking town. Sorry I never got there, love those old homes and the winding streets.
ReplyDeleteBlois is worth a visit but it's pretty small when you come right down to it.
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