The town named Gien on the Loire river east of Orléans, says the Cadogan guidebook, was "bombed to smithereens in the Second World War, by the Germans in 1940 and by the Allies in 1944. Eighty per cent destroyed, the town was harmoniously restored after the conflict. The splendid hump-backed stone bridge was patched up. Riverside façades were recreated using traditional brick patternings of trellises and chevrons." Cadogan adds: "Meanwhile, by a stroke of good fortune, the Château de Gien up the hill escaped the bombs."
The Signpost guide for the Loire Valley says that "curiously, the town's noble château is built mainly of bricks, which the ordinary houses and cottages all around are built mainly of handsome stone." Gien is about 40 miles east of La Ferté-Saint-Aubin, which I posted about yesterday.
The château at Gien was not built but re-built in the toward the end of the 15th century, replacing fortifications that dated back to the 9th century.
The first stone bridge in Gien was spanning the Loire in 1246, according the Wikipédia. It was replaced by today's bridge in the 18th century.
The town of Gien has long been famous for the blue and yellow
faïence (glazed earthenware) made there and for its hunting museum. Of that, the Signpost guide says: "If hunting upsets you, don't go in — the museum looks lovingly at the whole process of chasing and killing animals and birds, how it has inspired, entertained, and fed people..."
The Signpost guide for the Loire Valley says that "curiously, the town's noble château is built mainly of bricks, which the ordinary houses and cottages all around are built mainly of handsome stone." Gien is about 40 miles east of La Ferté-Saint-Aubin, which I posted about yesterday.
The château at Gien was not built but re-built in the toward the end of the 15th century, replacing fortifications that dated back to the 9th century.
The first stone bridge in Gien was spanning the Loire in 1246, according the Wikipédia. It was replaced by today's bridge in the 18th century.
The town of Gien has long been famous for the blue and yellow faïence (glazed earthenware) made there and for its hunting museum. Of that, the Signpost guide says: "If hunting upsets you, don't go in — the museum looks lovingly at the whole process of chasing and killing animals and birds, how it has inspired, entertained, and fed people..."
I recently bought some Gien dishes at my local thrift shop.
ReplyDeleteNo kidding, Evelyn? Now I'll be very interested to look at the bottom of any faïence that I come across!
DeleteI really like that bridge.
I quite like the brick facade of that chateau. The brick gives nice contrast with the stone. I am familiar with that type of faience but didn't know it came from Gien. I would fall over if I ever found any at a thrift store here.
ReplyDelete